I don't see you enough.

I don't see you enough. 

Everyday, when I have to leave you, I ask God why.  Why do I have to leave her?  Why do I have to go to work?  Why can't I just stay with her forever?

My favorite part of the day is coming home and seeing you smile.  When I walk through the door, your face lights up with the biggest smile the world has ever seen.  You bounce up and down, and gurgle with excitement.  You tell me all about your day and give me a big, drool-filled kiss.

My second favorite part of the day is bedtime.  Specifically those last few minutes before we both fall asleep...when we're laying there quietly, just staring at each other sleepily, holding hands and drifting away.  I savor those 5-10 minutes, because one day I know I'll blink and you'll be too big for bed-sharing.  Too big for breastfeeding.  Too big for cuddling.

I don't see you enough.

Whoever said 12 10 weeks postpartum was sufficient?  I think a year would be better.  And I think never again would be even better than that.  Maternity leave flew by.  I was in such a sleep deprived daze, just trying to survive being a new mom, that I didn't realize how fleeting time really was.  I didn't appreciate each and every moment the way I should have.

Every day I go to work, because I have to work.  Every day I stare at your pictures on my phone and pray that one day I can stay home with you.  And every day I get more and more miserable. 

I should be the one you show your belly to...

I don't see you enough. 

You are my baby.  My precious little baby girl that I carried in my belly for over 38 weeks.  We were always together.  And for those first ten weeks of your life, we were always together.  I feel like mothers shouldn't have to work (unless they want to...  Then, by all means, knock your socks off!).  I'd live in a cardboard box, with no cell phone, no vacations, no anything, if it meant I could be with you all day everyday.  Unfortunately, I don't think CPS would approve of the whole cardboard box thing.

I should be there for nakey baby time...

I always knew that I would love to be a stay at home mom, but I never knew I'd need to be a stay at home mom.


How about you mommas?  How do you feel about your decision to stay home or work?  Is anyone else in the process of trying to become a SAHM?  

(Guest Blogger: Meghan) A Healthy Competition

Today's guest post comes from Meg over at Phase Three of Life.  Meg is a good friend of mine and a fellow new momma.  I like to stop by her blog on the daily for a chuckle and to stare at my future son-in-law.  I encourage all of my lovely readers to do the same!  (the chuckling, not the staring)


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I'm not a very competitive person. In fact, I sort of shy away from competition.

All those stories about soccer moms/dads who lose their minds over whether their kid's team was scoring enough or playing adequate defense? Yeah, so not me. I'd be the one on the sidelines with a cooler full of beer, relaxing in my lawn chair, enjoying the nice day.

What? You can't bring beer to your kid's soccer game? What is happening to America??

But then one day last week, Mike came home with a challenge. He'd picked Ryan up from daycare, and the teachers had pointed out the door to his "classroom." It had been decorated with white paper plates that had little red and blue baby footprints stamped all over them. Each classroom had decorated their door in July 4th patriotic fashion.

Aw, that's nice.

Oh, but it's not just nice. It's a competition. You see, photos of each door had been uploaded to the daycare's Facebook page. The classroom with the most votes was going to win a "special prize."

I immediately flew onto Facebook, liked the page and liked my kid's door.

Then I commented with a "Let's do this!"

Our door - the Infant "Pods" - already had about 35 votes and was just a handful of votes behind Classroom #9: The Preschoolers. Each of the other doors only had a few votes each, so it became clear pretty quickly that the Infant Pods and Classroom #9 were going to battle it out.

I fired off a Facebook message to 35 of my closest family and friends.

Then I sat and watched as the first few votes started to roll in. As the day went on, we surpassed Classroom #9 and slowly began to distance ourselves.

They attempted to rally, bringing in several new votes. I strategized with Mike, telling him to hold off voting so that we could use him as a last-minute tie-breaker, if needed.

But my friends and their Facebook addictions proved too powerful for those Preschoolers. The Infant Pods prevailed, with a crushing final score of 74-65!

As you might imagine, the babies were beside themselves with excitement and pride. And Ms. Jen happily reported to Mike that they won an ice cream party!

I won?  Really?

Wait. Can a 9-month-old even eat ice cream?

I think I got too into it.

Happy Independence Day!

This year we decided to celebrate America's birthday over two days.

Day one of the celebrations started on Sunday:

Our sleepy little patriot

It was a comfy 112 degrees outside, ideal weather for a BBQ and swim at The Fort.  We got our swim on, we got our grub on, and we got rained on.

A very pale family photo

My "mom" face

Daddy getting crazy

Auntie Fal and Uncle Cole

Pop Pop and Grammy

The fun was cut short when Fountain Thrills got hit with one of the nastiest monsoons of the season.  Pop Pop was holding Lulu when the wind and rain picked up; he whirled around to form a grandpa shield, and then took off towards the cars.  The rest of us grabbed the coolers and towels, and loaded the cars.  Lordy, were we DRENCHED!  Needless to say, fireworks were postponed.

Day two of the celebrations were much more low-key.  Nothing says "Happy Birthday America" like sangria and a True Blood marathon!

Just look at those monkey feet!

Family kisses

Happy Goose with Daddy and Grammy

Happy Goosey!

Is there anything better than a three-day weekend with family, food and sunshine?  Why yes, yes there is...  A four-day weekend with all of the above!

Funnies

In these few months that Lucy has been with us, I have laughed more than ever before in my life.  I decided it necessary to start a list of all the good times....and of course share it with everyone!  Enjoy!!!

On our second night together, still in the hospital, Casey said to me, "I think she's pooping." and I said, "How do you know?"  Casey proceeded to imitate Lucy's pooping face.  

When my milk came in, my boobs transformed into miniature watermelons.  It literally hurt to lift my arms in the shower.  At one point Casey gave me the lightest of hugs, I don't think his arms were completely around me yet, and I yelled, "Not so tight!" 

One night, still half asleep, I groggily asked Casey to help me switch Lucy to my other boob.  He sat up to do so, and panicked.  Which made me panic.  In between us slept our dog, Daisy Doodle; but in our sleep deprived stupor we thought it was Lucy.  At this point Lucy was still sleeping in her bassinet, so I immediately yelled, "How did she get in the bed?  And why is she naked?!"  

During a recent family shower, the three of us were bouncing around, cooing and smiling in the water, and then all of a sudden...the poop face flashed across Lucy's face...quickly followed by a toot....and the immediate realization that Goose had just pooped in Casey's hand and all down his leg.

A recent trip to Costco was interrupted when the professional baby wearer (me) felt her feet getting splashed.  I looked down and said, "Oh my God she's peeing!"  Casey, my mom, and I just looked down to the floor, that was quickly pooling with pee, and froze. 

The most recent knee slapper was Lucy's first time swimming.  After a mere five minutes in the pool, Lucy spit up.  Like hugely spit up.  IN.THE.POOL.  

I expected being a parent to be rewarding.  I never expected it to be so funny!

The Three Stooges