Mike has been out of town for work this entire week, so of course I got sick the day he left. Isn’t that always how these things go? The worst of it was on Tuesday, when my sinus and chest congestion combined into massive migraine that made me incredibly nauseated. I’ve never been so thankful to have my parents close by!
Unsurprisingly, Annabel and James are not entertained by me laying on the couch, moaning. Well, Annabel actually thought that was funny at first, until she realized I wasn’t kidding. In an effort to a) not burn out my parents and b) not stick Annie in front of the TV for 187 hours, I pulled out some old toys from our garage. Most of our garage toys are either about to be donated, or James hasn’t grown into them yet. Annie hadn’t seen a lot of those toys in quite some time, so this move bought me some semi-quiet time.
For James, I brought in the bouncer that we bought six years ago. Madeline and Annabel both used it, so we saved it for James, too. He’s very close to sitting up on his own, so I figured this was a good time for him to start using the bouncer.
He was mostly confused by it.
Annabel, however, was thrilled to see the old bouncer. She cared more about the bouncer than the other age-appropriate toys I brought in.
“My old pianoooooo!”
She begged me, and begged me, and begged me to let her get in the bouncer. And I just thought, why not? Obviously my brain isn’t functioning on all levels.
She was like, “Hey, I still fit!” and I was like, ummmmmm:
I expected her to want to get out immediately, but she loved it. Looooooved it. James was like, “Um, I think that is my seat?”
Magic happened in that bouncer. They entertained each other…for an hour. Annie loved bouncing and spinning, and James thought watching her do those things was the greatest treat in the world.
I think I’ve figured out that whole working from home with kids thing! Bouncers for life!
Michelle says:
I totally get Annie’s perspective on this. As a kid, my grandparents had a walker for me. As the oldest grandchild, once I grew out I it I watched every other kid have a turn. As I was tall for my age, I outgrew it early on, but every time someone else was using it I was insanely jealous because I remembered it being so much fun. To humor me, my grandmother would let me in it, even if my legs were dragging on the ground. It was all fun and games until the day I got stuck and I had to hang up my walker days. My grandparents still have it in their attic.
Maris says:
Cute pics!
Steph says:
So sorry you are sick. Hope you are feeling better. Why does it seem to happen so frequently when we are solo parenting? And about the bouncer, whatever keeps them safely occuppied is genius!
Mary Brock says:
Heather, where did you get Annie’s NY shirt?
Heather says:
Old Navy! But it’s fairly old, I think I got it at the end of last year.
Janet says:
My niece LOVED getting in the bouncer when it became her nephews. She is 16 months older than him and would always burst out laughing when I put her in and say “Look Adrian! I fit in your chair!”
Pattie says:
I hope you get well soon, Heather. Also, I think James really looks like Annie in that first pic, and I can never let my 3-y.o. see this post or she’ll be yelling to get in the bouncer next time her baby cousin comes to visit.
Kim says:
As long as they can hold their head up, they can go in the bouncer. You don’t have to wait until they can sit up on their own.
Very cute!
Paula says:
I used to love to bring out old toys at our place for a few moments, or hours, of peace and quiet. You’d think it was Christmas time!
Amy says:
Get better! So hard being sick with wee ones. Glad they were so easily entertained
Annalisa says:
Ha! I totally envy Annie being able to still fit in it. I saved our bouncer from our daughter knowing that it would get some new use eventually. Right before her baby brother was born, I was lugging out a bunch of “new” old toys for baby, and my daughter spotted the bouncer. “Siiiiit!” She commanded. I told her she wouldn’t fit and might get stuck in it. She wasn’t having it. Guess who got in and couldn’t get out of her old bouncer? The 3 year old who’s as tall and big as a 5 year old, that’s who.
These days, she sticks to stealing his pacifiers and putting them in her mouth, then admiring herself in the bathroom mirrors (which is pretty hilarious since she never took to them as a baby).
Annalisa says:
P.S. I remember you writing a while back that Annie was disappointed that James didn’t look like her. He does look a lot like her in that first pic, though.
Priya says:
Oh we have the same bouncer, a hand me down that 2 older cousins used. Did you know you can remove each section for cleaning? Look underneath for little knobs that you loosen and then each piece will pop out. I only discovered this a year after my son stopped using it, and he and his cousins were very spitty babies….doh!
Also, your kids are so cute!
Meg says:
E can get in and out of our exersaucer, so now she gets real crabby when we put her brother in it. Sharing is apparently not caring.
Expat Mom says:
When I got out the sling for my baby, my 5 year old wanted to try it, too. He still fit, though just barely! So funny how kids love baby stuff.
Marissa says:
Heather, that lime green nap nanny in the background of your pics was just recalled for deaths. Here’s the article. http://abcnews.go.com/US/sixth-baby-dies-recalled-infant-recliner/story?id=23970287
Heather says:
I saw! The good news is that we don’t use it for any of the things it was recalled for (It’s Annie’s chill seat). Thanks for letting me know!
Marissa says:
You’re welcome.