The last several days I've been cleaning out clothing and other items to take to a consignment sale in a few weeks. It's a little sad to permanently rid our home of some of these things. Seeing the outfits...especially the preemie ones Aidan and Alanna wore...so tiny!... was a harsh reminder of how quickly time has passed. I came across the mobile we had on their crib, and I didn't think much of it as I set it aside with the other items that matched their crib set. A short while later, I wound it up and listened to it. I was not at all expecting the rush of emotions and memories that hearing the music brought forth. The crib set was the John Lennon "Imagine" set by Carter's, and the mobile played "Imagine" in that tinkling kind of music from a music box. Tears filled my eyes.
It immediately brought to mind the moments I spent in the nursery before they were even born. I remember one afternoon very clearly. Jason and I stood together in the room after the crib was put together, the sheets in place, and we just imagined what our future held. In mere weeks, God-willing, we would have two babies to care for and love, the babies we'd been praying and longing for over the previous two years. After that, I spent time in there organizing multitudes of onesies, diapers, wipes, clothing, toiletries and burp cloths while we awaited their arrival.
Then I flashed to the time when we first put Aidan and Alanna in the crib together. Their first six weeks were spent in a pack n' play because we always had guests in their room. Then, we were able to put them in their crib, which they shared until they were about 4 months old. They looked so tiny sleeping side-by-side, like little angels.
I remember spending a lot of time lulling babies to sleep, praying that they would stay asleep as I transferred them from my arms to the crib and tiptoed ever-so-quietly from the room. I remember Jason and I doing middle-of-the-night feedings together, one of us in the rocking chair, one on the bed, allowing only enough light to see while we changed a diaper. I'm quite sure I fell asleep mid-feeding here and there. Then we'd do "the baby dance" together, lulling them back to sleep, or at least a state of deep drowsiness.
I can't believe those babies are three years old, dressing themselves, getting ready to start preschool, entertaining themselves, and acting out dramatic schemes they imagine all on their own! Sadly, I don't think I took a picture of their nursery, but we are certainly not lacking in pictures of them!