A Different Mother's Day

Mother's day is different for mothers of toddlers and infants than for mothers of older children. Andrew works every Sunday, so Mother's day was no different than any other Sunday.

We got the kids up, and in the car to take Andrew to work, then the girls and I went back home. Try to get Paige to potty.

Breakfast time, full of questions... Eggs.... Cereal.... Toast.... What about waffles? What do you want to eat? Cereal it is then.

Then I got the girls ready for church and after they were ready got myself all ready to go. Squeeze in some time online, while Paige makes me pretend breakfast.

Try to get Paige on the potty again.

Then it's load the car again, and off to church. Elizabeth screaming the whole time. Unload the kids, and make my way in to put Paige on the potty yet again....while being surrounded by people who want to peek in on my baby girl who has slightly calmed down, but has a large bugger the end of her nose. My hands are too full to take it off.

Grandma comes to my rescue and Paige makes it to the potty. While this is happening, I am unloading Elizabeth. A little girl asks to hold her (she holds her every week, I think even more than her mom has). Paige is now at my side ready for her treat for going potty, a single gummy bear.

Time for service to start, convince little girl that I need to take the baby back. Then Paige runs off to find her class, in-between some elder people's legs. Talk to teacher and explain where we are in potty training, but forget to explain about the treats in bag.

Get settled in to service, with sleeping baby. All is nice and calm. Starting to feel guilty for not sharing Elizabeth, and pass her off to Grandma, who has been watching her with keen eyes since she slipped in next to me.

Three minutes later... Is she getting hungry? Better feed her now, before we are late getting Andrew for lunch.

Make my way out of the pew, then out of the sanctuary. Ladies lounge here I come. Settle in for our three minute feeding, full of slobber and leaking milk. Don't forget to burp her. Try again on the other side. Much messier than the first. Burp right away this time.

Time to check on Paige, poke my head in.... Any Luck?.... Just tried fifteen minutes ago.

Time for service to end. Gotta get Paige on the potty now, or we will have a we car seat. Going to be late if we don't leave in ten minutes.

Paige wants to wash her hands and not try to potty. Finally convince her to sit on the potty. Fast, before I know it she is emptying herself. Time to wash hands and get her treat.

Teacher says she gave her some of her treats for potty-ing, just as snack.

Oh boy!

Car seat time, Elizabeth doesn't mind right away. Make our way out the door.

Do you need help???

YES!

In the car now, Elizabeth minds the car seat now! And she is letting us know all about it. Driving to get Andrew....

He isn't where we decided to be, we go around the block again.

Oh, there he is across the street. Stop only long enough to let him in. Off we go to join the family for lunch.

Where is it... here it is.....

Unload the kids, and head inside. now were are Mom and Dad... There they are...

What to get.... Man I forgot to take Paige to the potty.... Tell the waitress I want a burger if I am gone when we order.

Let's go potty.... no success... fit instead, She doesn't want to sit on the potty... Says that she doesn't have to go. Back to lunch.

Three minutes later... Says it's time. Back to the bathroom with the same reults. Back to lunch.

Read above three more times.

Finally understand that she is scared to go, it's a BIG POTTY. Then there is a big fit on fourth trip to the potty. Kneeling on the floor, can't get to try to sit on the potty, makes her upset to look it. Can't even get her to stop crying.

Finally, after a change of subject, there is a try and some success.

Back to lunch, this time the food is there... Oh yea, it is time to eat.

COLD FOOD!

Mine is all gone very quick. I had some help finishing it, I am still hungry. It is amazing how much I can eat.

Elizabeth, who has been cuddling Grandpa, is now hungry and messy. Time to go to the car for some quiet time.

Andrew and Paige join us, time to take daddy back to work. Tears the whole way.

Back to the house, naps all around.

Before we know it it's time to get Andrew. Quickly load the kids, and ZOOM to get him as tears flow from Elizabeth.

Nursing while we wait, and a diaper change again. Put her in the seat again, now it's off to Grandma's.

Uneventful visit, but three trips to the potty, all went very well. Messy diaper from the little one, then it's load the car and back home we go. Forgot to get milk, talk of who should go back out.

Potty....A few minutes of playtime, then Blue's Clue's and change for bed. Forgot to get the cup of water, then it's tuck in time.

An hour with just Andrew and the baby, then it's off to bed. Elizabeth lasts ten minutes, before there is crying again. Back to the living room so Andrew can sleep.

She wants to talk and cuddle, but not sleep. We stay up for quite a while. Elizabeth falls asleep at almost one, but I am now very interested in a series finale that I started, can't go to bed now.

It's almost two, the show is over. I know that I should go to bed. Finally convince myself, so that I can move when Paige calls me.

Andrew is on my side of the bed..... What do I do....... Can't go to his side, I will be in the way at some point.... I get an idea, just get in really close to him.

Eventually he moves. Sleep takes me.

It was a good day. Not how I will choose to spend it next year.