Imagine, If You Will...

Little J is bouncing happily in his Baby Einstein's stationary jumperoo.
From my couch I hear, *grunt, grunt, sigh...grunt, grunt.*
I know there's a poop a-comin'.
After a moment, I smell a HORRIFYING smell. That could NOT be my little man...
Oh, but it could be. And it was.

I pick him up to find the gift all parents, Mother's and Father's alike, dread in the diaper department. The Always-Happens-At-A-Bad-Time Exploder. Any parent who had changed a diaper, any unsuspecting 14 year old baby sitter, the Grandma that laughs hysterically because YOU once did it to HER... knows of the Exploder. This one, was a King Exploder. The Exploder of Exploders... (at this point I am just trying to see how many times I can get away with saying "exploder" in a paragraph...okay I'm done...exploder.)

Up his back, down his legs... the kid pushed like TWO times! HOW MUCH POO WAS IN YOUR TUMMY, CHILD?!

Now I am trying to peel his soft, fuzzy, warm footy pajamas off of him...while trying not to make a bigger mess. KJ is running circles around us screaming, "Ewww! That's DISGUSTING! Gosh, Josh! Ewww!" And yes... she can say all those words QUITE well, thank you.
What's worse? Little J thinks his sister doing obnoxiously loud laps around us is HILAAAARIOUS! He's laughing at her. And not just a little giggle. He's full on jumping up and down belly laughing at her. I'm trying to hold a 15lb. laughing baby with one hand while cleaning him with the other. All the while I'M dying of laughter because my kids are losing their minds! And, trying not to lose the rest of my dinner (I've been sick today as it is) from the look and smell of this WMD (yes, that's right... it was a Weapon of Mass Destruction!).

Now close your eyes and imagine all this happening.
Are you laughing at me?
Not yet?
How about when I finally got him cleaned up, new pajamas on him, old ones in the washer, and get back to the living room with a plastic bag to dispose of the disaster in... I stuck my finger in the WONDERFULLY warm, sticky, stinky goop that was in the diaper.
I MADE IT THAT WHOLE TIME WITHOUT ONE MESS!!! Just to be TAKEN DOWN by a flimsy plastic bag and open poopy diaper!
*sigh*
Are you laughing now?
You should be. Because if I saw this happening to you, I'd by DYING of laughter!!!!!

So, if you know someone who had a pretty crappy day... go ahead and send them this way. I'm sure this story will put a grin on just about any bad mood face out there :)

Trick or Tree!... wait...What?

So lately KJ has been excessively difficult. She doesn't want to listen to ANYONE, she doesn't want to do ANYTHING, she just wants to fight with everyone, and cry over everything.

It could go without being said, life has been a little more frustrating than usual around here.

Our Christmas tree went up last night. No decorations yet. But it's up. KJ is SO excited! After I turn on the lights she stand there for a good five minutes just celebrating... singing, "Chriiiistmaaaas!". I've discovered that to a 20 month old, "trick or treat!" and, "Christmas tree" sound awfully similar, and come out just so.
As much as I love watching her, "shop for Christmas", and open her presents Christmas day... I can't wait til she really understands the meaning of the holiday. I'm looking forward to our yearly trips to homeless shelters on Christmas day to deliver a toy from each kid. Most of all, I am looking forward to teaching her about God, about Jesus, and our religion. She doesn't really have the patience or understand now. I've tried. But she is young still, so for now it'll be about Christmas lights and cookies, presents and stockings :)

As for Little J... unless I am holding him... no interest in the tree. Yet. I'll get him just as excited about it before too long :)

Like Two Tons of Bricks

I have been raising my chitlins for going on two years now.
My soul has been a Mommy her whole life.
But up until October 31st, 2011... it hadn't really clicked in that "Wow, this is happening" kind of way.
I know... kind of confusing. Try to keep with me...

I've loved my children since the moment I found out I was pregnant with them. They've consumed my world, and though I may not always seem like it, they've made it so much better. They've truly completed my life. My existence became whole. And with every smile, every giggle, tear, hug, and milestone I've had a sense of happiness, joy, sorrow, and pride. So who would have thought doing something so parental and mundane as going through KJ's Halloween bounty would make me feel a feeling I've never really, truly, honestly had before. Something I thought I felt, but I guess it didn't really *sink in*. I...am Mommy.

I went to the store this evening to get some light shopping done *by myself*, and while I was out... it just sort of hit me. Like two tons of bricks. Two tons named Kady Jean and Joshua Logan. WHAM! I'm out getting formula, browsing Christmas trees... and instead of relishing the rare time I have to myself, I'm wishing KJ was there to "help Mama" pick out this year's tree. I'm wishing I could be showing Little J the ginormous inflatable Mickey Mouse (his favorite character so far) at Lowe's. While I will admit the quiet was nice... I really just wanted to share that moment with my kiddos. Even more so with Ace there with us. When I got home, I rocked my little man to sleep. Called a friend. Then snuggled with my KJ for no reason other than I really just wanted to hold her and remind her how much her Mama loves her.

I know for some women, the sense that "Mommy Is In The Building!" is an instantaneous feeling. And for me, I thought it was! But these last couple days have just felt...different. I wake up, I'm tired, and I just want to google "How To Install A Snooze Button On A Baby". And I'm sure until my babies are grown and on their own, I'll wake up like that every day. But who knows, maybe this new sense of Motherhood will bring me closer to KJ and Little J. Who knows, perhaps it will bring Ace and I closer as well. As parents, and as husband and wife.

And now... for the Cuteness factor you all love from my blog...

Yesterday's trick or treating was awesome! KJ said "trick or treat!" at just about every house! And for being less than 2 years old, she made out like a little bandit with all that candy!!! I can't wait til next year, when she gets to trick or treat with Daddy too :)