Johanna has all of a sudden shifted from little four year old to responsible, nurturing and engaged five year old. With a little help, she has begun the Shiffler tradition of Christmas-making this year with her first round of rocky road fudge. Mixing, pouring, cleaning up, and packaging all a part of the experience. Five little wrapped stacks of her fudge line the fridge for her sisters and Daddy and, herself of course. (The best photo of her first fudge was captured on instagram–@nshiffler.)
And then I found her yesterday morning with Rowan. I hadn’t left her with Rowan but alas, she ended up with Rowan. I came upstairs from sewing wondering why I hadn’t heard him cry and this is what I found–Johanna with Rowan fast asleep on her. She had kept him asleep for me, off and on, for roughly an hour. Was it really for me or for her?
My growing Johanna deserves a growing-daughter sort of gift this Christmas. And I’m happy that she’s getting it in the new, special Christmas bag this year. (I add new Christmas bags each year with new festive fabrics. This year it is Mr. Claus Dark Eggnog.)
She’s so proud that her gift is packaged in one of the new bags under the tree. Unbeknownst to her it has something to do with her recent interest in creating.
Ah, my calm Johanna. She has a way of casting a spell of peacefulness upon our entire household, for which I am most grateful.
the sleepy time gal
That is SO SWEET! Both the fudge AND kiddos cuddled together. As I await the arrival of #3, I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to keep the two older ones from picking up the baby and dropping her on her head. *sigh* I don’t remember what I did when #2 was a newborn!
Mm, I love your thoughtful gift for Johanna. I feel the same way about my daughter as she gets older – trying to honor and help her hone her creativity. I got her a French knitter doll to put away for her stocking next year to get her into fiber arts, and at some point I’d love to put together a letter-writing kit for her.
How exciting for your little one! The letter writing kit is a wonderful idea. I may steal that some Christmas.
Nicole, what a beautiful post! After Friday’s tragedy I guess I’m still looking for things that bring a smile to my face and make me feel warm inside. This post did the trick! Johanna is such a wonderful big sister and how lucky is Rowan to have all that extra love? So happy you got that extra hour of peace!!!! And I love that new Christmas bag ~ I’m sure Johanna does feel special!!!
I know exactly how you feel– I’ve tried to fill my mind with the good in the world recently as well. And there are those moments of peace and goodness.
This post melted my heart, well mostly the shots of Johanna snuggling with baby Rowan!!! Also, how lucky for you ta have another creative mind in the kitchen…
It melted my heart when I turned the corner the other day and there he was, arm wrapped around her, asleep. Priceless.
Second children are fascinating. I love them.
Those pictures of Rowan and Johanna are PRECIOUS! Made me cry. But part of that is probably that I’m going to have my own little baby again in June! Very, very excited! And Rowan has filled out so nicely. What a doll.
How absolutely exciting!!!!