Oh, the challenges of keeping our offspring clean! In our household it is a major ordeal, taking several hours. I usually choose to give a bath in the mornings since I am not too exhausted yet. If only I could do the same for the bedtime rituals....now that is something I would love to do ahead of time!
Well at least for me both of my bathing beauties are willing to take a bath together. First I remove the rugs from the bathroom floor. I lay a slightly used towel (usually mine from the morning) up against the tub to guard against spills. Then I remove the shower head from it's stand, switch the setting, and place it in the tub. Next I start running the water (we must have bubbles! Not too hot, not too cold!) Then I take the Dora the Explorer no-slide mat from the hook it dries on and stick it to the bottom of the tub. And finally I dump the "bath toys" from their net bag into the tub. Did I say finally? We also need at least two more towels and washclothes!
Tired? I haven't even cleaned anyone yet! Then there is the announcement of the bath, followed by cries of, "Naked time! Naked time" and small bodies running about in various states of dress. Eventually they are herded into the bathroom, when Ariana says "where baby?" and searches for her favorite bath toy. No, it is not a baby. It's actually a toy jellyfish, in an unlikely shade of blue, with a doll-like face. Or maybe it is an octopus. what do I know? The manufacturers created this toy for Target for a mermaid playset, not originally intended for the tub, but hey it works.
Alaina usually makes me "coffee;" a red cup full of bubbles and water. At some point there is usually a waterfight with the squirting bath toys (how does one get those clean?) and "No hitting Ari! Mommy she's hitting me!" from my eldest. The youngest today yelled, "No throw toys Nayna!" so I assume neither child is ever entirely at fault....like most people.
Usually the bath ends when Ariana begins to climb out of the tub and streak through the house. Then I have to capture her, clean her little body, and wrap her in a towel. The showerhead comes in handy then...she most often has her hair washed while wrapped in a towel on my lap. She pitifully cries, "all done mommy!" at the top of her little lungs. She then must be lotioned up (no I can't skip it, it combats her eczema) and diapered and dressed, while reminding Alaina to wash wash wash!
While Ari sits and sucks up some Dora time, I tackle Alaina. Typically it involves setting the timer for some more "play time," double checking to see that she's washed herself (amid cries of "that was short" and "Can I play some more?") and washing her hair. This particular day she had orange paint in it as a result of her art project yesterday (and on her back and shoulder. She wore both a shirt and paint smock, so I was amazed.) Washing Alaina's hair is no longer a chore, because she's (finally) learned to keep her head tipped back. She also wants to be picked up from the tub, wrapped in towels, and cuddled. Although we still have the cuddle time (and often Dora time) she has to walk now since I'm 20 weeks along.
I wonder why it is that so many parents choose to make bathtime a daily ritual. My day isn't long enough, and I am blessed to stay home! Two or three times a week is plenty!
I know that time is limited, though, when bathtime will be so much fun. I enjoy the rituals and snuggle time, too, and I wouldn't want anyone else to take care of my little girls. Although I encourage Alaina to consider a shower ("Lele takes showers") and I know it will be less work later, I will miss this stage when it passes. And I wonder how adding a new little one will change the dynamics of our family. But I am looking forward to finding out. A baby is a blessing. Ariana has blessed our lives, and another child will only make life richer and fuller for all of us.
Well at least for me both of my bathing beauties are willing to take a bath together. First I remove the rugs from the bathroom floor. I lay a slightly used towel (usually mine from the morning) up against the tub to guard against spills. Then I remove the shower head from it's stand, switch the setting, and place it in the tub. Next I start running the water (we must have bubbles! Not too hot, not too cold!) Then I take the Dora the Explorer no-slide mat from the hook it dries on and stick it to the bottom of the tub. And finally I dump the "bath toys" from their net bag into the tub. Did I say finally? We also need at least two more towels and washclothes!
Tired? I haven't even cleaned anyone yet! Then there is the announcement of the bath, followed by cries of, "Naked time! Naked time" and small bodies running about in various states of dress. Eventually they are herded into the bathroom, when Ariana says "where baby?" and searches for her favorite bath toy. No, it is not a baby. It's actually a toy jellyfish, in an unlikely shade of blue, with a doll-like face. Or maybe it is an octopus. what do I know? The manufacturers created this toy for Target for a mermaid playset, not originally intended for the tub, but hey it works.
Alaina usually makes me "coffee;" a red cup full of bubbles and water. At some point there is usually a waterfight with the squirting bath toys (how does one get those clean?) and "No hitting Ari! Mommy she's hitting me!" from my eldest. The youngest today yelled, "No throw toys Nayna!" so I assume neither child is ever entirely at fault....like most people.
Usually the bath ends when Ariana begins to climb out of the tub and streak through the house. Then I have to capture her, clean her little body, and wrap her in a towel. The showerhead comes in handy then...she most often has her hair washed while wrapped in a towel on my lap. She pitifully cries, "all done mommy!" at the top of her little lungs. She then must be lotioned up (no I can't skip it, it combats her eczema) and diapered and dressed, while reminding Alaina to wash wash wash!
While Ari sits and sucks up some Dora time, I tackle Alaina. Typically it involves setting the timer for some more "play time," double checking to see that she's washed herself (amid cries of "that was short" and "Can I play some more?") and washing her hair. This particular day she had orange paint in it as a result of her art project yesterday (and on her back and shoulder. She wore both a shirt and paint smock, so I was amazed.) Washing Alaina's hair is no longer a chore, because she's (finally) learned to keep her head tipped back. She also wants to be picked up from the tub, wrapped in towels, and cuddled. Although we still have the cuddle time (and often Dora time) she has to walk now since I'm 20 weeks along.
I wonder why it is that so many parents choose to make bathtime a daily ritual. My day isn't long enough, and I am blessed to stay home! Two or three times a week is plenty!
I know that time is limited, though, when bathtime will be so much fun. I enjoy the rituals and snuggle time, too, and I wouldn't want anyone else to take care of my little girls. Although I encourage Alaina to consider a shower ("Lele takes showers") and I know it will be less work later, I will miss this stage when it passes. And I wonder how adding a new little one will change the dynamics of our family. But I am looking forward to finding out. A baby is a blessing. Ariana has blessed our lives, and another child will only make life richer and fuller for all of us.
