The Mommy Stories - My Mom Blog

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I am typing this post while sitting in a rocking chair on the deck of a beautiful house in the mountains.  We are on a family vacation with my parents, my brother and his wife.  Four years ago my definition of a vacation would have been going to someplace sunny and warm, sleeping in late and spending the day relaxing on the beach reading a good book.  Boy, how that has changed!

We arrived in the mountains last night around 10:00 which is 2 hours past Little E’s bedtime.  All the way here, he was so excited.  When he started to see the mountains in the distance he kept repeating, “Look Mom, we’ll be there in no time!”  or “I’m going to roast marshmallows on a fire stick!”  As you can imagine, when we finally pulled in the driveway, he was in no mood to sleep.  So we talked with everyone for a while and let him stay up another hour.  Well, he didn’t fall asleep until 1:00 am.  Five hours past his bedtime!  He really was trying to be obedient and go to sleep - well mostly.  He was laying in his inflatable Thomas the Train Engine bed and kept saying, “Dad, it’s not working, I can’t sleep.”  or “My tummy hurts, I need medicine.”  So, eventually he fell asleep at 1 am and of course woke up at his usual 7 am.  Luckily, Baby M slept pretty well, considering.  So our day begin with a sleepy start.

We spent the next few hours playing with a new pirate ship toy, exploring the mountain house and enjoying Papa’s special blueberry pancakes.  We then went to the local General Store and a little deli for lunch.  After driving around for a few minutes, Little E fell asleep and has now been napping for 2 hours.  So, my husband and I are sitting on the porch with Baby M in between us in her bouncy seat.  We’re enjoying looking at the beautiful view and relaxing together.

So, this wasn’t exactly a sleeping in, lay on the beach, read a good book day.  But, it is a spend time with my favorite people in the world, watch my son’s excitement and enjoy seeing Baby M laugh with her family day.  Whew, that was a mouthful!  Tonight we are going to have ribs and watermelon for dinner, roast marshmallows and light fireworks.  And the best part is, I wouldn’t trade this time for any pina colada, sunny beach or good book!

Nothing is permanent, nothing is permanent.  This is a motto I made for myself when Little E was a baby.  This applies to the good and the bad.  Little E has been whining since he opened his eyes at 6:15 this morning?  No problem, nothing is permanent.  Baby M has been sleeping through the night for 2 weeks straight?  Don’t get used to it - nothing is permanent.

So, this is what I have been reminding myself this week - nothing is permanent.  When Baby M turned 2 months old, I finally felt like I had a grip on this two kid thing.  It may have been a sometimes slippery, barely hanging on grip, but it was a grip.  The past two weeks have certainly thrown me for a loop. Baby M was diagnosed with acid reflux and started Zantac.  Just as she was beginning to feel better and sleep through the night again, she caught a cold.

Oh my goodness, Little E never had a cold this young so I had no idea how pitiful it was.  She was so mad because she couldn’t take her pacifier to help her sleep because then she couldn’t breathe because she was so stuffy.  She would fall asleep only to wake up screaming a few seconds later because she was so stuffy.  She would wake up 3-4 times at night wanting to eat because her throat was sore.  Nothing is permanent, nothing is permanent.  I ended up calling the nurse advice line one night and I know I sounded like a freaking out, new mother.  But, the nurse calmed me down and assured me that yes, she can breathe just fine, it sounds like she has a very healthy scream.  Haha.

But, do you know what I have realized?  I am a sometimes freaking out new mom.  I’m new to the balancing two children act.  Yes, I’ve had a baby already, but I’m new to this little baby.  And I’m new to having a three year old.  So, I  have decided to give myself a break and realize that nothing is permanent.  Has Baby M been taking all her naps this week in her swing?  Yes.  Has Little E watched one too many episodes of Pinky Dinky Doo?  Definitely.  But, it’s been a rough week and I’m not going to worry about it.  Because after all, nothing is permanent and next week will be better.  Right?

The bottom line is we are happy and healthy and I have two amazing children!  And the crazy thing is sometimes when I look at their sweet little faces, I wish it was permanent.  I wish I could freeze time and always remember the exact looks on their faces when I kiss them good night and their sweet little voices.  Ahhh, I’m off to go comfort a stuffy baby and wish her troubles will always be this easily fixed.

During a recent family vacation to Myrtle Beach, I was changing Baby M’s diaper in the back of our SUV. A man walking in the parking lot saw me, smiled and said “It’s a Thankless Job, isn’t it?  Happy Mother’s Day!”  I just kind of smiled back.  After he left, I wished I had said no, it’s not a Thankless Job at all – I have two great children.

This led me to wonder – Is Motherhood a Thankless Job?  Well, it definitely has its thankless moments.  It’s not exactly like your typical job.  I don’t have a boss that pats me on the back or gives me a raise when I do a great job.  And when Little E is throwing a fit and I am putting him in time out for the 4’th time in 1 hour, he doesn’t stop, look at me with a smile and say “Mommy, you are doing such a great job.  I know you are teaching me a lesson so that I will grow up to be a productive member of society.  Super Nanny would be Proud!”  No, I have yet to hear that!  So, technically speaking, I guess it is a thankless job.

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As a kid, I thought it would be fun to keep a diary.  Write my big and exciting thoughts down in a cool diary and lock it with a key.  So secretive and exciting. Well, my diary phase lasted about a week.  I never have been one for journaling or writing down my thoughts.  But, now, as a mother of two kids, I find myself learning small lessons that I wish I would write down so I could read them later when I might need the words of wisdom. Or, my toddler says something funny or poops on the potty for the first time (he did that today!) and I need somewhere to record the big event!
I also think it would be great for my kids to be able to read about their childhood one day.  Maybe my random thoughts and experiences will encourage Baby M when she is having a bad Mommy day and maybe it will give Little E a little more understanding as to what his wife’s day is like.  Most of all, these blogs will be my permanent record of the love and joy I experience daily as the mother of two adorable, happy, wonderful children.  And, I’m sure the frustrating and exasperating moments of raising two kids will be peppered in also!