1 year!!!

A whole year already?  Really?  In this house, the days seem like years and the years seem like days.

What Jude has been up to these days:

• Walking everywhere while holding someone's hands.
• Still has those trusty 2 teeth. Although his top gums look like they are about to explode.
• Has figured out how to suck the cheese off of the cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots, then spit out the offending vegetable.
• Apparently doesn't chew his grape-halves, as evidenced by poop complete with grape skins fully intact. (Sorry Jude.  I know that's embarrassing, but you helped us learn something new!)
• Loves to talk, sing, and squeal to anyone who will listen.
• Loves to splash himself in the bathtub.
• Plays with Riley all day, everyday.  He looks up to her (literally and figuratively) and wants to do whatever she is doing.
• Loves to play the drums, or beat on any object that makes noises of reverberation.

Jude, when you entered this world and joined our family a year ago, we knew that you were the missing puzzle piece that completed our family.  Everything we did as a family felt right in a whole new way because you had finally joined us.  You are so laid back and love to watch what is happening around you.  You love Riley so much and love on her whenever you can get to her.  You are such a cuddler and will spend minutes (which is a lot for a baby) just sitting on my lap and holding onto me.  I love to soak up those moments with you because I know they will end all too soon.  We are so excited to see the boy are you all-to-quickly becoming. We are blessed blessed blessed to be your mommy and daddy.

Life Support

For the past 3 years and 2 months, I have been supporting another life.  Pregnant with Riley, then nursing Riley.  Pregnant with Jude while simultaneously nursing Riley, then just pregnant with Jude, and finally nursing Jude.  So really, I've been "eating for two" since April 2008. 

Until now. 

Jude has just been weaned.  He would much rather have real food than drink milk.  I am sad and so excited at the same time.  This phase of babyhood is over. No more cuddles while nursing.  I will miss that one-one-one time that only he and I knew.  And even though I can't eat anything I want and claim that it's because I'm pregnant or nursing, I can leave for more than 3 hours without the need to pump or run home to nurse.  It's a hint of freedom that I haven't known in a LONG time.  I'm excited about that.  I'm excited to go have a true girls' weekend without dragging along the pump (or kid).

It's been a great experience to give life to two precious children.  I'm honored and blessed that I could do it, but this time-share just ran out, baby!  My body is fully back to my own.

More Riley-isms

Last Saturday morning, we were eating breakfast together as a family and Woody gave Riley a few orange slices.  As is customary for her, she sucked the juice out of the slice and handed it back to Woody.  She doesn't like the flesh of the orange.  I told Woody she only likes the orange juice.  She responded "I like the lemon sauce."  Where in the world did that come from?  I love how she puts her own two-year-old spin on things.

11 Months

11 Months!  Could it really be?  Has it been that long?  Yup.  So much going on with this little man.

• He crawls everywhere.  I don't think his legs ever stop, even when he is sleeping.
• He still has a love for food.  He eats more than Riley on a daily basis.  The thought of how much money we will be spending on food in about 10 years makes me cringe.
• He has started pointing.  I don't really know what he is pointing at, but it's definitely a point.
• Still pulling up on lots of stuff, but no cruising yet.
• He really enjoys walking while holding our hands.  (Riley did this for months while I was pregnant with Jude.  This time around, my back doesn't hurt as much from all of this hunched over walking.)
• Weaning fully underway.  I am partly sad and partly excited about this step.  This is one of the last baby-things to go.  Before I know it, he will be out of diapers and no longer a 'baby'.

Identify Theft

My identity has been stolen. I used to be Melanie Woody.  Now, I am "Mommy, that's it" ~ in the words of Riley.  Two young people have taken all that used to be me and turned it into a spit-up covered, nose wiping, bottom wiping, food cooking, laundry-doing mommy.  I knew this would happen, but I didn't realize it would have the effect it has had. 

The romantic view of being a mommy is quickly erased and replaced with reality when your only alone time is in the shower, until you see two hands and a mouth on the shower door, or when you have to go potty, but the door doesn't latch and Riley wants to know what is happening in there.  Or when you realize that you have had a streak of poop on your forehead for who knows how long during the day.  It could have been dirty diaper number one, or number seven. Or when you realize you haven't washed your hair in five days because shower time consists of a three minute window in which both kids are watching Sesame Street and you think you've gotten everything harmful put away.

Most of my clothes are now stained with food, spit-up, and anything else my children find, color, produce, regirgitate, or expel. So when girl night comes around, or a date night, I quickly realize my options have been drastically cut down. And the last straw that caused me to lose all pre-children identity: the purse.  The sassy green leather purse I bought in Florence has now been replaced by a large (albeit cute) Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag.  A diaper bag.  And it's not like I get to carry everything I need in there either.  Most of the time, I can work my billfold into a pocket and a phone in the corner.  Forget the make-up bag, hand lotion, or checkbook. 

I miss me.  And even as I try to put a light spin on it, it's been a hard transition for me.  It's like I woke up one morning and didn't quite recognize this new life.  I know it sounds cliche.  But if you are a mom, you probably know exactly what I am talking about.  In order to stay home with my kids, I have sacrificed everything else.  No gym, no yoga classes, no coffee with the girls every Saturday morning, no happy hour after work, no new clothes, no alone time, no hair appointments in over a year. 

I do love my life.  I love my kids more than I know how to express.  I know I am sacrificing all of these things so I can raise my kids and allow them the benefit of a mom that is always with them, with their needs being my number one priority.  But when does that benefit for my kids become a detriment to me?  How selfish am I?  This is my struggle.  I need to find a balance.  I need something for me.

Play time

Now that Jude is crawling, he follows Riley everywhere, including under their slide.  He looks pretty proud of himself.

Riley likes to follow me into Jude's room to pick him up from naptime.  Then she wants me to put him in the chair next to her.  She loves on him until he is itching to get down.  Luckily I caught this sweet interaction on camera.  One of these days, she won't believe how much she loved on him.

Everything I do, I do for these two faces.  They make it all worth it.

Great Minds Think Alike

Millie came over to play a few nights ago while her parents had a date night.  After we bathed all three kids, it was time for PJs (or jammies as Riley calls them).  I laughed out loud when I saw that Millie and Riley had the same PJs patterns picked out for the night time slumber.  Just another sign that these mommies think alike, and these little girls are destined to be the best of friends. 

After LOTS of coloring, sliding, running, and jumping, it was bed time.  I love watching these girls together.  They have so much fun.  Even at this age they are pretty self-sufficient when it comes to playing together, which makes babysitting a breeze.  Millie, we love having you over to play!