14 months 27 days

Last night I was so extremely exhausted that I had such a hard time working that I went to bed at 1 am. Thankfully no one needed milk after that until the morning (or we were so tired we didn't hear it). Just before 7 am I was woken up when I heard Sammy crying. Randy got up to feed them all, and it was on the earlier end of their wake up time. At 8:40 I woke up again, because I heard Sammy cry again. This time it was Randy bringing him upstairs to change his diaper (right outside our bedroom door), and I could also hear the other two downstairs crying because Daddy had left them alone. It was ten minutes before my getting up time, so I got up already and went downstairs to comfort my crying children. After Randy had returned, I went upstairs to make their food, and we fed them 5 minutes earlier than usual.

Then we put them to bed for their morning nap. At 9:30 I picked up Tammy (that's when this picture was taken, of no one sleeping) and lay down with her, which is usually when Emmy falls asleep, with Sammy already asleep. Tammy fell asleep on me, but Emmy was crying hard. I was hoping Randy would act, but he didn't. So I took the risk, gently slid Tammy onto the bed, and praise God, she did not wake up. I picked up Emmy and lay down with him right next to her. Well, he was curious to see her, and it was enough for her to wake up. Together, there is no sleeping for either one of them! So I let them play, let them go to the ground and run around. We've been wanting to go to the playground, which is a 15-minute walk away, and where we've only been one single time before. We decided on the spot that we'd go right there and then, even though it was the time I'd usually be sleeping.

So we dressed them up warm, it being a cold day, and once his siblings came running to his bed, Sammy was awake again as well. We left the house at 10:35.

There were fewer kids there than last time, when it was warm, and when there was no lockdown, but still a good number of children. Tammy and Emmy are always VERY interested in other children. There was also a dog, and Emmy was not so sure about it.

We put them all on this big, wide swing. You could tell that especially Emmy was tired. Except for Sammy, they didn't seem to enjoy that swing that much; they preferred the swing you sit in by yourself. But it was really cute how Tammy took Sammy's hand to hold it, and gave him a kiss. She's really caring.

They also went down the slide a few times, which Emmy enjoys the most. And there was a bouncing seat (they didn't care much for), and a bouncing giraffe that Sammy enjoyed.

Tammy impressed me with her ability to stand on the ropes, though I did keep my hand on her back, just to make sure.

As they were getting pretty tired, and time was advancing, plus the long 15 minute walk back home, we put them back into the strollers and gave them some milk. We were back home by noon, and fed them their lunch meal at 12:30. At 1 pm they all went to bed for a nap, the girl lying down with me, as Mommy was very tired and in need of a nap as well. However, Sammy had actually slept in the morning, so he was not ready for another nap. Tammy fell asleep fast, so did Emmy, but Sammy was crying and Daddy had left to pick up a package, so he could not respond. So I finally got up with Tammy, betting she was so exhausted it would work, and it did; I was able to put her into her bed where she just continued sleeping. Then I picked up Sammy and lay down with him. He was happy as can be, but he was not gonna let me sleep, of course. He is our grabber, with a fierce grip, and he got my hair a few times, smiling and laughing and enjoying lying on or next to me, while I just wanted to sleep. Then Emmy started crying, at his typical half-hour mark, and I picked him up and lay back down. He was in a sleeping position on my chest, with Sammy next to me. After a few minutes Randy returned and took Sammy, so Emmy had a chance to actually sleep on me. At 2 pm Tammy woke up and started crying hard; she's not used to sleeping in her bed during the day. I gently slid Emmy onto the bed, went to pick her up, but when we lay down, Emmy woke up. Being awake together on our bed is party time for them, so I took them both downstairs, where we all played until 3 pm. Emmy was happy and happily playing, but Tammy was just crying, even when she was in my arms. I was wondering what was wrong with her. She did that pretty much for the whole hour. If only they could speak and say what's wrong! And then she was her normal self again, so who knows what that was all about.

We fed them downstairs, which we rarely do now, and then continued playing. I was with them the whole time and did not get to do anything else, but I also enjoy playing with them. Emmy was trying to get my tea cup again, and one time he was faster and me and spilled some of the tea on his leg. Thankfully it was only warm, not hot any more, but he was so startled that he cried. Later, when it was empty, he hesitated going for it. I guess he had learned a lesson! He did end up with it, though.

At 4:30 I went upstairs to make their food and get the beds and bathtub ready. Then we went through our typical routine; we fed them just after 5 pm, and they finished their food while walking around and having fun getting to explore everything. Then they went into the bathtub, which they enjoy a lot. Sammy went to bed first, then Emmy, and then Tammy. The boys fell asleep right away, and I decided to walk away immediately tonight, instead of staying with Tammy until she sleeps. The last two nights I had walked away BEFORE she was asleep, and she had fallen asleep on her own a few minutes later. Tonight I walked away right away, went downstairs, and called Paul in Mali, which was way overdue.

While talking to him, I could hear Tammy cry upstairs the whole time, and it was not subsiding, but getting worse. I finally ended my phone call so I could go upstairs to be at her side. She was so tired, that I only needed to stay a few minutes before she was asleep.

The package Randy had picked up today were the Christmas cards and some other goodies. Now I have to print out, cut, and put everyone's address on them so they can be mailed out. A major job, besides all the other things I have to do! But you'll love the pictures! I have withheld those from you so far.

I've been so tired again tonight, this being the second day in a row I did not get to sleep in the morning like I usually do, but not as tired as I was yesterday, so I've been pushing on. It's nearly 1 am now, and I have a few more things to get done.