I didn’t blog very well this Christmas. Sorry, guys. But I think we were likely all busy with the season. So, to recap…
Dekker flourished this last week! He’s been exhausted and overstimulated and has learned SO MUCH through it all! He adores his aunties and uncles and nephews, and has started putting words together for pretty much the first time! Asking for help is no longer “Help. Please. Mum.” Its “Please mum” instead. Things like that. He’s been much quicker to use manners without being prompted, which I would not have thought would be the case when around a crowd of people with lots of noise and hubbub. He’s been communicating more and more clearly. Last night, he was quite upset, and no amount of asking or cuddling would fix it. Finally, I took him into the computer room, closed the door behind us, and told him to let it out. Scream, jump around, throw himself on the floor, whatever he needed to do. He seemed kind of thrown off by the idea, but took me up on it to an extent. I just sat on the floor and waited and told him he could go as long as he wanted. After some time, he came over to me and reached for a hug. While I hugged him, I heard him very quietly say “sorry.” He has never said that all on his own! I forgave him immediately, and before I could reassure him of anything else, he said “Love!” I told him I loved him back and asked what I could do to help him feel better. “Snat? Please?” A snack it was. My little boy is not so little anymore.
Today was the day everyone left my parents place and headed on to their next Christmas celebrations and/or real life. Before that all had to happen, my sisters, my mom, and I went to the city for some shellac manicures and Starbucks. It was a super fun date for us, as we all can appreciate a little pampering, and have never went together. They also got me super excited about taking Laela, one day, for manicures. Maybe in a few Christmases. We came back to a house that was still standing happy, fed kids. We all ate leftovers for lunch and had a pretty short afternoon, it seemed, of visiting and packing. It was a sad thing to observe, and we did our best to lurk in the basement with our siblings as they got their things in order. Dekker was having so much fun playing and dancing with the boys, but right around 3:00, he was soaked in sleep sweats. He came to me and asked to be lifted up. And he slumped on my shoulder. It was certainly nap time. So he said his goodbyes then, and missed them in the moment. I think thats ok, though. Goodbyes are hard and confusing for him.
When he did get up, we were packed up for the most part as well, Laela was awake and playing on a playmat, and the rest of us were getting settled in for some delicious and guilty pleasure mac and cheese. He seemed sad and kind of baffled that no one was around, but he warmed up quickly and ate a good supper. It was sad to leave my parents/his grandparents house, but arriving home was really well received by all.
Yes. We are home. The clocks are reset (thank you, power flickers), the heat is turned back on schedule, and bags are all in, my pumpkin candle is lit, and we are comfy.
Now, what I’ve waited days for – my bathtub.