My new Living Room

The babies have started to really move.  They don't crawl yet, but can get anywhere they want too with only minor fussing.  They scoot, roll, reach, whatever to make it to their goal.  I have found I cant keep them from under the kitchen table.  They remind me of dogs, always finding where the food is.  If I had a dog it wouldn't be a problem.  Im sure any dog would take care of the table scraps dropped by Katelyn and Linx.  But I don't have a dog.  And I cant keep the floor under the table clean, no matter how I have tried.  I cant keep the babies from choking on the nasty dry food.  THat is problem number one.  Problem number two is Lincoln.  A wonderful two year old boy, but a boy nonetheless, and a two year old to boot.  He is SO ROUGH.  He climbs on and sits on and squeezes the babies until they are crying.  He wonders why they don't laugh at him when he hits them in the tummy because he sees Katelyn tickle them and they laugh.  He pushes them over.  None of this is done out of malice, but he just wants to play with and interact with the babies.  He just doesn't know how.

I have solved my problem with what I lovingly refer to as "the BABY PIT" or "the pit" for short.

I Love these gates! They are so versatile and nice.  They keep the babies in, and Lincoln out.  There is room for the babies to play, and room for Katelyn to play with the babies and for me to lie down and let the babies climb on me while I take a quick snooze as I have found myself doing on occasion.  I know it cant last forever, already Kira is testing the perimeter looking for weakness, but for now I enjoy these carefree moments when the babies are not choking on something they have found on the floor, and they are safe from well intentioned two year olds. I also enjoy the quick snoozes I can catch when the older kids are in quiet time and the babies just want to be close.

Kinsley in her favorite bouncing toy

Kira

Kira

Preston

Kinsley

A few days ago during Lincoln's nap and Katelyn's quiet time. I was sleeping away in the baby pit in the midst of chaos when I awoke to an unfamiliar touch.  I was roused by Katelyn who had come out of quiet time to ask me a question and found me sleeping.  She quietly slipped into the baby pit and turned off some of the noisy toys, then carefully covered me up with one of the nearby baby blankets so that I could sleep.  When she pulled the blanket around me I had woken up. She is such a sweet and thoughtful girl.  We have been blessed to have her in the family.  She already is taking care of everyone.

Today after taking the above photos, Katelyn asked if she could take some.  I handed her the camera and stepped away.  She has practiced before, but these are some of the best shots I have seen from her budding photography skills.

Here is a three photo set that Katelyn captured when I had stepped away.

Kira smashes Kinsley's face into the carpet.

Kira smiles at me (off camera) while Kinsley cries

Kinsley's face is priceless here from the side of the photo.

 Here is more of Katelyn's work

Kinsley

Preston

Kinsley (you can see in the background how versatile the pit is as I have opened  a panel so i can walk through.)

Kira

The babies playing in the pit