All of a Sudden

You know...the 'all of a sudden' that takes three years to arrive.  The 'all of a sudden' that you'll miss if you're not careful.  The 'all of a sudden' that will probably change tomorrow.

But, all of the sudden, things are a little easier in these here parts.  Yes, there are still three under three and a new business to grow.  Yes, Dan and I are still trying to figure out who WE are, and somehow turn three blobs into human beings in the process.  Yes, I know a JINX is waiting for me tomorrow.  BUT...all of a sudden things like this happen:

**sometimes we sleep through the night.  We still have to work REALLY hard at bedtime, and morning still starts WAY earlier than I'd like, but, for all intents and purposes...WE SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!

**yesterday, one time, I peed by myself.  And I didn't even lock myself in.  The door was open, but no one came in to check on me/be held/try to unroll the TP/...nothin'.

**Jack can run a spoon!  I usually just 'slop' his high chair tray anyway, but for things like yogurt and rice and oatmeal we were still spoon feeding him.  Not anymore, folks!  It's a disaster, it requires a hose to recover from, but, Jack runs a spoon.

**They give a little.  For almost three years, there's been a whole lotta take.  Sure, they smile at me, and when it really hurts they yell for 'Momma!', but over and above they are little mooches who only take.  But last night as I was snuggling with Lauren, she petted my face and said, 'Momma, you're my best friend.'  And sometimes when I tell them that I love them, they say it back.  And Jack will waddle right over to me and tilt his little face up for a kiss.  That's giving, friends.  That's a whole lot of filling my love tank WAY up.

**They play together.  Without me in the room.  Nicely.  For longer than 45 seconds.  Sometimes.

**The girls can be trusted to obey well enough to walk into stores just holding my hand.  This one's huge.  I don't have to park right beside the cart return, load them all up, and wear Jack to go grocery shopping.  Now, I carry Jack, hold one girl hand who holds another girl hand, and WE JUST WALK IN.  Yes, we stop traffic.  Yes, someone always comments about my hands being full.  Yes, it makes some people in busy parking lots nervous...but not me.  We walk in, boys!  I still sweat a lot.  It's still not among my favorite weekly chores.  But it's a whole lot easier than it was two months ago!

This all is said to update you on where we are.  Basically, the kids are grown, and I'm thinking of taking up tennis and cross stitching to fill my day.  (Ha!)

This is for the Mommas who are not yet at their 'all of a sudden' moment.  It comes.  It comes so gradually and so very freaking slowly, that you might miss it.  You cannot predict it.  Repeat after me: You cannot predict it.  Quit trying to calculate the ages of my babies...it won't be the same for you.  But it will come.  And it'll make you really, really happy.  And it'll give you time, finally, to teach that 14 month old #3 brand new, never been mentioned before things...like, this is your nose!  Cows go 'moo'.  Can you say 'Momma'?

Love,
Momma

Where It's At...

Laverne.

Laverne is where 4th of July is AT!

I loved it as a kid - the candy at the parade, the friends over swimming in the afternoon, the turtle races, the fireworks at the football field.

I loved it as a teen - the 'big kids' back, just like at Homecoming, seeing friends in the middle of the summer, the fireworks, the dance.

I love it now - the reunion that it is, the small town patriotism that is so alive and well I had a lump in my throat more than once on Thursday.  The things that never change, the things that do - that needed to.  

I LOVE it.

Here are a few of my thoughts on why and how Laverne does it so well...

You can eat 3 square (-ish, I don't think I saw any vegetables at the park! ;-)) meals on 'free will donation'.  And folks, it's this way because the organizations that these meals benefit make way more money due to generous donations than if they'd set a price.

It's a place where you can 1. be like me and post so many pictures on Facebook of your offspring that everyone knows that way or 2. teach your children your maiden name so they'll be linked up with the right family; and then just let them loose!  This village will not only help you look out for your babies, but spank them if they need it or kiss a boo-boo when that's what's needed!

In Laverne on the 4th, a turtle may not just be a turtle...but a champion.

The tradition of the 4th is so deep and means so much that I saw some elderly people and some newborns in the park on a 90 degree evening.  It didn't hurt them one bit, but I bet they don't choose to have dinner there just any old day.

4th of July in Laverne is a place where your babies become friends with the babies of the people you became friends with when you were babies...on the same merry go 'round.  (Whew!)

