I tried so hard to not laugh....

"Mama," Cadence says to me as we sit at the table to eat lunch, "Do you know what happens when I squish my tummy?"

"No, I don't."

"It turns into a bottom."

*This is not the aforementioned trick. She loves having a little pool in the backyard, and loves even more that clothing is optional.

Then she showed me. Innocently, scientifically. And I lost it. Wholeheartedly, unabashedly laughed my head off. I couldn't be stopped. With my reaction what it was, I'm sure she'll be telling that joke to everyone that she sees. Oh well. I tried.

Above: Our little Eve, caring for the yard. In the buff. So innocent. She begged and begged me to take mine off, too.
Below: Just a cute shot of our girls that I wanted to post.

Splat!

Uh, I didn't know what to call what I'm about to throw down here. Total random snippets. But stay tuned for the story at the end. It really zinged me.

-We have arrived safely and happily in Flower Mound TX (near Dallas). We are staying in this beautiful home of another Bain (firm with whom Spencer is interning this summer) family who are doing a stint in Stockholm. We are thoroughly enjoying every minute of pretending that their life is ours. "Just think, in a year, we'll have all of this!!" We say as we load the dishwasher and look around at the high ceilings, walls painted in good taste, and plenty of room for us all... It's been fun. Thanks to everybody who helped out with the move. It was a lot of work and took a lot of volunteer hours from friends and family, who knew that I wouldn't have a chance to repay the debt.

- Campbell says her first word. She is now 10 1/2 months but about a month ago I noticed it. It's hard to tell exactly when a child says her first words, and I personally don't count "mama" and "dada", because for one thing, it's a given, and for another, it's really hard to tell when they start saying it discriminately instead of just babbling. Okay, and this is testament to what a truly awesome soul she is: DANCE. When the kid hears a good beat, she sways that bigbig head of hers side to side, or bounces her knees, or wiggles, and shouts "Da! Da!" It's consistent, and it's meaningful. Yay to an awesome first word. Cadences, by the way, was "light". She thought it was really funny that the light fixture above her highchair was shaped like a ball. And she became fascinated with it. Anyway, not to steal Campbell's thunder. I am really very proud of her!

-Last week was a really really exhausting one for everybody. We spent Mon-Wed moving moving moving. Nothing but moving. If Mikalyn hadn't come out to help, and as I mentioned before, if everybody hadn't pitched in, it wouldn't have happened. Anyway, so I slipped in a shower before we pulled out of town on Wednesday. Then we spent three days in the car. You know what road trips are like, right? I wear comfortable clothes, my hair gets all crazy looking, and I really don't care.
So on our final day on the road, we stopped at an Arby's off of the freeway near OK City. It was hot and humid, we were tired and anxious to just get to our final destination. After lunch we all hit the bathrooms and I found that there was no changing table in sight. A mother's option at that point is the ground. I have had to pull this move many times. I always feel weird about it because it's not very private, I don't know how many gross-o's have spit on the grass or worse, etc. Anyway, I found a spot of grass shaded by the Arby's sign and I dropped my backpack to the ground and got to work. Right after I exposed Campbell completely, I noticed that the guy stopped at the light just next to us was staring. "Come on, Perv, she's just a baby!" I thought to myself. I became even more annoyed by Pervert McGee when the light changed and somebody behind him had to honk to get his attention. Anyway, I wrapped things up and as I stood and gathered my things, I noticed Pervert McGee pulled up in his truck next to me in the parking lot. I was alarmed. He rolled down his window and asked so sincerely, " Do you need money?"

I think he was pretty embarrassed when I explained that we were just passing through town on a long road trip and that I was just fine. And then it hit me. I looked homeless. And I really really did. A sad, homeless redheaded mother, just trying to find a place to stop and take care of my baby. Oh, I must have been a sorry sight. I thought it was kind of him to take the risk of offending me because if I had been homeless, I really would have been desperate, I'm sure. But I was still pretty glad when, as he left the parking lot, his truck was positioned so that he could see me climb into my Jetta with my husband and family. :) The rest of the day, and ever since then, really, I was/have been a little self-conscious.

*ps, more about Mikee's visit and the road trip when pictures come. Our camera has been lame-o, so I'm relying on others.

"...because Mommy's going to lose it if you don't stop it NOW!"

Do you ever hear yourself saying something like that and wonder if you have actually lost your mind? I mean, when you find that you are talking that way to a 2-year-old....

My mother-in-law recently sent me to a link where an article was posted entitled: The Perfect Mom. I didn't really want to read it.This totally depresses me. Seriously. Are there moms out there that feel like they deserve this? I am the only one who KNOWS she doesn't? I mean, I'm just laying it all out for you guys. This would probably make me cry if I got it as a card. Sad tears.

Sometimes I feel an urge to be perfect, but most of the time I mostly feel guilt that I don't feel guilty for not being perfect. In either case, we all feel a lot of mixed emotions and (dare I call it unnecessary?) guilt. Here are a few of my favorite parts of the article:

By simply changing the use of the word perfect from an adjective to a verb, perfection becomes motivating, not demoralizing. To perfect means to improve, refine, hone, work on. That’s something each of us can do everyday without a deadline or flawless end product to measure up to. It’s more about striving than arriving. Read these inspiring words from Leonard Cohen:

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in.

As mothers, we’re not in the same boat, just the same ocean. Comparing each other’s boats and constantly keeping track of who is ahead does nothing to get us where we are trying to go; it only distracts us from the care of our precious cargo.

The definition of mothering is to look after, care for, protect, nurse, and tend. There is nothing in that definition about alphabetically organized spice racks, Disney cruises, multiple degrees or granite counter tops. (And note that this is my first time using giant text to emphasize--that's how much I love this:) Have you ever noticed that children don’t care if your middle is mushy or there are cobwebs in the corner? Their needs are very basic and you are at the top of their list.

Okay, okay, I don't need to be a perfect mom, but I do really really despise myself if I find cobwebs in my home or when I wipe up a spill on the floor and see weeks worth of dirt and grime come up (too much information?), or I suddenly get a toddler-kiss on my "tire" that is sneakily peaking over my pants. (we're talking before my pregnancy).

Even though I have many friends who seem to be "perfect moms/homemakers", I'm sure you still feel pressure and guilt about some things. I hope this reminds you, as it did me, that mothering is not about me. It's about my precious, sweet, beautiful, unique, God-given children. And I'm not doing them any good by having mixed up priorities.


Here is the link to the entire article. I encourage you to read it. It is inspiring and relieving.