Things I will and will NOT miss...

I was thinking about a song by Trace Adkins yesterday entitled, You're Gonna Miss This. It's about not taking for granted the experiences you're having now in the hopes of things being better in the future, especially when it comes to your children.

I've been told so often I can't begin to count the number of times, (usually amidst my complaining) that I should love every minute of being a mother because "they just grow up too fast." Well, as much as I would like to think that's absolutely true, I've discovered that there are some things that I absolutely WILL NOT miss (this list is obviously not all inclusive):



1. Climbing into a crumb-filled bed where someone has decided it's the only "safe" place to consume their pirated loot without anyone finding out.

2. Discovering that the slimy mess I feel squishing through my toes is actually banana that someone has dropped and LEFT on the floor for me to smush into the rug, and consequently add to my list of things I have to clean up. (I know, I should be grateful it's just a banana.)

3. Struggling to bend over my protruding belly for the fifteenth time to pick up a pair of dirty socks left on the floor, only to hear (in the whiniest voice possible), "Mom! I can't find my socks!" approximately 30 seconds later.

4. Having my newly potty-trained 3-year-old decide that stopping to come inside to use the toilet is just too inconvenient, and that continuing to play in soiled pants is perfecty acceptable, and is actually not too uncomfortable.

5. Trying to convince said 3-year-old that the sacrament is not a MEAL and that she can only take ONE piece of bread--preferrably the first one she touches...

6. Everything about being pregnant.

7. Repeating myself.

8. Changing up the back, out the legs, in the hair, on the floor, on my pants, blowout diapers.

9. Being told one night that I'm the greatest cook in the world and the next night being asked why I can't cook like The Burger King.

10. WHINING--need I say more?


Just to make sure this is a fair and balanced post, I'm perfectly aware that there are things I will deeply miss, and some that I already do. Again, a list that is NOT all inclusive:


1. Words. Tortiyaya=tortilla; ashleyes=eyelashes; pizzzpa=pizza; lasterday=yesterday; menember=remember.

2. Little arms wrapping around my neck to give me a hug for no apparent reason.

3. After putting make up on and getting my hair done for church (usually the only day it happens...), having the girls look at me with wide eyes, saying, "Mom! What happened to you? You look beautiful!"

4. Listening to them sing "I Want to Be Kind" to each other after they get in trouble for fighting, then watching them hug and run off playing together as if nothing had happened.

5. Hearing them include in their prayers a plea that the cat won't get eaten by anything while she stays outside for the night.

6. Their first time reading a book by themselves.

7. Their knock-knock jokes that make no sense, but that they laugh hysterically at themselves for coming up with.

8. Holding a sad or discouraged child in my arms, knowing that soon I won't be their first choice for consolation.

9. Having the girls fight over who gets to kneel by me for family prayer, or sit next to me during sacrament meeting, or be on my team for playing games...ok, they'll always fight to be on my team--everyone does.

10. Hearing, "Good Night, I love you!" every night.


All-in-all, I love being a mom. I'm completely aware that I don't even understand most of what I will miss about having my little ones around me. I try to think about that when I'm trying to avoid stepping on them as they "help" in the kitchen, or when they defiantly tell me "no" for the 112th time that day.

I have three things to say to my mom in light of my experiences in mommydom so far:

1. I'm sorry!
2. I appreciate you!
3. I love you!

I think that about covers it....

Kids

First of all, thanks for your baby name ideas! Little Max Steven Lowe (at least, this is his name for now...poor Ben had his birth certificate changed 2 or 3 times before they finally left well enough alone!) was born on Thursday, April 30, weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 21" long. Given his dad's urinary habits, it was no surprise to us that he peed all over the place before the umbilical cord could be cut. (Anyone who knows Tyler knows that his metabolism is so high that he's in the bathroom at least every 2 hours with a full bladder!) Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough with the camera to catch him in action! Everyone's doing well and are back in the comfort of their home. I can't help but feel WAY overdue now even with 6 weeks to go, because it seemed as though Meredith and I were pregnant together the whole time. I tried to talk Dr. Boheen into just delivering me since we were both aready there, but she wasn't buying it. Thanks for the extra month & 1/2, Mer.

