A few nights ago, Cruiz woke up screaming at 2:00 AM and didn't feel like going back to bed. Then Cannon woke up and assumed the two of us were partying without him, and decided he wanted in on the action. So I recruited Pat, and it turns out he deals with missing sleep worse than I do. :) We finally got the boys back to sleep about the time we needed to get ready for church…lets just say, it was one heck of a day.
Living in a two bedroom house with all three boys crammed into one room is tough at times. I’ll admit I've been frustrated, longing for a little more space. I’m embarrassed to say I've been pretty ungrateful for what I've been given, especially when we can’t seem to escape the crying or when it wakes up the other baby. Poor Ledger, it seems like the only thing he hears during the day is, “Shhhhh, the babies are sleeping!”
After a rough day, it wasn't coincidence that I managed to stumble across an older post, {Click here to read it} It made me wonder how I ever forgot… Even though these boys continually test me with their crying, I thrive from being their mom. After reading my old post, I couldn't help but slip into their bedroom, filled with two cribs and a toddler bed, and count my many blessings as I listened to my three noisy sleepers dream…
So, tomorrow morning, instead of being frustrated when Ledger wakes the twins up by climbing into one of their cribs, turns on the light, or yells, “Babies, wake up!” I’m going to savor the moment, and appreciate the fact I get to hear someone call out, “Mama!” again.
(Preslee, Sept. 2009)
My four biggest blessings have all been a part of this room,
what more could I ask for?
We have a three bedroom house and 4 children...3 of which are boys. So the princess gets her own room and the three boys share. My oldest is 8 years old and a VERY early riser and his 2 and 4 year old brother usually wake up as he climbs down out of the bunk bed. Or the nights when the 2 and 4 year old are being crazy and won't go to bed and then the 8 year old is cranky the next day because he had to go to school all day and didn't get a full nights rest.
ReplyDeleteThis was a good reminder to me to also be grateful for my blessings and that my rooms are FULL of beautiful children. Someday we will sleep again, I think.
Sweet....My kids were about the same age apart as yours and it is a tough time. They all need you 24/7 and it can be frustrating. Even though at this stage each day/night can seem like an eternity they will soon be teenage boys who you can't get out of bed before noon!!
ReplyDeleteOh wow....all the pictures sure tell a beautiful story. That room, those cribs/beds, those faces, the love. I can almost feel it because it jumps right off the page at me!! In the throws of crying (both mom and her babies), it is hard to remember how blessed and lucky we are. I find it much easier NOW to be so grateful for little things but when I was a young mom like you, I kept wishing for my son to be at another stage in life. How silly...how short-sighted was I?? We spend so much time helping them grow and develop...to learn to walk; then we teach them to say mama (for me it was "say Grandma" but all my grandson could say was GaGa...so it stuck!! Ha Ha)...then later on we find ourselves wishing they wouldn't get into everything and be quiet. What??? We just spent 2 years teaching them to say mama, dada, ball, baby, milk and then we want them to be quiet? AND, we spend one year teaching them to sit up, crawl, stand, walk....then later wish they couldn't climb and get into so much mischief. Your dear Preslee taught you so many things, only one of which was to appreciate every little thing your boys do and say. She is so precious and beautiful, so loved...so missed.
ReplyDeleteWe too were crammed in a two bedroom house for a few years! And I must say that bedroom you have really made it so cute! You are so blessed! I was sad when we moved from our 2 bed place because there were so many precious memories made there! I'm sure you understand. Love reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteI just love this post. We live in a two bedroom house with our boys and I find myself being ungrateful often. I do, however, stop myself and thank God for a home, no matter how big or small. We have a roof over our head, we're warm & safe, and I, like you, brought my babies home here. Thanks for the gentle reminder. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post, Ashley. Truly puts the important things into perspective. Beautiful boys. Beautiful girl. What treasures here on earth and in heaven!
ReplyDeleteI have followed you for a long time. Our family lived in Rigby for 8 years. I would see you quietly around town and would pray for you softly. I was dear friends with Jenny McCullough and was with her the night she lost her husband. Through her I discovered your blog. Two years ago we moved to North Carolina. While here my best friend decided to start a blog/website about real life stories that inspire and uplift (www.realimprints.org). I never thought I would be in this situation where I have the opportunity to share inspiring stories, but it is stories like yours that give others hope and that's what we hope to do in return. I love how "real" you are and thanks for always uplifting and inspiring!
ReplyDeleteIs your other room bigger? You could switch. Put the boys in the master room and you and your husband in that little room. Then the boys could have more playing room. Sometimes I watch my nephew. On those days I have my 2 kids, a 2 1/2 year old, and a 6 month and my nephew is 1 1/2. When he comes over he gets to sleep in the pack n play in the little laundry room.
ReplyDeleteBigger house means more mess. More mess means more cleaning. I hate cleaning. :)
ReplyDeleteDo the pillows in their cribs help them sleep better? My 8 month old is still in the rock and play and the only time she has slept in her crib is with a pillow, she hates the crib.
ReplyDeleteAlso, are they just normal pillows? (Strange question)
ReplyDeleteYes. After moving the boys out of the rock n play, they could not sleep on a flat surface. So we found some very flat pillows and they help tremendously!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this!!! And LOVE you!! I love that our trials as hard as they are...can teach us to enjoy and appreciate the simple things!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this post & even your outlook on it in the end :)
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