Anyway - another side effect of co-sleeping is that so far, our girls don't fall asleep alone. So, now that they have bunk beds and Francesca sleeps on the top, Cecilia is able to sleep on the bottom. Whereas before Cecilia had a bed, Andrew would lay with Francesca until she fell asleep, while I laid with Cecilia in my bed, we now have a new tradition that created a wonderful side-effect. We do our candle walk from the kitchen (carefully monitoring so that nobody catches their own or anyone Else's hair on fire) in the dark, into the dark bedroom. (I really like this because it creates a calming affect and sort of sets the mood for sleep, going into a dark room.) They blow out their candles, I flick on the lamp and they sing a song then 'sister's hug' goodnight. Francesca and Andrew crawl into the top bunk (which I'm sure isn't built to hold 210 lbs.) We say, "Lights out little sprout," and turn off the lamp, then the girls always remember who's turn it is to tell the story. Until recently, Andrew and I took turns telling stories. Its been really fun because sometimes, like last night I learn crazy stuff about Andrew, such as his memory of going camping, growing up when, everyone would get in the truck, everyone would sit in the truck, including his older brothers and the dog, and Andrew was relegated to the back of the truck with the camping gear. This is funny to me. And after he told the story Francesca asked, "Why do you remember your old family?" I didn't have the luxury of grandparents as a constant friend, growing up, but I remember being confused about Jodi and Casey's Grandma Bee and Grandma Freda and when someone finally told me that Grandma Bee was Patty's mom, I was blown away. I think that the concept of mom's and dad's being anything but mom's and dad's is hard to wrap your brain around as a child.
But I digress . . . the past few nights, the girls have been saying, "Its MY turn to tell the story," and then they tell a story. Here is where the tape recorder would come in handy. I think that tomorrow, I'll just bring the video camera and get some good audio because this is unbelievable. First of all, Francesaca totally gets the rhythm of a story . . . and the words she uses are hysterical. Here is one of her first stories, but I'm sure she told it better:
"Once upon a time . . . (dramatic pause) . . . there were two little girls, named Francesca and Cecilia. Now . . . (dramatic pause) . . . they were happy little girls, but for one thing. (Dramatic pause.) They had no doll. It just so happened that one sunny day, they walked to the migrant center and what surprise met their dazzling eyes? But a doll . . . a stroller . . . and a huge doll house, on the top shelf. They then walked home with their mommy and sang, London's burning, London's burning, Fetch the engine, fetch the engine, fire! fire! fire! fire! Pour the water, pour the water," and then the story turned into a sort of medley. Tonight's story was some crazy concoction about Aunt Sarah, Aunt Lindy, and Aunt Edme who happened upon some chains dangling from the sky with poison upon them, and sticks below them that the fairies had placed there and Aunt Sarah died, but Aunt Edme and Aunt Lindy lived, "But this story has a happy ending," and then she proceeded to give it a happy ending, but where does she get this stuff?!
A big shout out to Jackie and Amy (and Heather, but I know she isn't on the internets) for sharing your sweet children and yummy food and making today such a wonderful, magical day!
1 comment:
You are so right on about the co-sleeping. On more than a few occasions of late I have ended up in the guest room downstairs because it is just not worth the hassle and restless sleep from our own little bedhogs. Elin is the worst. She is still a tiny slip of a thing but she easily takes up more room than a typical adult. There are two things which can make me the mayor of crazy town in a hurry...hunger and sleep deprivation. in fact as I write this I can hear little footfalls heading into the bedroom!! Uh oh!
Post a Comment