March and April were tough as Hazel made the transition to a nap schedule and we learned to navigate around it. I was hesitant to plan things with friends because it was impossible to anticipate when she would be up. Typically the boys and I don't do well without a fun activity any given day. When we spend too much time within these walls, they start to fight, I get easily irritated and I let them watch way more TV than I would prefer. I need a lot of social interaction to thrive and often lack the inertia to get out of the house if I don't have plans forcing me to be somewhere. Thankfully the sunny days and predictable schedule made May much more pleasant and June is shaping up to be quite nice.
With Owen well into his 5th year, he is SO ready for Kindergarten. He needs a lot of stimulation, both physically and emotionally, and I don't feel like I have the energy or know how to provide it. He can he difficult to be around and he's at the stage where he likes to take everything just a little too far. What starts out as a fun game often ends with Wes crying and/or me frustrated. For example, Steve bought Owen and Wes a little Easter toy that had stickers, candy and a stuffed animal in it. Owen took his stickers to school and passed one out to each kid in the class. When I picked him up the teacher told me what a sweet kid he is and commended my parenting. Later that day, Owen realized that Wes still had his full stock of stickers. He demanded that Wes share with him and when Wes refused he punched him in the face and proceeded to steal them.
Weston doesn't understand past, present and future tense and I love how he always tells me stories about "tomorrow." He is super in tune to Hazel and they play together so well. She loves crawling all over him and patting his head. He is a loud and boisterous kid who is always making noise- talking, singing, dancing, screaming. He craves attention and makes us all laugh, Owen thinks he's hilarious. Wes saves his best material for dinner time where they both laugh and forego any semblance of the manners I try so hard to teach them.
We had Hazel baptized at Peninsula Lutheran, as per the Rallo family tradition. We went to service there to meet with Pastor Chuck and talk about the details a few weeks before. I haven't been to Lutheran Church much in recent years and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed being there with the kids. Worshiping in a church like the one I grew up in felt warm and peaceful. We all went up for communion and Pastor Chuck misunderstood that we said it was okay for Wes to have the bread, so he got passed over, but Owen got his. They both had the grape juice. When it was time to head back to our seats, Wes didn't want to go. He stayed kneeling, hands folded, waiting for his little piece of the body of Christ. After a minor meltdown in front of the entire congregation, Ty was able to talk him off the ledge and he made his way back to the pew. Later that day Owen and I were in the car together and he told me "I feel so bad that Wes didn't get a rice crispy treat at church."
We got the boys a bunk bed so they are officially #roommates. We were hesitant to put them together because Wes has always been SO good at going to bed at night. We were terrified that Wes would pick up Owen's bad habits. Turns out bunking up was the golden ticket for Owen to finally get to sleep by himself and Wes is so exhausted at night that he curls up and closes his eyes regardless of what Owen is doing.
One of the main reasons I wanted multiple children was so that they'd always have each other. I knew that the more kids we had the harder it would be the parent them, but I also thought that eventually it would pay off. That at some point they would be able to play together rather than demanding my attention all the time. I love knowing that his little brothers presence on the bunk below him is enough to calm Owen's bedtime fears. I pray that when the two of them are together they always feel that same sense of peace, security and connection.
This parenting gig is a real mixed bag. The weeks are full of highs and lows and ever shifting needs. It feels like as soon as we have one routine down, it changes. As a mama I am continually evolving and we're all learning as we go. It is hard, holy work. It's an honor and a privilege. These three sweet faces are everything that is right in the world.
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