Things to Smile About

We've all had 'em--crazy days that feel as if you don't stop but still get nothing accomplished. Then Daddy comes home, & you shout HOORAY because reinforcements have arrived. And then....you want to choke Daddy & send him back to work because he only adds to the chaos. In fact, what were you thinking? That daddy was going to make things a little better? help wrangle the toddler & bounce the attention demanding baby? But really all he has done is torture the kids so they fuss (because he thinks its hilarious), knocked a hole in the wall while wrestling with the toddler, melted plastic to the ceramic stove top & to a cookie sheet, & spilled a large cup of pepsi on the carpet. Yet, in spite of it all there are so many things to be grateful for & to laugh at, & so many reasons why we love the little people we call our babies & the tornado we call Daddy. Here are a few examples of the things that make me smile.

Today while I was sweeping the kitchen floor, some toddler (I won't name names) repeatedly ran through the pile of dirt & crumbs & junk. After he tracked the pile all over the floor several times, I finally gave him the frustrated mother tone & told him to get out of the kitchen. His reaction was to scowl, point his little finger at me, & say, "You a pankin'?" Interpretation: you want a spankin'? I wonder where he could have possibly picked that up?

Here's a picture of the same little stinker trying to escape. He couldn't find his shoes, but that didn't stop him. He decided Mom's shoes would work fine.

Of course what sleeping baby doesn't make us smile? After a long & hectic day of chasing the toddler & feeling as if you have a baby constantly stuck to you (which in fact you do), you put the little ones in their beds. Then after you're sure they're asleep, you tiptoe into their room to check on them & watch them sleeping peacefully (and then you realize that one of them is only pretending to be asleep). You're reminded of how precious & perfect & innocent they are, and you are so filled with love that you wonder how you can possibly contain it?

Last but certainly not least is Daddy. Even though he may drive you absolutely bonkers, he does make life more interesting, & he certainly makes you laugh. Especially when he is heading out the door & tells you he's going to the gym. You ask him what he's doing with the toddler's sippy cup. He says he's taking it to the gym. Huh? You wonder if you've heard him right & ask why he's taking it to the gym. He says he needed a cup with a lid for his gatorade. So that's A Daily Dose of David (our very own Daddy). And yes, he did take a purple sippy cup full of gatorade to the gym--that's my macho man!