The More I Add, the More Joyful it Becomes

     This morning as I was doing some cleaning, Jonah started fussing. I picked him up and played with him for awhile, but then I needed to get back to cleaning while the other two kids were occupied so I grabbed the baby carrier and put the little guy on my back. As I was getting the straps adjusted and ready to go, he just snuggled right up to my back as happy as could be. For some reason it was one of those moments where I thought "I'm going to miss this some day." So I snapped a picture.

     And even though it is a less than flattering picture of me, I think it is one of my favorites. My little baby is quickly outgrowing "baby" stage and it is making me sad.

     This post from lovingmylot.com pretty much sums it up:

"The first time a kind stranger peeked at my newborn baby and gushed, “Oh honey, treasure every second!” I almost burst into tears.  Not because I was so touched, but because I was so tired...Two weeks ago I gave birth to baby number three...This time, if a kindly stranger tells me to treasure every second, I think I will burst into tears.  Not because of my lost figure or freedom, but because I so ardently understand that the seconds truly are numbered.  They are grains of sand slipping through the hourglass, never to be returned.  That’s the funny thing about motherhood.  You start off with so little on your plate, and it feels like you’re absolutely drowning.  And yet the more you add, the more joyful it becomes.  Because somewhere in between adding more babies, and more diapers, and more laundry, you also add more perspective.  You realize there are worse things than a long night, and challenges really do pass, and tiny toes don’t stay tiny forever.  You know cribs turn into beds, and strollers turn into bikes, and the chubby cheeks making fish faces today will be wearing your makeup tomorrow."

I don't pretend to know all there is to learn about motherhood, but lately I have marveled at how much my kids are learning and growing. They aren't going to be little forever. Though I am overwhelmed more often than I would like to admit with my three little ones, it has definitely gotten easier. And I have had more time to enjoy the every day moments of having young kids. I really do love being a mom. It's the hardest thing I have ever done, but I absolutely love it.

Now off to make sure there are no monsters in Ellie's room... or Nathan's room... or my room... or the family room... or the basement...