Through the eyes of a child

I was 39 weeks pregnant with baby number 3 (39+4 to be exact).  I am feeling huge and puffy. I also have vertigo from the pregnancy (I'm painting a lovely picture of myself here aren't I?).
Lately the little man has been waking up in the middle of the night because he has to go to the bathroom.  Last night it was 3:30 am.  I stumble, dizzy, out of bed and grope my way to the door. I stumble down the hall and open his door. He gets out of bed with his eyes half shut, grabs my hand and we both blindly make our way to the bathroom. "It's really shiny out here" he whispers. That's his way of saying the lights are bright. It always makes me smile.
He finishes up and stumbles, half asleep, back into the hallway. He looks back at me gives me a little half smile and says "you're beautiful". He walks into my room and climbs into the bed. I climb in after him and he snuggles his little body against mine. "I'm cold" he whispers "snuggle me". As I wrap my arms around him and rest my chin on his little head, I try to freeze this moment. For a precious second in time, this incredible little person is mine.
We are so quick to find the faults in ourselves but are able to look at our children and see the beauty and perfection in them. That beauty and amazement we see in our children must be how they see the world, untainted by the judgement and overly critical eyes we train ourselves to see with.
I wonder what this world would be like if we could all look at it through the eyes of a child.

I just said what?!

Our brood has grown by one! I am now the proud mama of a three year old, a one year old and a one month old...yikes!! Things have certainly been busy around here!
My little kiddos make me laugh every day. Sometimes the laughs come from the things coming from my own mouth. I will say something and then pause after speaking and think "did I really just say that?".

Here is a little collection of the crazy things that I have said recently:

"Be careful you don't hit your sister with that moose!"

"I just said you don't hit you sister with ANYTHING and that includes dinosaurs!"

"No no sweetie, you don't put mustard on the baby's head" (For the record, it was fake mustard)

"Watch out! You almost knocked over the lamp with that chicken!"

"Sweetie, please don't lick the dog."

"It's 2am and the middle of summer, why are you standing on your bed shouting 'Ho Ho Ho'?"

"Excuse me, you don't hit mom with a frog."

Leave a comment with the craziest thing you have had to say to your little ones!

confessions of a sleep deprived mommy

So many nights I go to sleep feeling like I have failed.  I am tired. Treading water with my head barely breaking the surface.
The sink is full of dirty dishes.
I don't remember the last time I put on real clothes.
Shower...ha!
The laundry is clean but unfolded, piled on a chair. The hampers are full again.
The bathrooms are a little scary.
Dog fur tumbleweeds blow around my house as I wander from room to room wondering where to start.

There is never not something that needs to be done.
Today I spent all morning getting frustrated and yelling at my two year old.
Watch out!
Sit down!
You almost hit the baby!
Stop shouting!
Hold your bowl straight so you don't spill!
You have to use the potty so you don't wet your pants!
You need a nap, you are exhausted!! (That one applies to me too)
But there is no time for naps.  I have work to do on the computer so I can continue to be home with my two (soon to be three) munchkins.
The dishes need to be washed because we are out of spoons.
Lunch
Snack
Dinner

He has finally settled down and is down for his nap.
Parenting can be ugly business.  Every once in a while I feel like I have it all together (not lately). It is a humbling experience; exhausting.

Every day my kids make me smile
Every day they make me laugh
They are an unending source of love
There is nothing better than the feel of little arms around my neck and wet kisses on my cheek
Big smiles from the baby make my heart so full of love it hurts.
"I love you buddy" "I love you too Mommy" the unprompted response from my little man that always chokes me up a little bit.

I'm not perfect but every day I try.

The number one spot on my "to-do" list today:
Hug my little man when he wakes up and tell him I am sorry I lost my patience.
Tell him that I love him.

What seems like the blessing is really the curse.  It's not always going to be like this.  They will grow up and one day, they won't "need" me anymore.  They will have their own lived to live and at that moment I will look back on these days and give anything for little tiny arms around my neck and a tiny voice in the dark saying "I love you too Mommy".