Slowly but surely, the house is healing. C's snoring away in an Ambien-induced slumber (she wasn't feeling so hot), Z's sweating away in his cute lil' fleece, and K's fidgeting her way through another night.
The whole family was in the kitchen tonight, eating dinner, rolling cars across the floor and coloring, and I suddenly wanted to be outside the room, looking in to observe this family in action. Had the piano music been cued and there'd been a bit of frost on the windows, you'd have thought it was the All-american family sitting down to say grace and wolf down another tuna casserole. Of course, this is my family, and we're in LA, so it was Thai food, Coldplay over the speakers and alternating screams and laughs.
Tonight, I thought I'd write down some of the wonderful bedtime routines that we get with our 2 and 4 year olds. I think I'll try it as a timeline so you can get the full effect:
6:30PM - Zade heads upstairs for his nightly bath. Depending on Kaya's cuteness level, she either joins him (not very cute) or gets a hall pass for the evening (cute).
6:40PM - Zade, in bath, still offers no sign of a woodie after 2+ years.
6:50PM - Kaya is pleading for her 4th helping of ice cream, after having cookies.
7:02PM - Whole family ends up in Zade's room, where "Dancing Queen" is playing on the iPod (the only song Zade really knows how to request).
7:08PM - Kaya and Daddy say goodnight as Mommy settles in to read "Hippos Go Berzerk!" to the Z-man.
7:09PM - Kaya begs to watch either a) Sound Of Music or b) Cars (the movie). She'll pass on Little Mermaid because "Ursula the witch is scary".
7:30PM - Kaya has won and watched her video. Before she gets into bed, the following must occur:
a) Kaya Doll (American Girl) must be out of her Native American "Rain Dance" costume, and into her white calfskin leather shawl and booties, whereupon she is placed in bed.
b) Jess Doll (yes, also American Girl) must be changed from her kayaking outfit (which includes whistle, passport, oar and actual kayak) into her pajamas, nighttime bracelent and frilly flip-flops.
c) Steps High (Kaya Doll's horse) must receive his sleeping cap.
Once in bed and stories are read (currently 'Ramona The Pest' or 'Jess' (yes, the American Girl doll's life story), the following must take place:
- The soft blankets must be placed to the left hand side of the bed. On top of the blankets must be Lightning McQueen.
- Jess Doll sleeps next to Lightning, close to Kaya.
- Kaya must have the soft-soft-pillow, not the soft-hard-pillow.
- Kaya prefers "Hawaiian Music" to sleep to.
- Her "day" must be discussed, preferably as slowly as possible to maximize non-sleeping time.
- She must call Daddy in at least 2 or 3 times for such big events as:
a) "I have a hangnail" (i.e. any not 100% smooth part of her fingernail)
b) "I'm thirsty" (all the time)
c) "I'm bored" (err...)
Anyway, I love these moments.
The whole family was in the kitchen tonight, eating dinner, rolling cars across the floor and coloring, and I suddenly wanted to be outside the room, looking in to observe this family in action. Had the piano music been cued and there'd been a bit of frost on the windows, you'd have thought it was the All-american family sitting down to say grace and wolf down another tuna casserole. Of course, this is my family, and we're in LA, so it was Thai food, Coldplay over the speakers and alternating screams and laughs.
Tonight, I thought I'd write down some of the wonderful bedtime routines that we get with our 2 and 4 year olds. I think I'll try it as a timeline so you can get the full effect:
6:30PM - Zade heads upstairs for his nightly bath. Depending on Kaya's cuteness level, she either joins him (not very cute) or gets a hall pass for the evening (cute).
6:40PM - Zade, in bath, still offers no sign of a woodie after 2+ years.
6:50PM - Kaya is pleading for her 4th helping of ice cream, after having cookies.
7:02PM - Whole family ends up in Zade's room, where "Dancing Queen" is playing on the iPod (the only song Zade really knows how to request).
7:08PM - Kaya and Daddy say goodnight as Mommy settles in to read "Hippos Go Berzerk!" to the Z-man.
7:09PM - Kaya begs to watch either a) Sound Of Music or b) Cars (the movie). She'll pass on Little Mermaid because "Ursula the witch is scary".
7:30PM - Kaya has won and watched her video. Before she gets into bed, the following must occur:
a) Kaya Doll (American Girl) must be out of her Native American "Rain Dance" costume, and into her white calfskin leather shawl and booties, whereupon she is placed in bed.
b) Jess Doll (yes, also American Girl) must be changed from her kayaking outfit (which includes whistle, passport, oar and actual kayak) into her pajamas, nighttime bracelent and frilly flip-flops.
c) Steps High (Kaya Doll's horse) must receive his sleeping cap.
Once in bed and stories are read (currently 'Ramona The Pest' or 'Jess' (yes, the American Girl doll's life story), the following must take place:
- The soft blankets must be placed to the left hand side of the bed. On top of the blankets must be Lightning McQueen.
- Jess Doll sleeps next to Lightning, close to Kaya.
- Kaya must have the soft-soft-pillow, not the soft-hard-pillow.
- Kaya prefers "Hawaiian Music" to sleep to.
- Her "day" must be discussed, preferably as slowly as possible to maximize non-sleeping time.
- She must call Daddy in at least 2 or 3 times for such big events as:
a) "I have a hangnail" (i.e. any not 100% smooth part of her fingernail)
b) "I'm thirsty" (all the time)
c) "I'm bored" (err...)
Anyway, I love these moments.
Replies
LOVE that entry. Very cute. Someone has daddy wrapped around her little finger! But I shouldn\'t talk. Tonight I must have gone into both kid\'s room at least 5 times. The joys of the never-ending bedtime rituals.
Hi from Sydney Australia (in fact you know my husband quite well..shhh I can\'t tell you his name or he will shoot me. Ok I got carried away with the shoot me part. I love the way you documented your families nighttime routine. Have you ever considered scrapbooking? You would be the perfect candidate and it\'s an excellent way to preserve your family memories and experiences while also capturing those little things that mean the most. Hey your journal entries are a testament to that. There are plenty of guys out there that do it, but only a few will actually be \"man\" enough to admit it. Just a thought.
Thank you for developing this site. I am a new member to this site..in the epilepsy group. I find it so inspirational to read other peoples stories and how they deal with their individual situations, to feel that people actually care about you, and to know that you are not alone. It\'s a wonderful thing to know there are visionaries like you who try to make the world a better place. Keep up the good work and don\'t ever stop. I hope your family is all well and that you have a wonderful Christmas. Love from AUS, ES.
Another outstanding and precious tale of the Hirsch family adventures through life. We love it.
What precious memories you are creating for those adorable kids. They will remember bedtime with you both always.
hold on to the memories cause one day you will wake up and they will be senior\'s in high school and dating. Talking about college and moving away and you will not be ready for them to go.