The Joys of Motherhood

Anyhow, I had a pretty crazy week with my children last week, but somehow this week they have made it all better. I'm happy life is that way sometimes. Kids drive you just crazy enough to want to get rid of them, only to turn around and hug your neck and tell you how much they love you or think you are pretty. :) Melts your heart!!
Shall we start with Ethan? He is all boy, all the time!!! Thankfully, he had two older sisters that has influenced a calmer side of boyness, so far. Yet the boy still seeps out of him!!! He does not mind to get dirty at all. He has purposely found the only puddle in the parklot to jump into. He heads for the mulch piles at the park or dirt mounds.....just to play in. Sadly, this has rubbed off on Jamie and she enjoys it just as much! When he eats, the hands immediately hit his pants or shirt when there is something on them and he wants it off. No napkins for him! He does use one for his face, only because he hasn't figured out how to wipe it on his shirt too. The funny thing about this is when Jamie ever gets anything on her shirt....even just water, she changes it. Ethan, the other day, had more pudding on him than went in him. And he just sat there. He probably would have just been fine in this chocolatey mess had mom not freaked out and whisked him away to the bathroom to get cleaned up and new clothes.
None of this is to show that I am annoyed or unhappy with him. It's just to show that I'm coming into this all new. Having two girls, I cried when I found out we were pregnant with a 3rd child and I think I cried even harder when we found out it was a boy. I come from a home with two sisters. So I had no idea what to do with a boy. These past two or so years with Ethan has been great. He's been a wonderful addition to our family....and I didn't cry when he was born because he was still a boy, but I cried because I had accepted the fact and was happy to have a boy. :) And I still am today. A few weeks for the first time he showed interest in himself.....down there. :) And he wanted to use the potty.............and he went....twice!!! I'm sure this is just a fluke....and thus has proven that, but I'm excited and we are all trying to be as encouraging as possible!! But any suggestions are welcome!!! Right now we are just going like girls do....I'm not even messing with the standing up thing yet. :) That's Dave's job.

Now my girls! I love them and they drive me crazy.....just because they can! They cry when they get hurt (seems like forever), they cry when there is a bee around, they fight like maniacs, and they scream and yell.....but oh how they scream....especially Jamie. I wish motherhood was just about all the fun and enjoyment of children....but lately, I have had to just grin and bear it. Not so much fun. However, come this Friday, I will have a first grader. That is the plan anyway. This has been a new whirlwind this year, starting school and having to do it on my own, so it seems...with Dave being at work in the evening. However, we have made it through. I am so proud of Taylor. She has made lots of friends and learned so much. She went to the dentist twice for fillings and made it through...even though she sooooo does not like it. But who does?? She has created herself a little bit of an attitude, though. I would like to think that with time it will go away, but I know better!!! I was a daughter at one time, still am. And I still do not like being told what to do!! :)
Next year Jamie will start preschool, so I am sure she will develop a new independence from mom as well. She already seems so smart in what she knows, I think just from having Taylor to be her example. She is my helper and my little mommy, though. She makes sure things are taken care of, like Ethan or grandma next door. She, however, does not like to be the helper when mom asks to, say, pick up her toys or something. She has this little problem with lying right now.....she knows that she is doing it too. So far we can tell when she is doing it....we best break her soon of it!!!! I love her to pieces, along with all my kids. And without them, I would not be in the midst of my joyful motherhood. :)
I hope all my mothers out there had a wonderful mothers day! Filled with homemade gifts, hugs, kisses, and great expressions of appreciation. I can honestly say I appreciate my mom more now that I have kids, than when I did when I was younger.
So here is to you mom! Love you!