Finding my voice

No, I am not searching for a cause or trying to find myself...I did plenty of that in my twenties.  My voice is literally gone.  I've got that bug that everyone has and it took away my voice.  Now, those of you who have known me forever know that this is definitely a challenge for me.  For my newer friends, I was nicknamed "magpie" as a child because I chatted incessantly.  Our house was eerily quiet today and all three of us were home!  It's like someone has turned off the ceaseless radio in my head.  It's kinda weird.  My thoughts have no place to go but to stay inside, so they have just calmed down a bit.  I am beginning to like it...

Anyway.  Have I mentioned I love being a mommy?  I had some fun mommy moments this week.

Mommy Moment #1:
I stripped James down for his bath and stood him up on his changing table, buck naked and started moving him around, "dancing".  What does my main squirt do?  He let 'er rip and peed everywhere while he was dancing.  A golden arc in the nursery.  Now someday I'll have to tell him that is not the way to dance with a girl.

Mommy Moment #2:
So I'm rushing around to make it to Weight Watchers on time last Thursday.  I am still taking James with me. Note the "still".  It is conditional. 

In order to get out of the house faster, I set him in his jumperoo,which he absolutely loves and which will occupy him for a good 20 minutes.  By the way, Tim and I call the Jumperoo the "Parents Sex Toy".  Think about it.  Anyway, I'm almost out the door and I hear that unmistakable poot poot poot of a dirty diaper in the making.  This is really bad timing.  Because you see, when he is in his Jumperoo, his diapers always leak out the leg hole and down his leg. 

We have cream colored carpet. 

Well, as you can imagine, poop ALL OVER THE CARPET.  I am so late now.  So I think, well I'll leave him there for two more minutes while I put this in the car.  Mistake. Huge mistake.  Of course he enthusiastically--with a giggle, I swear--jumps in his poop over and over again during those two minutes and grinds it into the carpet. 

The cream colored carpet. 

I, Kate Smith, am an expert stain getter-outter.

Mommy Moment #3:
Fifteen minutes later, I am headed to Weight Watchers (only 15 minutes late!).  I only lost .2 lbs and of course I expected 3 lbs.  James is learning that his voice is really cool and doesn't care who hears it or when.  And, he of course chose to be extremely vocal at the meeting.  So I decided to leave because I couldn't quiet him down and he was very disruptive.  I picked up my purse and the keys and rattles attached to it jingle-jangled and rattled.  Then I had to adjust the car seat, which squeaked.  All the while James is making cute but very loud baby sounds.  The meeting actually STOPPED to look at us.  They were kind but I rushed out red in the face. 

Guess where I rushed next?  To the dentist.  To actually allow someone to torture me inside of my mouth. 

Did I mention this was all before noon?  And it was possibly one of the better days of my life.  I smile every time I think about it. 

That is what is so cool about being a mommy.  Every moment counts.  Every smile and kind word encourages and teaches.  Every time I want to scream but remember to take a deep breath, pray for grace, and go to my child with a smile is fundamentally important to this small person who God actually trusts me with. 

What the heck was he thinking?

Sweet Pea

It's been 5 months since "The Big Change" and high time to start blogging & posting pictures!

James was a sweet pea for Halloween and of course, I thought he was the cutest thing ever.

He said "Dada" last week.  It was pretty touching to see Tim's reaction.  James is talking, playing, learning and growing so fast.  It's so fun.

Every day is awesome.  Even the days when he is up every hour through the night.  Like last night.  Oh, teething.

But, I am so grateful for this time with my sweet little guy.  It's irreplaceable.

Tim is working in Yakima Monday through Friday until December-ish.  It gets lonely around here but thank goodness for my support circle!  I have an awesome group of family and friends.

Well I guess I should go for a run.  Maybe in a little bit.  Where did my motivation go?  It ran away & hid at 3 a.m., 4 a.m., 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m....and I still haven't found it.  Sheesh.