Psst! Are you sleeeeeping?
No!
Good. I think she's in the living room now. How about I go first, then you.
Ok...what do we say?
Umm your tummy hurts. My head hurts.
But my tummy hurt yesterday.
Oh yeah. Ok, my tummy hurts, your head hurts.
Good one.
Remember to wait a bit after I go out, that way she won't figure it out!
Mom....my tummy hurts. Can I sit with you?
And so it was on many occasions, my sister and I collaborated in the hallway minutes post-nap-prep and subsequently spent the entire naptime curled up on our mom's lap, watching TV because we were "ailing". So clever, we were.
Both Krissy and I remember these conversations quite vividly - the planning, the scheming. I am sure we became a bit more sophisticated as the years went on; we were so proud of our plans. My mom, with her huge heart and love of kid-cuddles gave in to our ploy time and again, much to our delight.
Yesterday afternoon after a very active morning, I carefully placed Ryan in his bed for a much needed nap. I wrapped him in his gigantic fuzzy blue blanket, read him a story, gave him a sip of water and tucked his favorite stuffed dog neatly under his arm. I knew for sure he would be out in minutes, and so after a kiss on his forehead I headed downstairs, looking forward to some kid-free time.
Three minutes passed and I heard the unmistakable "thump thump thump" of two-year-old feet running down the hallway and expertly maneuvering the stairwell. He opened the door, puppydog still underarm.
"What's wrong?" I ask, thinking it must be something urgent, because he NEVER gets out of bed until he is done sleeping once he has been put there. (Not sarcasm here, truly, he believes he is glued in. Ok, the glue might be a bit of sarcasm, but the effect is the same.)
"I don't feel good." he replies, head tilted a bit, lower lip protruding ever so slightly.
"Oh my! What hurts?" I over-react on purpose, knowing the charade so well from my own upbringing. A tiny bit of delight wells up inside me, realizing he has come up with this ploy all on his own.
"Puppydog don't feel good."
"You're both sick?"
"Yeah."
"Oh no..." I pause meaningfully, as if this might mean real intervention, like gummybear medicine or perhaps a jellybean. Whatever might we do for this sickness that has so quickly swept over the two of them? "Well then! You both need a good nap. Up we go!"
Snickering to myself I carried my son upstairs, thinking that I can't wait until his brother gets old enough to be a cohort. Then again, my cold, tiny raisin of a heart would probably still make them take naps.
___________________________________
Plus, David has the very beginnings of teeth. Two or three can be felt in the very front on the bottom row. Though you can't yet see them, their tiny needle-like tooth-ness is unmistakably present!
No!
Good. I think she's in the living room now. How about I go first, then you.
Ok...what do we say?
Umm your tummy hurts. My head hurts.
But my tummy hurt yesterday.
Oh yeah. Ok, my tummy hurts, your head hurts.
Good one.
Remember to wait a bit after I go out, that way she won't figure it out!
Mom....my tummy hurts. Can I sit with you?
And so it was on many occasions, my sister and I collaborated in the hallway minutes post-nap-prep and subsequently spent the entire naptime curled up on our mom's lap, watching TV because we were "ailing". So clever, we were.
Both Krissy and I remember these conversations quite vividly - the planning, the scheming. I am sure we became a bit more sophisticated as the years went on; we were so proud of our plans. My mom, with her huge heart and love of kid-cuddles gave in to our ploy time and again, much to our delight.
Yesterday afternoon after a very active morning, I carefully placed Ryan in his bed for a much needed nap. I wrapped him in his gigantic fuzzy blue blanket, read him a story, gave him a sip of water and tucked his favorite stuffed dog neatly under his arm. I knew for sure he would be out in minutes, and so after a kiss on his forehead I headed downstairs, looking forward to some kid-free time.
Three minutes passed and I heard the unmistakable "thump thump thump" of two-year-old feet running down the hallway and expertly maneuvering the stairwell. He opened the door, puppydog still underarm.
"What's wrong?" I ask, thinking it must be something urgent, because he NEVER gets out of bed until he is done sleeping once he has been put there. (Not sarcasm here, truly, he believes he is glued in. Ok, the glue might be a bit of sarcasm, but the effect is the same.)
"I don't feel good." he replies, head tilted a bit, lower lip protruding ever so slightly.
"Oh my! What hurts?" I over-react on purpose, knowing the charade so well from my own upbringing. A tiny bit of delight wells up inside me, realizing he has come up with this ploy all on his own.
"Puppydog don't feel good."
"You're both sick?"
"Yeah."
"Oh no..." I pause meaningfully, as if this might mean real intervention, like gummybear medicine or perhaps a jellybean. Whatever might we do for this sickness that has so quickly swept over the two of them? "Well then! You both need a good nap. Up we go!"
Snickering to myself I carried my son upstairs, thinking that I can't wait until his brother gets old enough to be a cohort. Then again, my cold, tiny raisin of a heart would probably still make them take naps.
___________________________________
Plus, David has the very beginnings of teeth. Two or three can be felt in the very front on the bottom row. Though you can't yet see them, their tiny needle-like tooth-ness is unmistakably present!
3 comments:
Don't you just love the way their minds work?? Such imagination! What joy they bring to others and to life. Love you 4!
Awww....memories! Yes, I was a pushover when it came to "I'm sick...sit with you, Mom?" probably because it was the only time I got to snuggle with you both! Any other time, it was either Tracy OR Kristina, but never the both of you at the same time (mainly due to, oh, Tracy...). At least you were both quiet for an hour or so, and I KNEW what you were doing!
Yes, Ryan is definitely your son, Tracy. I'm so proud of him for carrying on the nap-time tradition!
Love you all so much!
Ryan's bear was not feeling well.. that was a good one. There is something very special about sibling collaboration, too. I definitely identify with that. Just wait until David gets bigger! The best part is truly that as a kid you think you are so clever.. that mom will NEVER figure out your scheme. hehe
And I am loving David's cue-ball head. It is so adorable.
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