Let's take a moment to celebrate these big, big girls! They're going to turn the big FOUR in August and are excited to start preschool in the fall. I've been cherishing the one-on-two time that I get with them three days a week.
Just last Thursday we were enjoying the sunshine at Longwood Gardens. Mommy was getting her first sunburn of the season, and the girls were enjoying climbing the trees and running around the grass.
We were investigating the strange, spiky plants in the conservatory and the spring bulbs of all kinds that were coming up outside. We climbed up and down all three treehouses and hiked the outdoor boardwalk.
We meandered around the paths until it was almost time to get Devon from preschool. As we capped off the hot day with a cool treat and put an extra one
in the cupholder to refresh Devon in pickup line, we sighed in
contentment. I enjoy these lazy days. I had no idea how big and busy
the next week was going to be for us.
On Saturday I headed out on a whim to look for bedroom furniture for the girls. We weren't in any hurry, but definitely starting to feel like it was time. The girls slept in their cribs set up as toddler beds since the Maryland move. Lately we were noticing that they spent a lot of time in our bed. We wondered if their frequent waking was a sign that their beds were becoming uncomfortable. It was also frustrating for me not to be able to sit on their beds and pray with them at night, sit on the bed and read them a story, or even just climb in bed next to them to cuddle after a nightmare. It seemed like time to get them some big girl beds and bedroom furniture. Craig and I spent a lot of time talking about our various options: bunk beds, double-twin captain's beds, jack-and-jill twin beds, or one big bed. Falling out of bed was a serious concern. So was jumping on the bed. We eventually decided that one big bed was safer than them jumping from bed to bed in any double setup.
I had a plan to pop into three stores, take some pictures, and come home and show Craig some options. I ended up calling him an hour later, asking him to measure the room to be sure, and then writing a check. The first store was a warehouse that happened to be closing the following week, and they were clearing their floor stock that weekend. I could get their entire bedroom set for the price of a good mattress. The cherry wood set was perfect for two little girls. There was no reason to wait. I took a deep breath and scheduled delivery for Thursday.
On Monday, the girls' cribs came down. This is the entirely non-nostalgic last picture I took of their old room.
Monday night this was the room waiting for them at bedtime. I called it the "Stuck in Folsom Prison" look. Bare mattress on the floor. Naked blind looking like bars on the windows. Water stain from last winter's roof failure still on the ceiling. Definitely time for a completely new look.
We took color inspiration from the weeping cherry tree that can be seen outside their window. It only looks this way two weeks out of the year, but it's so worth waiting for. The girls noticed it right away when it suddenly bloomed last week.
Carrie: Mommy, there's a NEW TREE outside!
Melina: Mommy the tree is PAINTED!
Carrie: Mommy, did you paint the tree outside? Did you paint it for us?
Mommy: No. The new tree is a gift from God! He paints the trees like this for us every spring. He covers them with flowers so we can be happy and enjoy them! Isn't that nice?
Girls: YAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!
Tuesday's regular shopping day with our friends Karolina and little Victoria included stops to buy paint and supplies for a room transformation. We also spent some time celebrating the girls and this milestone. Carrie was a little insecure because her crib had come down and there seemed to be major changes on the horizon. The distraction was welcome and helped her stay upbeat.
Wednesday was painting day. I took one last picture to mark the departure of my old friend. I've spent many nights this past year lying on the floor with my head on the beanbag chair and a sleeping girlie on my chest. I'd look up at the water stain, trying to decide what exactly it looked like. Dumbledore the Wizard walking away? A vacuum cleaner? A chess pawn?
Hours went by and progress was much slower than I expected. The ceiling white was not covering well, and needed another coat to make it even. The water stain, especially, needed layer after layer of paint. I kept stopping to feed people, give baths, read stories, and finally put the girls to bed on their crib mattresses on the floor in Mommy and Daddy's room. It became apparent that I was not going to finish that night. Delivery was scheduled for the following afternoon. Oh well.
Fast forward to 2 am, an hour I'm not fond of but seem to see frequently with three toddlers that have occasional sleep issues.
Carrie: Mommy, I'm getting my new bed today!
Mommy: Carrie, it's night. Go back to sleep.
Carrie: New bed! New bed! New bed! Yaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy!
Mommy was half successful getting Carrie subdued by letting her cuddle in bed beside her and trying to go back to sleep. Carrie was too excited to settle down again. Her little legs ran circles against my side. Her hands walked up and down my arm. Two hours later I gave up, and got out the painting things to start on the girls' room. It was a Carrie-approved move. She held the tape as we protected the baseboards. She handed me the screwdriver to remove their outlet covers. She seemed none the worse for wear to be up in the very middle of the night. Painting her room was great fun.
Five a.m. saw me rolling cheery lavender paint up and down the walls. We stopped for a breather shortly after six when Devon joined us, and I resumed at eight when he and Daddy left for preschool and work.
10 a.m. and the paint was drying and I took advantage of the empty room to steam the carpet. In retrospect, I cut it waaaaaaayyyyy too close.
At 1 p.m. the girls watched as the furniture truck rolled into the driveway.
Delivery was very exciting. I think we definitely won Most Appreciative Customers. The girls' delight in the new items was obvious as they squealed and screeched as every new piece was brought in and set up on the barely dried carpets. Then they decided that they liked the delivery men so much they didn't want them to leave.
Melina: Mommy, we want to go to Chick-fil-A!
Mommy: But the working men are here. We can't leave them.
Carrie: We want them to take us to Chick-fil-A!
Melina: They can take us in their big, big truck!
The day was going to be big enough without any other outings. Their new sheets went on the bed, their pictures went back on the walls, and their belongings were arranged on their new dresser. Eight in the evening saw us tucking them into bed in their brand new room.
No worries about them sharing a bed again. After all, they've done it many times before...
Their furniture is nice enough to work for at least one of the girls through college, and maybe even go with one of them into adult life. I'm not sure how long they'll want to share a bed, but it's working for now.
Their new room looks amazing! I can't believe the difference a week makes.
The girls have been conspicuously absent from my side of the bed these past two nights. Could it be that they woke up and padded down the hall to crawl in beside me because they wanted each other's company?
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