Days of Christmas, part 11

If there's one thing you don't mess with, it's our kids' meal schedule. When it's 7:45 a.m., 12 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. they are either eating or mean. That's the schedule, and alterations aren't acceptable.

Don't think you can skip a lunch for a 2 p.m. get together involving food. If it's 12 p.m. they expect lunch. And don't try to blow off dinner because they ate at a 4 p.m. party. They'll be asking when it's dinner time by 6:35 p.m. Strangely enough, they'll eat at that 6:35 p.m. dinner as if the 4 p.m. feeding never occurred.

Food ... it's important.

Therefore, the holiday plates wrapped up as today's surprise were much appreciated by the eaters. They not only featured holiday graphics, but, as an added mom bonus, are the four-section variety for which I've sworn off all other plates. Let's eat.

Days of Christmas, part 10

They light up lives, how appropriate they receive little lights of their own. Holiday night lights, that is. What was brighter, their smiles or the lights, is a toss up.

Besides casting a warm glow, three of the night lights are lava lamp like, with glittery liquid inside that moves as the light warms.

Alysse's night light is an angel. She so liked how it lit up when plugged in that she hugged it.

Alivia choose a snowman holding a rope of sparkly snowflakes. While it doesn't have the lava lamp affect as the others do, hers, in my opinion, is the cutest of all.

Alena's Christmas tree night light, with dangling ornaments as an added touch, was admired by everyone, especially her.

Trace, in his spread 'em for a pat down pose, is hugging/blocking his snowman night light. Being the king of the "unplug it and run" posse, he must have been having a guilty conscious the same would be done to his new light.

I hate poop

Yes, you read that right. What a way to draw a reader in, huh?

There's a time early on in parenthood after the initial adjustment when you don't mind poop. In fact, you often times find yourself discussing it.

"Yes, little Trace had three poopies last night," you might tell grandma.

You might find yourself discussing poop patterns or even poop consistency with other mothers. Comparing poop, you might say. You develop an uncanny ability to discuss poop with the pediatrician in great detail.

I, however, have reached the point of hating poop. My days of affectionately referring to my children's poop or spending any time investigating it have sailed. I'm officially pooped out.

Trace has spent weeks pooping out of his overnight diapers after rising and before shining. I've had two weeks plus of daily crib sheet changes. After Monday morning's episode which involved scrubbing poop out from under his fingernails and a total disinfecting of the crib itself, I wised up.

Racking my brain for reasons why the diapers weren't containing the mess, it occurred to me. Diapers no longer doing their job means diapers are too small. Ahh, that light bulb moment. Why hadn't I remembered this little tad of information already learned the hard way?

Pronto, we were off to Target for larger diapers. I smugly patted myself on the back for solving my poop crisis. No more morning baths. No more poop scrubbing before 8 a.m.

That night Trace went to bed secured in his oversized size 5 Pampers Cruiser. Secretly, I was like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting to see my Tuesday morning results. I just knew the poop wasn't going to be up his back!

In an odd bit of irony, Tuesday morning came with no stench in Trace's room. The size 5 hadn't been put to the test, he apparently wasn't so moved.

Ahh, but never underestimate the power of twins. Upon picking Alysse up out of bed, I quickly learned she had made up for Trace's shortcomings in completely pooping out of her pull-up. Up her back, down her legs, on sheets, on blankets, now on me too.

I swear, they sometimes work as a conspirators. Good enough. Now, I reasoned, you'll both get the oversized diapers at bedtime, and I'll make sure the poop epic comes to an end. Again, I waited to see what Wednesday morning would bring on the poop front.

In a surprise twist, both were pulled from bed this morning without poop. Only thing is, my taller than normal laundry stacks of late were unchanged, as Alivia puked all over her bed around 3 a.m. Now I'm left to decide which I hate worse ... poop or puke?

Days of Christmas, part 9

A little "gimme" shot as the ninth advent gift came out.

Today's was probably the most popular to date ... BOOKS. Our kids love books and you throw animals, snowmen and St. Nicholas into the mix and they're hooked.

Alivia received a Wonder Pets reindeer tale. Since a turtle is one of the three Wonder Pets attempting to rescue the stranded reindeer, Alivia was in love with the book. Book + turtle = doesn't get much better for Liv.

Alysse snagged an adorable boardbook about what snowmen do at night. Drinking iced cold cocoa and playing snowman games is right up her alley.

Alena's book is an illustrated version of the holiday classic "Jolly Old St. Nicholas." Besides enjoying a new Christmas story, she was pleased with the book's accompanying CD that she popped in her CD player for listening enjoyment as well.

And sticking with the dog theme, Trace's book was "12 Dogs for Christmas." This guy loves dogs, and dogs wearing Santa hats and reindeer antlers are even more amusing.

Reading ... there's nothing like it

In our house we read. We read lots.

Even Trace, who initially didn't take to being read to as each of the girls had, has, much to his mother's pleasure, developed an affection for page turning.

Our copy of "Eloise Wilkin Stories" (a Little Golden Books collection) is lovingly tattered. Our favorite lift-the-flap books are missing a few flaps. Our limited edition "What's a Grandma Butterbean?" has been opened more times than you could possibly imagine.

It's our daily reading regimen that's contributed to a four year old whose vocabulary contains the word ridiculous; and a three year old who can "read" nearly any book on our shelves as though she's near perfectly reading the words on the pages.

On the top shelf of one of our bookcases, I've stashed our copy of "Love Song for a Baby" by Marion Dane Bauer and Dan Andreasen. It's a beautiful book and will always be one of my favorites. I remember reading it to Alena when she was just days old wondering "How can this really be benefiting her? She can't possibly be getting any of this, can she?"

Four years and four thousand books read later, I believe it did and still does. It's fascinating what a child absorbs by being read to and how wonderfully enjoyable it is for both parent and child. Reading to a child is something good for them that you don't have to sell them on (it certainly beats convincing a three year old to try broccoli). A beautiful combination.

Our children exemplify the benefits of reading to your little ones, both early and often. They are a testament to the vocabulary-building it affords them and the worlds it can open them to. And while helping to develop early reading skills, it's a chance to instill in them a love of reading. I'll open a book to that.

*Coincidentally, I had started this post days ago, but hadn't finished it until today's Days of Christmas gift provided the perfect segue and kick in the keyboard to post it.