My Boys

At this moment, my sweet baby boys are sleeping in the same room together. 

We are trying Nolan in there to see if he’ll sleep a little longer.  Mimi had the big kids last night, so we tried Nolan in the crib.  I still didn’t let him “cry it out” – he just seems too little, but at least his little squirms and grunts don’t cause me to wake up.  He did seem to go a little bit longer last night and so far tonight.  And, Everett so far hasn’t even moved an inch when Nolan cries – his sleep (so far) appears impervious to the noise.  But, this is not the point of this post.

I just went in to lay Nolan back down after his middle of the night feeding, and Everett was laying in his bed asleep.  I love looking at them asleep anyway, and he was out with his little hands propped up behind his head.  Precious.  I sat and watched him for a moment, and then laid down my other sweet baby boy as he drifted off to sleep.  Precious again.

As I sat and watched them asleep on their very first night sharing a room, I recognize neither of them can even begin to fathom the significance of tonight – the meaning.  They are BROTHERS.  They will have years and years of nights of sleeping in the same room.  Nights they’ll go to bed whispering to each other their secrets  – first of adventures playing during the day, maybe later pranks they pulled at school that day, much much much later – girls, and as they are nearly men – hopes and dreams of the future as they begin to plan for college, careers, and marriage.  There will be nights they can’t sleep from excitement where they’ll giggle and talk far past when they should be asleep – Christmas Eves, before the many first days of school, family vacations.  There will also be nights they’ll comfort each other’s fears and saddened hearts in a special way that mom and dad can’t.  This shared room will also mean some arguments as well I’m sure.  But I am praying tonight as I watch them there will be many more nights of helping each other with homework, playing games together, and helping each other through life’s struggles.

I sat there gazing at both of them just thinking about all that this first night represented.  The beginning of the many stories that this night holds.  This night represents the close bond they will hold for years to come – as well as the relationship they’ll hold with their big sister.  I took a moment and thanked the Lord for brothers and sisters.  For my siblings – the two I grew up with, and the ones I’ve gained later in life as well in Jason’s two sisters, my step-sister Jennifer, and their spouses.  I think it is a true blessing to have siblings to do life with.  I can’t imagine life as an only.  I know there are “onlies” that do fine, but I’m so glad I have mine to share my joys and struggles with.  (By the way, I know “onlies” that are not so because they have built up around them “brothers” and “sisters” in their friends.  When we lived away from home, we were “onlies” and made family out of our friends.  I am not implying someone has to have siblings to be healthy and happy.  Life’s what you make it, and you can surely create those relationships with people outside your family unit.) 

My sister and I shared a room.  I look back on those many nights with such fondness.  The many, many shared secrets that were whispered on those two beds.  There were many tears shed, but so many more giggles.  There were fights (and whew, there were some good ones), but so many more hugs and support for each other.  There was an extra empty bedroom at our house that we could have used, but we never pushed for it.  There were times I contemplated that extra bedroom, but when it came down to it, I welcomed the time with my sister.  My sister and I are pretty different from each other today, but there is a bond we hold that will never be broken, no matter how different we are.

As I was writing this, Everett came in for his fairly routine middle of the night waking.  As I do on these many nights, I picked him up, carried him back to bed, re-started his music, and laid with him for a few minutes until he could go back to sleep on his own.  In just a couple of hours, Nolan will be back up again to eat.  So, I’m not predicting peaceful long-lasting sleep in that room for a few years!  HA!  But, I’m so thankful for what it holds for the future.

It makes me want to have six more babies – well, maybe one.  I think siblings (those biological and those through marriage) are some of the best gifts in this world.  Even though there are disagreements and arguments at times, the unspoken support and bond siblings share is pricless.  As I lay down to go to sleep tonight, I will be praying for a rich, supportive, and healthy relationship between our three children as well as between their futures spouses and in laws.  I’ll also be thanking Him for my own siblings – Rachel, Doug, Andy, Stephanie, Jennifer, (and soon to be Chip), Jessica, Rick, Jenna, and Danny – I LOVE YOU!!!!