This Little Light

October 15th we lit a candle for a baby girl.

Her name is Klara, she played with my own Clarity, they were both named a variation of the same thing, light, or to clearly see. They were three months apart in age.

I watched baby Klara, babysitting her while her mother worked.I fed her, changed her, put her down for naps, and then I went to her funeral, I listened to her eulogy, hugged her mom, and I stood next to the tiny box, in the cold, with three roses in my hand, one from each of my own living babies. I covered the tiny, white casket with those roses, the day was cold, cloudy and grey. Klara you were so small to be left by that pile of frozen dirt.

I went home that day and held my Clarity, unable to fathom that my baby was breathing, heavy and warm in my arms. Klara will never be bigger than the age of one, while my daughter continues through the ages and stages of baby to toddler hood.

SIDS affects many children from one month to a year. The statistics are here and Klara is one of several I personally know who has been taken, suddenly as an infant without a real physical reason.

I don't need to light a candle to remember this baby.

Someday I may write more of Klara, her story, her touch on my life and my daughter's.

Until then I will remember you baby girl.

And I will tell Clarity about you someday, when she is older and I am ready.

Took our monkeys to visit the zoo

Sometimes I feel that to get to that getting out of the house with four toddlers is almost more work than it is a joy. A parent can feel that they are taking bouncy little monkeys out and traveling with a zoo!
Yet when we got past the loading up, the potty, packing snacks, drinks and diapers the memory and experience far outweighed the daunting task of just getting to our destination!


Since my mother and grandmother were visiting from out of state we decided on this family outing to the actual zoo! You can only imagine the excitement this caused. And the necessity of a stopping for a Starbucks this adventure needed!
We are very blessed to live close to a city that offers much for families, the zoo is a mere twenty-five minutes away and well worth the visit. We even bundled up the new one; he did so well on his first ever official family trip! I always take a stroller and a wrap for my trips to strange and unknown places. We have a double stroller for tired feet, a wrap for warmth and comfort just in case and plenty of snacks, water and wipes which are a must for toddlers.

My children are extremely active; I was glad my mother came along adding an extra pair of hands and eyes. This gave my husband and I time to spend with each child individually throughout the afternoon, my little ones soak up any sort of one on one interaction. 

We couldn't have asked for a better day; the weather was cool, the zoo peaceful,the children were full of energy thanks to a rest prior our trip. I am always sure to nap my children, and give them a good meal before we attempt an outing. If small ones are alert with full tummies they are less likely to have short tempers and longer attention spans. We are also careful not to rush them too much. Young ones love to observe, it's how they learn and absorb knowledge. This also forces me to slow down and really live in the moments of looking through young eyes for the first time. As a parent I am always tempted to just "get it over with." 

There's my happy family! Grandma's are wonderful things, an extra hand and an additional treat since they live out of state. Visits are a double bonus when they share in an adventure with us.

Finally my friend's; our last few minutes at the zoo was spent with the giraffes. What amazingly gigantic creatures they are! Our  "little monkeys" couldn't get enough of them. God's depth of imagination and artistry leaves me speechless when I see something as small as a snake to something as huge as a giraffe all in one day! 

What are some tips you would recommend for day trips with toddlers?