Bedtime Stories...

During the day to day grind, we as mothers and fathers get very busy. Sometimes too busy that we forget to sit and read, pray, and listen to our children. So I think that a bedtime routine is such an important part of our day. Robert and I have done bedtime routine in our home since the girls were very small. We usually both do it together, however, if one of us isn't available or their the other knows exactly what to do. Every night at about 8:00pm we dress them in their PJ's, clean their hands and face, and brush their teeth. They know this is the routine to ready for bed, and usually they do this without a lot of debate because it is so normal to them now.
Then the girls pick a book for storytime. We sit on Alyssa's bed and we will read a few verses out of the the Book of Mormon, we have family prayer, then one of us reads the bedtime story. Then it is lights out.
This is our routine. It may seem silly to some, but I can tell a big difference in our family and in my children when we take the time out of our busy day to come together every night to do this with them.
I mother wiser than me once gave me some great advice. She told me that she found it was so important to lay next to her older son right before bed and just talk to him alone awhile. She would ask him about his day. What he liked best, or disliked about it. What was on his mind? Stuff like that. She noticed a huge change in his attitude toward her and that their relationship was a lot closer once she started doing that.
My daughter Alyssa is beginning to get older and as she does, she begins to test me more and more. Somedays I feel like I debate back and forth with her more than anything else I do. In my personal prayers I have been asking for patience and knowlege to know how to handle her best. She is so strong willed and independant (don't know where she got that?? HAHAHA!) that I want to be sure I am helping her use those characteristics for choosing good things and not to be rebellious.
This morning that conversation with this wise mother and her simple advice came flooding to my mind. I am grateful for this memory of this advice and that my prayers were answered. I feel like this is a great thing I can be doing every night with Alyssa. To lay down by her and just talk with her about her day. What is on her mind. To tell her what she did good that day and that I love her. I think every mother could do this more because we do get so busy.


This is a picture that Alyssa took of me this week. I am 25 weeks along in this pregnancy. I am feeling so much better. I can tell that this pregnancy at 30 years old is a lot different than my first pregnancy at 25 years old. I have learned to listen to my body more and sit down and rest when I need to. To let some things go when I need to.
My placenta is sitting very low over the cervix. It isn't completely covering the cervix, so my doctor is hopeful that it will resolved itself as the baby grows. I have another ultrasound next week to check to see how it is doing.
It is strange to me to think that I only have 14 weeks left before I am a mother of three little girls. At this point, I am looking forward to seeing our little girl and to know that she is healthy.


These are a couple pictures of Alyssa's twin bed. We are selling the set for $50 dollars. It comes with the twin mattress, twin boxsprings, twin frame, and the white wood headboard. We bought it brand new a couple of years ago, so it is still in really nice condition. The mattress is a nice mattress and perfect size for a starting bed for a child-young teenager.
As I have mentioned in a previous post, Rob is in process of building the girls some custom full over full bunkbeds. They are looking so great, and I'm starting to get really excited to see them finished!
So we do not have a need or the space for this twin bed. If you are interested or know anybody who is interested in buying this bed, please comment on my post, or email me @ shanaw@tulsacoxmail.com
(the bed quilt and pillows are not included in the sale. However, I would give the twin sheet set and bed skirt)


Rob reading bedtime stories to the girls the other night. This is always a sight that makes me smile.