I’m a little bit already on a blog hiatus. It’s because when I sit up, like in this computer chair, this baby protests. He protests lying down, too, but he tolerates it more between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m. than he does between 1 and 3 a.m., so I’ve been doing a lot more napping. But I’ve got a few posts tucked in my head for moments I want to remember before I’m a mother of four and one of them is this Top 10.
Awhile back, I wrote about my “done list”. It’s much better than a “to-do” list because it’s a list of all I’ve actually accomplished in that day and makes me feel a little more justified about being home with my toddler (the fact that I think I need justification is a whole other post I’ve got rolling around and will get to at some point). Often, my husband will ask, “What did you and Amelia do today?” Never in a sarcastic way that implies he can’t believe the house is a wreck and dinner’s not ready, but in a curious, he’d really like to know kind of way. So here’s a bit of insight into my daily grind with one. I’m sure there will be an addendum to this once I’m home with toddler, newborn, and big sisters on summer vacation.
Is she ready to take on more job responsibility as a big sister?
I sure hope so!
Sometimes in the midst of all that seems too much, we have the sweetest moments.
Annabelle fell asleep on the couch tonight after a long day of school and church and fellowship supper.
I can’t lift her when she’s dead weight.
But her big sister can.
Madelynne picked her up and carried her to her bed and we tucked her in together and then she told me how sometimes lately Annabelle is grouchy so Madelynne doesn’t tell her goodnight.
“I think God tells her for me, Mommy.”
I’m sure He does, baby, I’m sure He does.
Sometimes it’s just for a moment that the world seems perfect. But it’s those moments, those small glimpses of Heaven, that renew my faith everyday.
After my last post, I am overwhelmed by your encouragement, support, hugs (both physical and virtual), and simply by the sheer amount of folks who actually do read this random little blog. Thank you all for caring about these words and these ramblings.
I’m doing better. Nothing to do now but bumble on through to the end and try to keep my sanity intact. I hope you all are praying for my husband as well!
Today I wanted to link up with Rachel not because I want to make a list or add to my one thousand gifts journal.
Today I just want to savor some sweet moments amid all the chaos.
Like the fact that I am absolutely enthralled by Amelia. I can’t remember my big girls at this age. Those memories are clouded by the strain of two under two, a full-time job, and really bad post-partum depression brought on by my hypothyroidism. But somewhere along this journey of motherhood third time, I decided to pay a bit more attention. Suddenly she’s (finally!) stringing words together, such as, “Shoes, ‘kay?” And those shoes she put on by herself (wrong feet of course). She’s obsessed with turning lights on and off, Winnie the Pooh, and gives fabulous tea parties. This week she also informed me when I called her big girl, “NO! Baby!” Guess we’ll have to work on that.
Annabelle is my most stubborn child, but she likes rules. And systems. And boundaries. She functions just fine once she knows where the line is. She just made herself a “stoplight” to help us monitor her behavior at home. It’s just like what her teacher does in kindergarten because anything Mrs. Fry does is the only way something should be done. She’s our neat one, too, always coloring perfectly and making her bed.
Then there’s Madelynne. We figure she’ll grow up and find a job that just pays the bills so that in her spare time she can create pottery or abstract paintings or knit or rescue horses and dogs. She’s all over the place. We call her Tigger sometimes because she’s exactly like that. And thanks to Amelia, we’re all experts on that cast of characters. Her backpack is stuffed with old papers, pencils, candy wrappers, gloves, hat, scarf, a necklace, and half-eaten snacks. She can’t ever find anything, will read anything, and sometimes melts all over me.
Sometimes I think we might be a lot alike.
They’re something else these daughters of mine. I hope this baby boy comes out ready to tango with these sissy monsters.
Oh, and it’s Friday. Savor that over an icy margarita or a nice glass of wine if that’s your style. Or you can be like me and plan to eat pizza with a friend while kids twirl around in the background.
Have a great weekend!
Lindsey P. Brackett 