5.15.2012

A Happy List


{All is forgiven, Maggie. You are just too adorable.}

Last night was one of those nights when, just as I was ready to get into my bed, Maggie started crying in hers like spiders were crawling all over her.

Christian says that it's not something I need to worry about, our kids being bitten by spiders, but I've been bitten in my sleep on at least six occasions, with multiple bites each time, in at least four different houses. And it seems like maybe I have this je ne sais qua that attracts spiders to me -- perhaps spiders, like dogs, can tell when humans are afraid of them? Only it's not so much that I'm afraid of spiders as that I loathe them like I loathe nothing else. But if I have this characteristic that attracts spiders, and really, I think the evidence is in my favor on this one, then possibly that characteristic is genetic. And in that case, I feel like baby-biting-spiders ARE something to worry about.

But back to last night. I was already frustrated because I had been playing the.worst.game.ever all evening. Also I hadn't {still haven't} gone into labor, and I was pretty tired. And my three frustrations were melding into one big super frustration, much like the three tornadoes in The Day After Tomorrow come together to create a super tornado that destroys downtown LA.

So when I heard Maggie, I hit a wall. {If you remember, this has happened before.} I let myself slide to the floor, I muddled around in a pool of self-pity for a while, then I gathered myself together and went in to comfort her. It took me a while to get her back to sleep, and even after I did, she woke up when I put her back in bed and cried a little more -- just long enough to wake up Max. She woke up again at 3:45, and then she was up for the day at 6:30. Um, it was a rough night. And today is another in a string of cloudy, gloomy days.

All this is to say, I could use some happiness. So here are eleven {bonus!} things that are making me happy right now:

1. Getting my anniversary/birthday/Mother's Day present in the mail yesterday.
2. My new hat {marked down even more in-store} and nail polish {the mint color}, purchased during a spontaneous date-night trip to Urban Outfitters on Friday.
3. Discovering that the bushes in front of our house are gardenias. They are just covered in blossoms, and smell heavenly.
4. One-year-old head smell. It's not the same as newborn head smell, but it's pretty fantastic in its own way.
5. Yesterday Max picked up Maggie's doll and handed it to her when she was fussy; it was the first nice thing I've ever seen him do for her. And then...
6. The fact that after I praised him for being so nice to his sister, Max took the doll away so he could give it to her again.
7. Cookout. Any time, always. It's worth the now 40-minute round trip.
8. Borrowed maxi dresses from my sister-in-law, which have given me a break from my one pair of maternity jeans that still fit.
9. Getting to spend one-on-one time with my babes individually. It's such a treat.
10. Hearing Christian say sweet things about our children {both born and as-yet-unborn}. I find myself falling in love with him over and over again.
11. I can now count on one hand the days left until my due date. We're getting close!

What's making you happy right now?

P.S. You can read more happy lists right here.

8 comments:

  1. I had a moment today when I thought I was going to have a panic attack. When those happen I immediately go images of Amelia, Charlotte, Maggie, Max, & Clark. Then I calm down. I love all those babies too too much!

    What can I do for you, Mare? I'd be happy to start coming over after work to give you a break. Love you!

    P.S. I LOVE you much better in my maxi dresses than me ;)

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    1. Um, coming over after work might actually be pretty awesome...

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  2. Your happy list just made me happy. Hang in there, mama!

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  3. On Maggie waking up at night. I describe this feeling to Jericho as a piece of my soul is dying. All I'm doing is losing sleep but there is something about interrupting the sleep of a young parent that makes it seem like the whole world is coming apart. For a few days once, I was bearing a bruise on my right knuckles b/c I punched a wall in the middle of the night. Babies waking up when they're supposed to be sleeping is rough stuff, man.

    On what makes me happy. Today while grocery shopping I bought something whose expiration date was after Jericho will be home. I said to myself, "Hey, I could have this juice when Jericho's home." And it was totally exciting.

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    1. Right?? It seems like getting up in the night shouldn't be as big of a deal as it feels at the time. It's just the most frustrating.

      And that IS majorly exciting! I'm sure it makes his homecoming feel a lot sooner. :)

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  4. Max giving her the doll twice. I love that!

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  5. I kept trying to think of something either sage or pithy and all I can come up with is this: Mary, you are awesome!!! I love you. mom

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  6. Love your happy list!!!!! :)

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