this is how i found her yesterday morning. she has a thing with blankets. not only does she like to fiddle with them, but she has to tuck herself in, too. and the orange pillow is her boppy pillow. she uses it like a chair. perfect!
ANYWAYS. i’m trying to get her back on track with our school schedule, which means naps should be between 12-3. unfortunately, school pick up time is right in the middle of that. which sucks.
but yesterday i had the most fantastic morning with her. we went to a local bookstore that i totally forgot had the most awesome kids section. she was in heaven. we read.. she played… and we talked to other moms and babies her age. (how social of me!) but i don’t know what it was– maybe that i didn’t ‘half-read, have one eye on her’ while i read my magazines (hahaha- you know you do it, too) or maybe it was because i talked to other moms who were alone with their one child (and i could hear that lonely, ‘i-need-to-connect-because-i-am-a -SAHM’ tone in their voice) and it made me remember when i felt that way… or maybe because it made me think of when i used to spend my entire days reading board book after pop up book to the big kids..finding sooo many ways to entertain them and keep them busy.. when they were little. that was wordy. i’m emotional. missing those days— when i had 3 kids age 5 and under— the toughest stage of my life. i remember rejoicing when they started to grow…. when their clinginess started to fade.. when they would play for longer periods of time without needing me right there…and now they are gone all day. and those days when my KCC were so wittle are SO LONG AGO. how funny to crave that toughest stage…but i know why…that would be because it has been the most rewarding.
caleb- kira- cameron…. so little. 😦
so now after so many years, i’m back to dealing with tantrums and
clinginess and surrounding myself around other toddlers and social
activities that keep her busy …and i welcome it all. i am honored to be
there with her as i was with KCC. i truly
cannot imagine a better way to spend my days.
watersix 
Hey Jamie… I have 2 kids under 4 and I am wishing for easier times. I guess it goes so fast, so I am trying to enjoy it. It is the entertaining that I find difficult too- such clever little minds always needing to do something.
Have a great day!
LikeLike
Amen!
LikeLike
Hey Jame,
I am so totally understanding the whole my kids are all grown up thing. Jake is going to be 13 this Sunday CRAZY I can’t believe these 13 years have gone by so fast! Plus both my boys are in school now too. I miss my little ones and yet I am excited and happy to watch them grow and become who they are meant to be. Love you! thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
sigh…
so beautifully said.
now, i know i only have 2, but it is still hard for me to believe that sean is gone all day and will continue to be forever now (summer aside). it’s like you are always moving forward and now i want to go backward and that is just not an option.
it is hard…harder than i ever imagined.
(hoping i am making sense!)
LikeLike
hugs I just know how that feels. now i feel like I ought to have another baby just to keep me company. but i can’t keep doing that can I? So i guess i’ll have to learn to let them grow…
LikeLike
total sap. i love it. you are on point, jame. so lucky to be a SAHM.
LikeLike
love the pics of the littles 🙂
you are such a good mom, jamie!
LikeLike
well that made me all teary-eyed…i absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE that collage of KCC when they were little! It’s fun to see them that age!
LikeLike
What a sweet tribute to motherhood. I, too, have three under five and it is very tough. I crave outside activity and adult interaction, at times practically forcing myself into other’s conversations just to be heard.
And now that my Bigs are in Bigs school, I miss the chaos that were the days of summer and, like you, although we miss them, Nadia and I are getting along beautifully. It’s like I’m falling in love with her all over again.
Thanks, as always, for sharing.
LikeLike
Yup.A year ago I had 3 under 5yrs too. Aint no picnic. Now my oldest starts Grade 1 next year and I am freaking out. I think one of the beaut things about scrapping is that it takes you on the journey of enjoying every moment. Savouring. Even the crappy ones! BTW Totally impressed that you keeping up the daily bloggin’…..
LikeLike
sappy for real. yes, elsie’s face is really maturing, sorry to tell yoiu, but the baby-ness is starting to fade… gonna be a beauty though like her mama… must run in the blood.
LikeLike
when your baby is born and ppl say to you to enjoy EVERY moment becauses time goes so fast… i thought ‘yeah course’ but it REALLY does pass by SO fast.all those well wishers and advice givers were spot on! i too am priveledged to be sahm and try so hard to enjoy and savour every moment.
LikeLike
I connected with this post so much, I want to cry. I’m a SAHM – my children are 1 & 3. I feel so isolated sometimes, I know that’s how a lot of SAHMs must feel but I choose to stay home and don’t regret it one bit as difficult as it may seem sometimes. I don’t have a lot of friends and my company is far and few between…
Also, just looking back at old photos of my son even a year ago makes my throat tighten and tears start to form. It is the hardest stage right now for my kids (tantrums & clinginess too) but I try to remember, I only have them this small for a tiny fraction of their (and mine) life and try to soak up every little sight, sound & smell of them….I’m knee deep in the most amazing little humans. I know when they are grown, I’ll want them back, tantrums and all. My sister always says, ‘watching them grow is bittersweet’.
LikeLike