Every night, since Luis was at least 2 (perhaps even younger), we have been going through a routine that has changed only a little since it was started. The nightly milk routine. Initially, the nightly milk routine was me going downstairs to get milk for Luis and Miriam, then sneaking back upstairs with Luis' milk hidden away somewhere (behind my back or in one of my pockets). I would first go into Miriam's room and leave her milk on her dresser, then sneak into Luis' room, with his milk still hidden from view. Your Mom would come up with some way of blocking your view of me so that I could walk over to your crib and tuck your sippee-cup into one of the corners underneath a blanket. Then you would run over to me and urge me to use the magic milk conjuring words, "One, two, three... POOF!". A wave of my hand and then the milk would mysteriously appear in the corner of the crib, awaiting you to retrieve it.
This routine evolved. Now Luis and I walk down to get milk together. No more "One, two, three POOF!". Instead, Luis opens the cupboard and picks out the cup he wants to drink milk from as well as a cup for Miriam. Then he grabs the milk jug from the fridge, places it on the counter, pushes a stool over, climbs up, and pours his own milk into his sippee. I usually pour Miriams milk into her cup. Then each cup goes into the microwave (which I program but he starts). After the milks have been warmed, we both walk up the steps (milk in hand). When we near the top of the stairs, Luis calls to Mom and asks her to call out for help (this is part of a game where Luis plays 'Fireman'). After a few cries for help, Luis dashes in and pretends that the straw from his milk cup is a firehose, which he uses to put out an imaginary fire that is threatening Mom and Miriam. Finally, Luis comes back to me (I have entered the room that Mom and Miriam are waiting in at this point), takes Miriam's milk and hands it to her. Then we all go to Miriam's room (if the fire episode is taking place in Luis' room) and read a story. Then both to bed and finally some rest for tired parents.
