Monday, May 30, 2011

The joy of doing nothing

It's Memorial Day, and many of you are having barbeques, or parties with friends.  We are enjoying a rare unscheduled day.  No one in our house had an appointments at all today.  Well, Jake had a call back, but he's 15 and could get there on his own and didn't need me to get him there.
There weren't any baseball games, or birthday parties, or classes or work commitments.  I slept in, all the way till 7 (seeing as I am usually already at work at 7, this is what constitutes sleeping late for me).  Aidan, Harry and I walked to Starbucks for an iced latte and some carbonated juice drink things.  Mike got the house to himself for about 12 seconds before Abby came home from her friends house. 
We lounged, played Wii, read and ate.  Abby took Harry to the beach for a little while and Aidan got to be an only child for a little while.  All in all, we were a family of slugs. 
I realize this to some seems like a waste of a day, since it's been raining so much here the past few weeks we practically need an ark, but we almost never do this.  We run like maniacs 8 days a week around here. 
The day is coming to a close, and for once, we are all fairly well rested.  It's a nice change of pace...

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Baby boom

I am surrounded by babies!  And it is a wonderful joyful thing.  A dear friend gave birth to twins, my brother and sister in law welcomed a baby girl through adoption, a cousin is expecting twins.  All these babies are leaving me a bit misty eyed. 
For all I complain about my four kids, given my druthers, I would have four more.  In a heartbeat.  And five or ten years ago, that was (almost) an option.  But I'm not 25 anymore.  Never mind how old I actually am, just older than 25, OK?  My youngest is about to start kindergarten this fall, and for the first time in 15 years, we will not be on the hunt for a babysitter.  My husband has one last year of school until he gets his degree.  Our finances, while slightly improving, are not where I would be able to stay home with a baby.
But two weeks ago, I got to hold my niece for the first time.  She was 4 weeks old and perfect.  As my Poppy would declare, a perfect little pot roast.  When her Gramma handed her to me, I immediately fell into the baby sway.  You know, how moms immediately start to rock back and forth when handed a baby.  I kissed her perfect, little, sweet smelling head more times than I can count.  I cooed at her, and promised we would go to the American Girl store when she is big enough.  I stood and rocked until she fell asleep, and then sat and rocked until I was finally persuaded to put her perfect little self into her bassinet.
See, I made the mistake of hurrying my first two babies along.  I couldn't wait for Jake and Abby to meet those milestones.  While Aidan was content to be a baby for a very long time, Harry had no interest in being little.  Harry is a 5 year old with a 15 teen year old attitude.  But I miss the babyhood. 
I miss diaper changes, and being up during the night with a newborn.  I know, some of you who are in the weeds there must think I am nuts, but I do.  I miss their warm little bodies, melting into my chest when I picked them up.  I miss being able to make their world perfect with just a clean diaper, warm bottle and cozy jammies.  No one has needed me to sway them to sleep for almost 5 years now. 
In all likelihood, the baby chapter of my life is coming to a close, whether I like it or not.  And just when I really feel like I have finally hit my stride as a mom.  For now, no decisions are being made.  The de facto decision is there are no babes other than the borrowed ones for the foreseeable future.  My husband isn't crazy about the notion of starting over, and the finances just aren't there.  But if you happen to need a professional baby rocker, give me a call.  Ok?