Yes. That is ma belly. All 35 weeks and 2 days worth. I would like to say I've done better about maintaining my weight this time, but it sure doesn't feel like it! If you've ever been pregnant for 41 weeks, *hopefully* you can relate to that weird smile you have where it's like half your smile has disappeared into the folds of your blossoming cheeks. Not cute. I'm afraid I've hit that 41 week milestone a little early, aka today. I don't even like smiling in the mirror. Ugh. Time for some lime juice!
Today I had several "aha" moments. Moments that turned from "aha" to "Dang, I stink." That may sound weird, but it's easy to start believing things that aren't necessarily true because you just don't have enough energy to do otherwise. Today's "aha/stink" moment: I like to think I'm the BEST.mom.ever.
Like I *really* play with Asher all day long. Well, last night as I was chasing Asher around our kitchen/hallway circle making motorcycle and lion noises, I realized that was the very first time I'd ever done that. First time I've let myself just go silly and chase him around and around and around for more than 10 seconds.
Like I keep up with all his shots. The other day at his 24 month appt, they told me he couldn't get his shots b/c they didn't have his shot record from our previous (stinky) pediatrician. The same thing happened at his 18 month appt. This mom clearly doesn't have her act together, otherwise she'd just pull out her handy dandy "Baby File" and proudly display his shot record herself. I have no idea what shots he's had. Fail.
Like I handle all crises with wisdom, speed, and genius. Just now, as Asher is sitting next to me, eating his PB&J dinner, he suddenly starts coughing like he's gonna puke. For a split second, a million thoughts run through my mind, like "get up and move away!" or "save the computer!" or even "grab a bowl." But what comes out of my mouth? "Do you want some peaches?" He gets a huge smile on his face, stops coughing, and says "YA!" That, my friends, is some mad mommy skillz. Or I just got really, really lucky. A better example would be the way I freak out if any peanut butter or stray goldfish gets smudged in my carpet, or Asher's sippy cup full of milk spills down into my couch cushions. It takes up a lot of my energy to 1) freak out, 2) figure out how big a mess it is, and 3) clean it up. Once I'm done, there's nothing left for Asher. Poor guy.
Anyways, sometimes I forget to put my mommy energy and mad mommy skillz to good use. Yes, I cook, clean, change diapers, read books, tickle, giggle, work 8 hrs a day, juggle bath time and 5th grade Math class, etc, but I FORGET to get down on the floor to play snake with Asher. I forget to take 10 minutes to call the old pediatrician to just get those stinkin' shot records faxed to his new doc. I forget to realize that if he throws up or I step on a wet raisin and it leaved an icky brown spot on the floor, it's ok. Nothing a good sponge and Lysol won't repair.
In the midst of a completely chaotic life, it's okay to take a moment and enjoy my sweet boy and this sweet gift of motherhood. It's okay to put aside seemingly important things to be responsible about records, files, bills, what have you. And it's okay to
