As I sit here in the waiting room waiting to rejoin my client who’s VBAC ended with a c-section, I am reminded how much of fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth is waiting.  As the saying goes “hurry up and wait”.  We wait for each time of ovulation  to hopefully get pregnant this cycle.  We wait for the next doctor appointment to see how we are doing and when we get there, we wait some more.  We wait those last few weeks when we feel like a house and are ready to meet our little one, we wait for birthing day.  Once labor pains begin, we wait on our bodies to tell us when to push.  Once our baby has been born, we wait to get the “all clear” to go back to our full schedules.  Perhaps all of this waiting is preparing us for the immense amount of love, patience, and nuturing we need to care for a child.  We mothers must be good at waiting right?  Maybe for some of us, it’s in our DNA.  I know for some (myself included), waiting can be as challenging as those labor pains.  I think a perfect balance of hurry up waiting and savoring the moment is within our reach.  Savor the moments that make us feel alive,  those moments our children steal our hearts yet again (yes, you know those moments, when you feel you could burst because of the love for them).  There are so many lessons our children are waiting to teach us, we just need to slow down and notice.  You can hurry up and wait when they are teenagers and you find yourself on the couch because curfew is soon approaching.  While they are small and even not yet born, savor the moments.  I know it’s a trite phrase, but it is so true “they grow up so fast”.  Even if you don’t have the pleasure of being surrounded by children, stop and remember the amazingness children bring to our lives, the lessons they teach, the love they so freely give, the laughter that is never far from their tongue, and their awesome curiosity.  If a child is near you, hug them and let them know how much they are loved.

One of the silly games I play with my kids……

“Why do I love you?” I ask

“Because I’m __________ (fill in the name).” they answer

Moments like these erase the whiny morning and the sibling rivalry.  i believe in speaking into my kids (i.e you are kind, gentle, thoughtful, brave etc.) and dream building with them.  In our house we talk a lot about what they want to be when they grow up.   After naptime i was snuggling my youngest (3 in 10 days).  In the past he has said he wants to be a doctor who fixes cars (can you guess his favorite movie?) or a police officer.  Today i asked if he wanted to be president of the United States (we have a president book we read and they memorize), he nodded no.  Do you want to be a police officer?  Again, nodding no.  Do you want to be a fire fighter? Nodding no.  Do you want to marry a rich girl so you can sit and watch t.v all day?  An enthusiastic nodding of yes.

They sure are angels when they sleep!  As i type this my little man (aka Roo Roo or formally Vahn) is peacefully sleeping.  Who cares you say?  weeelll as any committed mommy knows the joy of caring for these little people can be rewarding and some days, not so much.  Today was a not so much day.  We had eaten lunch and went to the playground down the way.  Vahn was very clingy and wanted “nuggles mommy, nuggles”.  i was holding him for a few minutes and behold the love of only a mother!  i even had vomit down my bra!!  Now that’s a great picture i know!  i yelled at my other kids “We have to leave, we have to leave! Vahn just got sick!  Let’s go!!  We will get your scooters and bikes later! Let’s go!”  Thankfully we live right next door to the park.  We pretty much run home and i get the both of us cleaned up.  Now, how am i going to get the playground clean (it’s that black soft top stuff)??  Deep breath.  We are snuggling on the couch and i tell the other kids to go get the bikes and scooters.  Thankfully i have great children and they actually listen and do as asked.  All of a sudden……here comes round two!!  It was worse than round one.  i frantically call my hubby who works just down the street and tell him to come home early for lunch.  After round two i cleaned him, me, the blanket, the carpet, and the dining room floor.  While this is going on my wonderful hubby comes home, takes a watering can with cleaning solution in it, paper towels, and Clorox wipes and marches over to the playground.  Now he is peacefully sleeping on the couch for naptime in case i have to make a run for it.

I am convinced every mom has some great puke stories!  i know i sure have some good ones up my sleeve….