Nurse Nancy amongst other things

First thing this morning, these two boys were sitting on the couch knitting.  Seth’s birthday is next week and they are both planning to complete their knitting projects for him.  Keats is knitting in the round for the first time, something he begged me to teach him for months before I finally did a few days ago.  I am not sure what his final product will be.  Maybe a cowl, maybe a hat.  But for a hat, I would have to teach him decreases, hmmmm.  Gabriel has been working on the same scarf in his favorite orange for over a year.  As each family member’s birthday approaches, he picks it up and works on it for a little while planning to gift it, but then loses interest until the next birthday approaches.  I have gotten behind on Seth’s sweater.  I can still finish it if I buckle down over the next few days.  I will.

I have started thinking about what I can do to make my house run more smoothly (be less messy.)  It is so hard having so many people and their respective belongings in a small space.  I am thinking about storing away the last few toys in the boys’ room as they are never played with, just scattered around by the girls.  The boys don’t play with toys anymore (did they ever?)  They build fires (and knit.)  All three boys have started cub scouts and are so excited about it, and I am really happy about that.  After years of not feeling like Seth could participate in any outside social activities with other kids, he is finally at a point where this is possible.

Later in the morning the girls were in the same spot Gabe and Keats had been in earlier with books in their laps.  This is becoming more and more common with the two of them.  These little moments are one of the few breaks I get from Beatrix who is wanting to nurse CONSTANTLY.  I am honestly very weary of nursing my almost two year old Bea, but will be traveling in a couple of weeks without her. While the last trip ended up being a night weaning trip, this one will be the final weaning trip.  I am ready.

The book in Larkspur’s hands above is Nurse Nancy.  She has decided that she doesn’t want to be Emily anymore, and requested that I officially rename her “Nurse Nancy.”  I guess I have some sewing to do after all.  I am thinking blue fabric paint and a stencil will do for the symbol on the apron.

Jonny made both Nurse Nancy and her “tebby bear” paper nurse hats to last until I can figure out a way to sew one.

And regarding this little one, who as I type has crawled into my lap to help herself,

I am thinking it would be pretty sweet if I could get her to climb in bed with “Seffie” every night and go to sleep.  These two, my oldest and my youngest, the two that stay up the latest each night, have sweet little bedtime rituals together that the past few nights have evolved into Beatrix falling asleep in Seth’s bed.  We haven’t perfected this yet, but it’s an idea, although not the most reasonable one.  I am still trying to figure out where Beatrix will sleep when the new baby arrives.  Thankfully I have many months to come up with a plan.