Being from Laverne means that you correct your two year olds that 'It's a TIGER, not a LION!' with a sense of urgency and outrage that hardly matches the offense!

It's a time to introduce your children to Dumdums and Smarties, to Tootsie Rolls and Super Bubble.

Anyway...I kinda love it.

-Erin

School.

Mother's Day Out.  Oh, how I loved Mother's Day Out.

They were loved and taught some things and cared for and made friends.

And they did all of those things while I was DOING OTHER THINGS!

And it's over.  Summer may be rough.  It may be awesome.  It'll be what it will be.

Last Day May 2013

First Day September 2012

And All of a Sudden....

He's ONE!!! 

This little boy slays me.  I am his, he is mine.  

He stands.  He signs 'thank you'.  He laughs so hard he gets to coughing and choking.  He pulls hair, hard.  He is starting to have a thing for his Daddy.  He thinks he's invincible, and big.  He thinks Peek a Boo is magical.  He may never be completely weaned.  He eats more than the girls combined.  He prefers outside...and naked.  

For all of the moments that we thought he came to quickly and would be too much and could not see how we would survive...he has completely erased it all.  God has been good to us.

He's such a gentleman.

We celebrate you, Jack.  You're wonderful.

-Momma

Even Mrs. Mills...

Did you take Home Economics in high school?  'Twas my favorite class!  There were sewing projects, and cooking assignments.  We did household budgets and grocery shopping.  We even had to care for a computerized infant that cried for no good reason in the middle of the night.  I hope this program still exists.  I wish it was required attendance for every human being.

I had a great teacher.  Mrs. Mills was the right mix of business and fun.  We got things done, and had a good time.  She did her BEST to prepare us for our possible roles are parents and spouses.  

BUT.

More and more the thought crosses my mind..."Even Mrs. Mills could not have prepared me for this!".

I hope you can relate.  Lie and tell me you can, even if you can't.

Things I never thought I would say:

"You have to at least put on panties at the dinner table."

"If you're going to play in the toilet, flush it first!!"

"Quit licking her hair!"

"Jack, where is your diaper!?"

"Get your hand out of my shirt.  Get your hand out of my shirt.  GET YOUR HAND OUT OF MY SHIRT!"

"Here, just wipe it (nose, hands, face) on my pants."

"Quit eating your boogers...just pick it, then wipe it somewhere...eating it is gross."

Things I never thought I would do:

Open food while still in the store to hand out as snacks to buy myself time.

Have two year olds babysit my one year old: While I'm in the shower: "Kate, where's Jack?"  "Is he happy?"  "Is he making noises?"  "Is he moving?"

Strap them in their car seats and watch movies in the car.  While still in the garage.  Just because a change of scenery fixed it.

Just putting it out there.

Thanks for trying, Mrs. Mills,

Erin

A Sex Study

Girls at 13 months:

Boys at 11 months:

Conclusion:

Boys are gross.

Trying Not To Encourage Such Things

Deary, deary, dear, dear me.

This one, she makes me shoot things out of my nose, or pee a little, ev-er-y-DAY.  Seriously.

Dan and I were practicing introductions with the girls on the back porch last night.  How to make eye contact and speak up when spoken to...How to shake hands...How to say, "Hi, my name is Momma, it's nice to meet you Daddy."

Well, Kate jumped right on board.  She was riding in her car and I bet she made 49 laps, stopping at both Dan and me to shake hands and say, "Was nice to meetcha!"  Presh.

I had the genius idea to spring their last name on them...sometimes Lauren calls Kate, KateLean (Kate Elene), but for the most part, I really didn't think they even knew of the concept of more than one name per person.  

I got Kate's attention and made a big deal about it.  "Kate!  Did you know you have TWO names? (Holding up my fingers for '2').  She was so excited!!  "Two names, Momma?"  

"Yip, your name is Kate (hold up #1) 

Prince (making that 'one' 'two' with my fingers)."  Oh, she was pumped!!

She said her name over and over, each time holding up her little fingers.

We moved on...someone needed something, or we went in, or whatever.  At least half and hour later, Kate came up to me.  "Momma, this one is Prince, right?"

(sequence re-enacted)

Smear her on a cracker with a spoon and give me a bite.  Goodness!

-Momma