Confessions of a Mommyholic

I LOVE being a mommy. But there are some days....

*Recent conversation with Matthew:

M: Mom, you stink like spit-up

Me: That's because your sister spit-up on me

M: Did you already take a shower?

Me: Yes

M: That's too bad

*In the last 15 minutes, Helen went through 3 outfits for her, 2 for me, 4 burp cloths, 3 diapers, 1/4 container of wipes, carpet cleaner, and a changing pad cover. Disgusting or impressive?

Hard to tell.

*Recent night of sleep:

12am - Finally get Helen down

2 am - Matthew wakes me up to tell me he needs to use the bathroom

4 am - Helen wakes me up to nurse

6 am - Alan wakes me up to say the AC isn't working

Oh, and the cat throws up. Obviously, my family does not love me.

*I've lost almost all my baby weight, but I'm still wearing size L maternity jeans. The injustice is obvious.

*After a extremely restricted diet due to Gestational Diabetes, it's nice to eat whatever I like. Except for the dairy, tomato sauce, spicy food, Italian and chocolate that upset Helen's tummy.

*Overheard conversation b/w Alan and Matthew (I was napping - I love my husband):

A: Matthew, let me help you. Let's leave mom alone so she can rest.

M: Dad. Even if she feels sick, she's still the mom.

From the mouth of babes....

After hearing Matthew pray for wisdom, I couldn't wait to hear what he had been concerned about. His response? "I want God to tell me how to beat you at this game".

Checking In

Helen went for her check-up (she's 2 months old next week!!). She was 22 1/4 inches long and weighed 11 lbs, 13 ounces. Our chunky monkey is more precious to us everyday.

Daddy always gets her smiles. That's Ok,

I'm pretty crazy about him, too.

The Sweetest Mess

My life has become a series of precious chaos...one crazy moment after another. Soaked burp cloths, superhero underwear, bed-sheet forts and clip-on bows - this is what makes up my days.
This is our life and it's exactly where I want to be.

Nap Time

My eyes are still blue

My new outfit - compliments of Aunt Nicole.

Helen goes through several outfits a day. I think she's

afraid she might outgrow her pretty outfits before she gets

to wear them. I completely understand.

Where's a grandma when you need one?

My big helper

Our first grocery store trip - just the girls.

I may not have washed my hair in 3 days, but

please note that Helen is in a lovely new pink

ensemble, complete with matching hair bow.

First time Helen joined us for dinner

Our first time to go to church together

Target

Now that I can drive again, I've been anxious to run an errand with the kiddos. I've been really spoiled lately since Alan has been with us the few times we've been out. However, after the last several months, we're all ready to get back to normal. So, I made my list, checked the diaper bag twice and headed out. How did it go? See for yourself.

10 am - Park car. Nurse baby.

10:02 - Realize baby has very dirty diaper. Also realize you have no baby wipes. Send 4-year-old to dig through glove box for anything suitable. Change baby.

10:05 - Nurse baby. Clean up spit-up. Nurse baby. Clean up spit-up. Try to entertain bored 4-year-old.

10: 35 - Baby finally finished. Burp baby. Feel spit-up soak the back of your shirt. Bribe 4-year-old to wipe it off. Realize we have another dirty diaper. Decide to buy wipes in Target. Realize diaper is leaking on you and baby. Send 4-year-old back to glove box. Avoid eye contact as he nods his head in disapproval. Wonder if you're worthy to parent these children.

10:45 - Finally clean baby. Attempt to put baby in sling. Try not to pinch fat on legs (yours and hers). Finally get out of car.

10:50 - Get back in car after 4-year-old yells for help. Clean up the OJ running across the backseat.

11:00- Finally enter Target

11:10 -Get one week's worth of baby supplies. Notice cart is already half full. Begin to console wailing baby.

11:15 - Help 4-year-old choose toy to purchase with hard-earned chore money. Bounce crying baby. Decide the sling is worthless.

11:30 - Head to Food Dept. Fuss at 4-year-old for pitching a fit.

11:31 - Realize 4-year-old is not pitching a fit. He is crying b/c you ran over his foot with the cart. Decide you are definitely unworthy to parent these children.

11:35- Scan remainder of list. Decide nothing is that important. Head to check-out.

11:40 - Thank cashier profusely for loading the cart and offering to help us to the car. Try to discern if she's exceptionally nice or if you look exceptionally desperate.

11:50 - Try to detangle sleeping baby from sling. Get everyone in car seats.

12:00 - Decide you really miss your husband. Head home. Glance back at your babies and decide this is exactly what you want!

"I'm a mommy. What's your superpower?"

One more time...

One more time, I've fallen completely in love with my husband. We knew this would be a hard pregnancy, tough delivery, and long recovery. And it was. When mom goes down, everything has the potential to fall apart. But not with Alan. He ran the errands, planned the menus, cleaned the house - after working all day. But it was much more than that. He knew what I really needed.

At 9 months pregnant and in a hospital gown, he said I looked pretty - and he meant it.

In all the craziness of my illness and recovery, Matthew desperately needed some routine - Alan made sure he had it.

I needed a cheerleader to keep me going day after long day - he became my biggest encourager.

He kept perspective, patience and showed enormous love for all of us. There's no one I respect more. No wonder we're all so crazy about him. Helen, join the rest of us. You are one lucky girl.

The eyes have it..

Matthew definitely got mom's eyes.

Right now, Helen's look more like daddy's. We'll see...

(I think the flash may have startled her. What do you think?)

One month old

Helen is one month old. She has begun to hold up her head and smile at us. She weighed almost 8 lbs and was 20 inches long at her last visit. She has made us all fall in love with her, especially Matthew. What did we do before Helen?

Worth a thousand words..

Enough said!

Little boys...

Little boys should never be put to bed. They only wake up a day older.

Peter Pan


"No thanks mom. I can do it myself." It seems I hear this more and more from my Matthew. Of course, I want him to become more independent, but his growing up is so bittersweet. So full of independence and eager to conquer the world.

Who is this child who so quickly replaced my baby boy?

It seems that he was the one in this crib just yesterday. And now it's taken by our sweet snuggle-bug Helen, who demands late night snuggling and trips to the rocking chair. I try not to mind. I know too quickly I'll hear her say "No thanks mom. I can do it myself". How empty our house will seem when they are grown! I know it's far away, but I also know how quickly one day tumbles into the next until one more year has said good-bye.

Who are these people who so quickly replaced my children?

I know I'll be so proud of what they will become. And so proud of our work. I'll enjoy having Alan all to myself again. But, oh I will miss these days. Until then, I'll try to soak them in and be so grateful for the chance to be their mom.


Take your time my babies, take your time..