Rainbows

It was pouring rain again this morning, after only one day of sun this week*, so I thought it a good time to tell Ali about Noah's Ark. After I explained the rainbow after the rain is God's promise to us, Ali said, "But is sometimes God too tired to do a rainbow? Because there isn't always a rainbow after the rain."
He knows the science behind rainbows, so we talked about how God set up science rules, and if it isn't sunny, there won't be a rainbow, but the promise is still there.
*The kids enjoyed the great weather yesterday by finally getting to play in the creek area behind the house. The neighbor kids joined them and they had a fabulous time. Their dad came to call them home, so we met him- he seems very nice. We're so thankful for kids our kids age- a girl Leila's age, a boy Ali's, and an older boy who plays well with them. They also have a little one- older than Sami, but there are lots of baby boys on this street when it comes time for playing.

Buckets

It's hard to be a girl in third grade. Leila comes home with various dramas throughout the week, and the emotions spill over into attitude and disrespect at home, and it usually all comes out after she's gotten in trouble for something. A friend at school isn't forgiving her even though she apologized, or someone isn't including her in play and the like. I advised her to be kind and do something nice for her friend who isn't being very friendly back, and she told me about a book they had read about buckets, and filling other people's buckets, and how filling someone else's bucket also fills your bucket. (The bucket is full of happiness, I think.)
The next day, Ali said to me, "You look nice today, Mommy." I asked, "Why do you say that Ali?" "Because I want to fill your bucket."
So it sounds like lots of people are reading this book at school.
I was really wondering why he thought I looked nice, so I asked him, and he said, "You look nice to me. You probably look nice to other people, too."
A little later I heard him talking about the buckets to H. Then, "Do I fill up your bucket, daddy?" "Yes, Ali." "Oh. You fill up my bucket, too."
This morning he said to Leila, "You look nice today." Ali doesn't like to diversify in his bucket filling technique, though when I said this afternoon that I needed my bucket filled, he said, "I can help with that," and came over and gave me a big hug.
I told them yesterday that words weren't the only way of filling the bucket, and I think we'll do a bucket project over spring break next week. I'm going to cut some bucket shapes out of construction paper and put them on the pantry door. When someone does something nice for us, we'll put a sticker or comment on their bucket. When all the buckets are full, a trip to the yogurt shop would be appropriate- don't you think?

Doing it right- I guess.

The other day, Leila told me that if people could choose their parents, she would choose us. She actually said- she was glad we are her parents- but that's what she meant.
She was thinking of this while looking at Sami.
I'm glad she's my daughter, too, however crazy she drives me on occasion.

Tummy time

Yesterday Leila told me that my growing belly doesn't seem that big or that odd to her. "Maybe it's because Baba's belly was that big for a while!"
Good thing she didn't say my belly was already big before I was pregnant!

Love

"Have a nice day at school, Ali," I said as he headed out.
"I love you, mommy. And tell the baby I love it, too."
"Ali loves you baby," I say in the direction of my belly.
Sometimes, when he isn't in a hurry to get to school, Ali kisses the baby via my belly. He's going to be a very loving big brother.
Everything was great at the midwife today. I have to do my food chart still, but was glad I haven't since last night's dinner was pizza and the midwife was the same one I had when I did my food chart with Ali, and she's very strict.
My back is doing better now that I've done some exercises, and I saw the chiropracter today. She tells me she likes to see her "Preggos" throughout the pregnancy, and I've scheduled a massage along with my adjustment next week.

First lost tooth

Yesterday Ali ran off the soccer field when the quarter ended and told us he'd finally lost his tooth. I double checked that he hadn't swallowed it, but he assured me it had fallen on the ground.  I tried to convince the kids that it would grow into a tooth tree, but they wouldn't believe me. I told them the tooth fairy planted all the teeth she got in her garden and grew more teeth which she planted in kids' mouths, but they weren't biting. Leila said she uses the teeth to build her house- like to add a pool room- a pool table room and a swimming pool room, both.
This morning I remembered that the tooth fairy had forgotten to visit last night, and I snuck a dollar's worth of quarters under his pillow pet. Luckily he had forgotten to check, so he was excited when I reminded him and he found his loot.

ghosts

While in the drop off lane yesterday morning, Leila started telling us about what they'd done Monday on the field we were inching past. She and her friends had told scary stories and someone had said there was a ghost at the gym next to the field.
Ali said that someone had told him there was a ghost at their school, as well. He sounded worried, and the night before had woken up from a scary dream involving ghosts. Leila said there isn't any such thing as ghosts, but there are spirits.
I reminded him that God is stronger than any ghosts or spirits, and he should remember that if he got scared. But I also assured him that there wasn't a ghost at school and nothing would bother him. Then he said, "You can be friends with ghosts." I let him know I didn't want him being friends with any ghosts.
Last night he lingered on my bed after story time and prayers, too scared to go to bed even though he rooms with his sister. I prayed one more time, specifically about his fears, and he went off to bed happily.