I also just wanted to post something funny that happened at church today. A sister was sharing her testimony and mentioned how much she loves the principles of the gospel. A very confused Katie looked up and me and said, "But Mom, we don't HAVE Principals at our church!" Guess we'll be having a little Family Home Evening on what "principles" are!

Ward Conference

We had Ward Conference last week where we got to hear a couple of really great talks from Bishop Jenson and President Saviano, but unfortunately Mike was on-call, so I took the girls to church by myself while Mike picked someone up at the ME (Medical Examiner for those of you who don't run in death circles...). After church, we were having dinner and Mike asked the girls how church was. Four-year-old Katie replied with, "Dad, you should have come! Bishop Jenson and President Obama talked to us!" Hmmm...wasn't aware that President Obama was a pale Italian guy who works in the Missionary Department in Salt Lake...wonder if his wife knows?

Questions for My Girls--Maggie (7), Katie (4), Brooke (5)

Just a little programming note...None of the girls heard each other's responses, and none were coerced--no, really...

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Maggie--"Don't do that! Don't do that! Don't do that!"
Katie--"No!"
Brooke--"Don't."
2. What makes mom happy?
Maggie --"Hugging you. "
Katie--"Getting you an animal."
Brooke--"Me being nice."
3. What makes mom sad?
Maggie--"If we ran away."
Katie--"Your sneezing with the cat."
Brooke--"Me being mean."
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Maggie--"Tickling me."
Katie--"By giving me a cat."
Brooke--"Tickling me."
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Maggie--"Like me."
Katie--"Like a cat."
Brooke--"The same thing as me."
6. How old is your mom?
Maggie--"33"
Katie--"33"
Brooke--"36"
7. How tall is your mom?
Maggie--"As tall as my treehouse."
Katie--"11"
Brooke--"100"
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Maggie--"Laugh with me."
Katie--"Clean the dishes."
Brooke--"Sleep."
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Maggie--"Nothing--she just watches TV."
Katie--"Cleans the dishes."
Brooke--"Watch TV."
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Maggie--"Being the President."
Katie--"She would go to Dancing with the Stars."
Brooke--"For being the President."
11. What is your mom really good at?
Maggie--"Exercising at Meredith's house."
Katie--"Dancing and getting Halloween stuff."
Brooke--"Watching the kids."
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Maggie--"Playing dress up, cuz you can't fit into our dress up clothes...."
Katie--"Polishing shoes."
Brooke--"Playing fetch."
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Maggie--"She watches us."
Katie--"You go at the zoo to hunt for horsies."
Brooke--"Working in the basement."
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Maggie--"Chicken."
Katie--"Chicken."
Brooke--"Lasagna."
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Maggie--"Nothing that I know of..."
Katie--"Nothing."
Brooke--"Being nice to me."
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Maggie--"Sleeping Beauty, cuz you sleep a lot."
Katie--"Higglytown Heroes cuz I love Higglytown Heroes! I want you to be Twinkle!"
Brooke--"Word Girl!"
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Maggie--"Clean up."
Katie--"Both of us clean the dishes, like wash 'em, you know?"
Brooke--"Love each other."
18. How are you and your mom the same?
Maggie--"Everybody says we look the same. "
Katie--"Both of us have ears, both of us have necks, both of us have heads, both of us have bodies, (and she continues to name EVERY body part--in one breath!)"
Brooke--"We have blue eyes."
19. How are you and your mom different?
Maggie--"She's older and I'm littler."
Katie--"I don't have brown hair and I don't have a spray bottle."
Brooke--"You're a mom and I'm a kid."
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Maggie--"Because she gives me hugs and kisses every night and every morning!"
Katie--"Cuz she kisses me. I'm done Mom, can I go now?"
Brooke--"You give me a hug and a kiss!"

Eager

We took a trip to the dollar store today--each girl with her dollar clenched in her tight little fist, so excited to buy a Halloween decoration you'd think we were on our way to either Disneyland or High School Musical. After at least 500 mind changes, darting back & forth between 3 aisles and close to 30 minutes later, Mike was ready to poke his eyes out. (5 minutes of shopping gets Mike's drawers in a twist...) Finally after some coersion, and I'll admit, some threats of bodily harm, they settled on their decorations, and we walked out of the store and into the first snowstorm of the year. With Halloween decorations in-hand, Brooke says, "Mom, look! It's Christmastime! It's Christmastime! Can we go home and put the tree up?"