Bathtime, Bedtime and the Inbetween

So it begins. The messy task of putting the minis (and in case you are wondering minis in our title refers to the short tales in our blog as well as the munchkins) to bed. First comes Amelia. Her routine was formulated after a year of try and fail until we met success. It is made up of an overly acted out screen play (directed and narrated by dad of course).

Scene One (The snack)

 This in itself can be a production. With a list of two or three choices given, promptly turned down and renegotiated until she finally decides on one of the two or three original offered snacks. (She seems to only be doing this to assert her independence.)

Scene Two (Bathtime)

 Amelia dumps all of her bath toys noisily into the tub while daddy goes over the routine:

 Daddy-"What do we do after the bath?"
Amelia-"The mommy kiss!"
Daddy-"No. We brush our teeth. What do we do after we brush our teeth?"
Amelia-"The mommy kiss!"
Daddy-"No. We find the daddy shirt. What do we do after the daddy shirt?"Amelia"Um....the mommy kiss?"
Daddy-"Yep! What do we after the mommy kiss?
Amelia-"The mommy kiss."
Daddy-"We say our prayers. What do we do after we say our prayers?"
Amelia-"The mommy kiss."
Daddy chuckling-"No...we watch a movie and go to sleep"


 Once in the tub Amelia splashes and splashes while daddy protests and threatens. Daddy struggles to get her hair washed. Then he wrestles with her attempting to get her dry.

Scene Three (The Mommy Kiss)

After she is all clean daddy carries her to the living room (still dripping some) where she gives mommy and brother each a sloppy kiss. She squeals and squeaks out some "good-nights" and "ew's" (at kisses).

Scene Four (The bedroom)

They then head to her bedroom where the drama really begins. Amelia (who seems to either be an inspiring actress or a politician in the making) pleads her case as to why she should get to watch an episode of a show rather than watching a movie. Daddy explains why she must pick a full length movie 7 or 8 times until one or the other gives in. After several calls for drinks, potty and show changes She finally falls to sleep.

 Scene Five (Meanwhile in the living room...)

All the while mommy is struggling with the grueling task of getting an over tired Allen to stop fighting sleep. We nurse and then rock. I walk him and he cries. I sing to him and he cries. I bounce him and he whimpers. I rock him some more and he gives in to sleep. I attempt to lay him down which he soon detects and begins to howl. There is more bouncing, rocking, singing, and crying, Then another nursing session and repeating all of the above until finally he can no longer fight it and crashes into a deep enough sleep that mommy can put him into his crib.

Scene Six (Exhaustion)

Then mommy and daddy exhausted fall onto the couch and survey the disaster from a day of playing and temper tantrums. We discuss cleaning but ultimately decide to put it off until morning. We then lay in bed and put on a movie which we have no intention of finishing and doze off. 

Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”