Girls Night Out

Being the mother of young children can be described in many ways: rewarding, challenging, precious, exhausting, and fulfilling. It is all of those things and so much more in ways that words cannot adequately describe. I love my sweet children and I love being their mommy. And to be clear, I wouldn't trade my current station in life, not ever. But I will be a realist for a moment and add a lesser acknowledged descriptor to the list: being the mother of young children can be Isolating. Yes, with a capital "I."

Tonight I was invited to dinner with a few women that I have met through Amelia's preschool. All of them are fun, intelligent women with multiple children and demanding careers. As we sat down to talk, the one obvious common denominator between the four of us was that we were starved for female companionship. Some of us more than others. I know I am somewhere near the top of that list. I realized that since I moved to Alabama nineteen months ago, I could think of only 3 other times that I have gotten together with other women, sans children, just to hang out. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to hear how ALL of their husbands are messy, especially when left alone with the kids, and that their 3 year olds refuse their naps, or that I'm not the only one with post pregnancy back fat and deflated boobs.

Sometimes, when you are embroiled in the business of toilet training, tantrums and time-outs, it is easy to forget that many women around the world have done this before you, and are, in fact, going through it along side you. Tonight, between the Dos Equis and tortilla chips, I felt like I had allies; I felt as if I wasn't alone in this terrifying and wonderful journey of motherhood. After more than two hours, I left the restaurant refreshed, more connected to my own center, more ready than ever to dive back into my crazy world over on Marina Dr.

Second Child Syndrome

Here is Sadie engaged in one of her favorite activities

The other day as I was going back through some of my older posts, I realized that I haven't written much about my youngest child. So, I thought I would write a brief sketch of her life as a 14 month old.

Sadie: Destructively Delicious

Despite the fact that she takes everything out of every drawer she can find a way into and loves to splash in toilet water (especially after sister has forgotten to flush), little Sadie is a doll. This morning, Dave brought her in to bed with us before anyone else was awake. She layed down on the pillow between us and took turns kissing me, then Dave, back and forth for about 5 minutes, then curled up beside me for snuggle time. Currently, her favorite book is Moo-Baa-La La La by Sandra Boynton, though Barnyard Dance, Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon are also big hits. Sadie talks a lot, all the time and tries to copy many simple words I say to her. Her current lexicon includes: Daddy (both Dave and I are "daddy" at this point), Mimi (Amelia), kitty, doggy, tree, baby, nana (banana), hi, bye-bye, hot and duck. She also has become proficient in the baby signs for "please" and "thank-you." She loves to dance to old funk favorites like "Brick House" and "Jungle Boogie". She loves milk and grapes and quesadillas and peanut butter sandwiches. She loves to rub food in her hair. She loves to follow Amelia around the house and steal her toys. She loves to be held. She loves her dad. She does not love afternoon naps or the word "no." She does not love the nursery worker at church. She wants to be bigger than she is. She is loved beyond measure.

And there you have it, my sweet Sadie in 5oo words or less. Sorry, that it took mommy this long to give you some blog time!