Quiet Time

All ready for bed, Gabi girl is reading a book to Bella baby


Gabi loves to read to her sister

Gabi hasn't napped regularly for over a year now, but we still have "quiet time" most afternoons. Gabi plays by herself in her room for an hour, often reading or singing -- so "quiet time" isn't actually all that quiet, but it's a bit of a rest. Even though she is shy around new people, she pretends to talk with all her friends during her quiet time, including the news kids in her class.

Gabi is very smart, and she always amazes us with what she says when she is chattering. She woke me up one morning and requested that I get up and put my contacts in. When I told her that I don't wear contacts, she said, "Oh. Well, Daddy wears contacts. And, um... Uncle Brian wears contacts!" Then she thought for a minute before adding, "Only boys wear contacts." Inaccurate, but good pattern recognition. Another day, Gabi gave me a long narrative about our cars that lasted the entire ride home from school. "This is Mommy's car. Where is Daddy's car? Daddy has a new car. We sold Daddy's old car, so we don't have it any more. Now we just have one car. Actually, we have two. Daddy's new car is one, and then this is my car!"


Where will I find Gabi at the end of quiet time today?


Gabi nestled in the laundry basket to read her books


Today during quiet time, Gabi says she built
a quick trick brick stack and a quick trick block stack

Bella is now very attuned to motion and loves watching everything and everyone. Her favorite thing to watch is Big Sister, who, in turn, loves to be watched. Bella is easily distractable these days, so nursing isn't just a smooth eat-and-be-done deal, since she wants to break away to look around multiple times. She entertains herself with her toys for awhile now, she loves to chew on our fingers to ease her sore teething gums, and she smiles and giggles when we look directly at her and talk to her. She is a very wiggly baby, and she always wants to twist around when we hold her.


Watching the beluga whales swim by


Petting the starfish and sea anemones


Merlin's carrot-top feast


Daddy's new car

Poor Bella has an awful rash on her upper body which she scratches. I prewashed all her clothes in Dreft (without using dryer sheets), regularly apply lotion, have a humidifier running constantly in our room (yes, she's still in our room... we need to move her), and next I'll try bathing her in a cleanser without fragrance instead of using baby wash. Fortunately, 0.5% hydrocortisone cream twice a day is finally helping.


Gabi's bath bubbles


Bella loves playing in her saucer


"I'm going to eat that butterfly!"

On Ash Wednesday, the priest gave a wonderful homily. Unfortunately, Michael wasn't able hear much, since Bella was being squirmy and fussy (and the visiting priest had an accent that demanded more attention). He had two main points: (1) Lent is a time to look inside yourself and be humbled. However, it's not a "sad" time, as it is often percieved. If you realize that you are nothing, and yet Jesus came to save your sins, then you will find great joy. (2) Lent is a time to "feel the feel of others" -- to put yourself in their shoes and understand their sufferings. It is especially important to be aware and recognize how your family members are feeling and see what they need from you. Focus on pampering your spouse, being patient with your kids, and giving your parents friendship and company. I definitely need to be more understanding of Gabi girl; she really is a sweet girl even if she does make trouble.

I also liked his analogy for our fasting rules. He said that he forgave anyone who ate meat that day because it doesn't make sense any more. Meat used to be significantly more expensive than fish. Now chicken is cheap, but eating a giant lobster on Friday is a treat. A better modern fast would be, if your dinner is usually two hamburgers, to eat just one and donate the cost of the other to charity. You still feel a little hungry, but it's good for you to feel how the poor feel when they are hungry, and you will be more willing to help them. And hence the Lenten sacrifices... but perhaps more important than giving up an arbitrary luxury for 40 days (no chocolate or ice cream!) is doing something extra for our loved ones.