life lessons with lute

Ah, Christmas, how I love thee. It really is the best time of year. Time to slow down, reflect, be filled with gratitude. 


Here's the problem. 


It's usually Christmas eve night, around 11:30pm, and I am wrapping presents like an insane person, It's a Wonderful Life is playing on my computer, and I think to myself, "How is Christmas starting in THIRTY minutes? What happened to time for quiet reflection?!? This was not part of the plan." The fact that I am recognizing this eight days early might be progress. We'll see how it goes.


This year we have really been emphasizing to Lute that Christmas is Jesus's birthday and that's why we celebrate, and isn't it great that we get to open presents on His birthday (because the kid cannot wait to open his presents)? Somehow in that emphasis, it has sunk into our hearts a little more, too. In the hustle and bustle, the endless renditions of "Rudolph", the Christmas cards, infinite discussions of Santa and what kind of cookies he likes... it keeps reminding me of Jesus. I am so thankful for that, because in the mad chaos that has been December, I need it.


And really, I think it can best be summed up by Lute himself. Here is a conversation he and Nick had over pancakes yesterday.


"Hey, Lute, you better hurry up with that hot chocolate. It looks like Eddie is gonna beat you." (This is a tactic we use when meal times are painfully slow.)


"Oh, Dada, let's just take our time and enjoy it."


Oh, Lute, if only you knew how wise you were.

oh hey, remember george?

Man, it's hard being the third born. I wouldn't know personally, as the oldest (and some might say favorite. Stacy? Victoria?), but I have watched my little George suffer the effects of being the littlest bro. He is none the wiser and I think he will actually be the toughest, scrappiest one of the bunch. He'll have to be if he's going to survive Eddie. Yesterday I walked away from them for all of four seconds when I heard a thud (George's head) and turned to see that Eddie had tackled him to the ground for an empty sippy cup. I'd hate to see what would have happened if it was a cookie.


But that's not the point. The point is I have chronicled each kid's birthday on here, and it occurred to me that George hit the big milestone of his first and I hadn't even mentioned it. Not that anyone is really paying attention, but that's the kind of ammo kids use later in life. I know, I've done it. (Like when my parents got my little sister the EXACT replica of my favorite doll that had blown away in the wind when I was three. Yes, it blew away.)


So, George, here it is, buddy. A little tribute to you. Your goofy, toothy grin can turn the worst day around. You laugh like you know some secret joke many times a day, and you don't have me fooled one bit - you are the biggest rascal of them all. I love you with all my heart. 

It has been a day. That's the short version.

Today I woke up at 6:30 to Eddie in major need of a milk fix. That's when I noticed what looked like a little eye infection. He has been off antibiotics for three days. Awesome.

8AM  I called the doctor to see if we should come in. The receptionist told me to wait to hear from the nurse and to make sure to keep my phone with me at all times. 

8:15 Dropped said phone into Lute's little toilet. I am not going to go into detail here, but let's just say it wasn't empty. Things have since been disinfected. Majorly.

8:45 I got George up and noticed he had the same eye grossness going on. Perfect.

9:15 Schedule afternoon appointments for both babies. 

9:30-12:55 The usual: bathe the babies, dress them, feed them, change them, pick Lute up, make lunch, feed them, change them, put all to bed. 

2:45 Realize I should be on my way to the doctor and all of my children are still sleeping. Wake them, put them in the car, Lute is not happy. And by this, I mean he is absolutely inconsolable. Until I hand him a toy catalog from the mail and that was just dumb. He now wants a sled, a remote control train, his own personal ice rink and an ice cream maker.

3:25 Two ear infections for Eddie (still. like since October) and an eye infection for George.  More antibiotics. (Please, please, please work.)

After that Nick was home and that just makes life better. 

I was pretty annoyed at the whole scenario, but then I remembered:

I have three beautiful boys. I just went in and checked on George and watching a peaceful, sleeping baby tops my list of perfect moments.

Lute is really funny. Tonight when deciding what game to play with Nick, he looked at him in all seriousness and said, "Just do what you're good at, Dada. Just do what you're good at."

Eddie is the happiest infected kid I've ever met. And dang it, his hair just makes me happy.

It is CHRISTMAS time. Our tree is up, our lights are all twinkly, and even in the midst of all the lame inconveniences, God loves us and that's what it's all about. We've got it pretty darn good.

(But, Dear Tomorrow, get your act together.  Sincerely, Me.)