Wednesday, May 27, 2009

THIS is What I Signed Up For

Most days as a stay-at-home leave me feeling a lot like this picture--pale, harried, and exhausted You're trying your very best to make life run smoothly--even be fun--for your children, while they both seem to be doing their darndest to make things complicated.

Or it can look like it did yesterday morning when Pace came running into the kitchen, where I was cleaning up breakfast, screaming "Mommy, Mommy come look! Quick!" She was grinning from ear to ear and clapping her hands in anticipation. I don't know if you've learned to dread your child's excitement much more than their cries, like I have. I know, when Pace gets like that, it's really bad, and she can hardly stand the suspense of seeing my face when I encounter just how bad it is. I follow her into their bedroom to find Mary Aplin standing by Pace's big girl bed (the one with the white background), with the sheets and comforter smeared with...poop. I wish that was the worst part. What was even worse was that little Napoleon was standing guiltily by her artwork SUCKING HER THUMB!!! Isn't there somebody else who is supposed to deal with mess like this? This is not what I signed up for when I volunteered to be a stay-at-home Mom!

However, there are also days like today when I look around me and say, "Wow, this is precisely how I pictured my life would be." Summertime, at the swimming pool with two tow-headed little girls in matching swimsuits that make them look so cute I can't stop grinning when I look at them. The baby is trying her best to do what I've taught her and kick her fat little legs behind her in the pool. My "big girl" wants to be like Mommy and has spread her towel ever so perfectly on the chair beside mine where she is doing her best to sun-bathe seriously. I am able to spend a good fifty percent of my time actually SITTING in my chair because both girls are playing so happily and obeying so perfectly. Thank you Jesus! THIS is what I signed up for!

Now don't think that it was perfect...Mary Aplin had a big fat poo in her swimsuit at the end of our time (is anybody else noticing a trend here??), and the only way to get off the swim diapers (that our pool forces babies to wear) is to pull the tight, wet, poo infested article down their legs. And, we were having so much fun that I let the time get away from us and both little parties were in stages of starvation melt-down as I drug them through the parking lot. HOWEVER, I will take little issues like these any day if I could have those three perfect preceding hours.

Now they are both sleeping soundly after wearing themselves out in the good 'ol fashion sunshine. I love summertime, and I love being a stay-at-home Mom...

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

OH THE POOP! Its one of those "Can't live with it, can't live without it" kinda things!! Haha...I KNOW that was a mess to clean up! The picture cracks me UP! AND ABBY, with that flat tummy of yours, you should have no problem shedding the clothes :) Your just as skinny as your sister!!

CJ said...

I just tear the "swimmy diapers" down the sides. It is so much easier than trying to pull them down.

Kellie said...

More proof that little Mary Aplin is following in Wilson's footsteps - do you remember all my "poop" stories? My entire basement was smeared with it and Henderson (at 8 months old) was EATING it!!!! Gross - have fun! I will say we haven't had any messy poop incidents in the last 2 months - so maybe there IS light at the end of the tunnel (until Henderson masters getting his diaper off) - keep sharing b/c it makes me feel SO good to know my child isn't the only one that loves to play in the stuff!

Kendall Boggs said...

hey Abbs! are you making these little embroidered things and selling them? If not, I think you should. Very, very cute. I think you're on to something!

Anonymous said...

Hey Abby,
I will never forget Bethany did that one day during nap time and finger painted all over her white carpet. Of course this was one of those days when Tim had been at work for 72 hours!! Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

I love your realness! We're coming to Birmingham for a week (leaving tomorrow-Friday), maybe we can see y'all for a quick second: )!! Call me.

andi said...

Yep, I tear the diaper down the sides. :) I have had the same poop smear episode at our house. Glad I am not alone. :))))

aedozier said...

Abby, you can tear those things down the side. They rip easily. Although you may not want MA knowing that! ;-)

Gail said...

Abby...THANK YOU....You are special, indeed....You give in so many ways....This was the best! Love, Gail

danielle said...

Great poop story! I feel the same way about being a stay-at-home mom but like you wouldn't trade it. I look forward to days in the pool very soon with my little boy!

Marianna said...

Those fleeting days and moments are WORTH it! Although when you have a few of the poopy ones in a row you begin to question your sanity...great post!