He’s at that age where he starting to express himself with grunts and yells and stomping and cries. He loves to be entertained by anyone that’s around him. When we go to restaurants, he’ll talk to the waitress, the busboy, the people next to us just because it’s a new face.
He doesn’t actually use words, he just mumbles and nods and they laugh and talk and make faces and play peek-a-boo with him and he turns to us like “can’t you be more like these people?”
He is exhausting and never stops moving and not only do we need to chase him around all of the time but we also have to begin teaching him right from wrong. That is exhausting.
I forgot how exhausting it was do continuously go back and forth with “no touches” and “no-nos” and “this is hot!” and “this is your sister’s pair of scissors! OOUUCH!” over and over and over again.
And now that he’s hitting this MUST TOUCH EVERYTHING AND NEVER SIT DOWN STAGE during the stage of my pregnancy where all I want to do is sit? Well, I’m so tired I can hardly stand it. I absolutely can not turn my back for one second when he’s awake which means everything in the entire world must get done during nap times. This also includes my own personal nap time because I am so tired.
So, we talk a lot about what it was like with Anna and Noah, who are less than a year apart and how did we do it and we both scratch our heads and can’t figure it out. Except that we were younger and when I was pregnant with Noah, Anna was not mobile (and we liked it that way!) Now eight years have passed and everything is different (especially our ages) and now I’m pregnant and have a business and a much bigger home and Brian’s in graduate school and this blog and that blog and that blog and older children, too. (and apparently neighbor’s kids = UGH.)
When Anna and Noah were babies and toddlers I didn’t work. I played with them, I cleaned the house, I dreamed of becoming a photographer, I watched TV and I even went to the gym! Daily!
So, things are different now and totally challenging and maybe even kicking my ass. And guess what? A newborn is coming to our home in just over two months. So, you know. HARDER.
I’m pretty sure we are going to survive. I’m pretty sure we’ll look back on the days of toddler Eli and baby girl and we’ll be like “it wasn’t that bad!”
Because these days of chasing and teaching and waddling and aching are long, for sure. But I imagine the days, when they’re all in college and Brian and I are walking around the house trying to find something to do, this time scratching our heads, trying to figure out where it all went, well, I imagine those days will seem even longer.
And as I was proofreading this, Eli, asleep in his crib, where he’s been for nearly two hours now, he cried out, he cried hard. I picked him up and he instantly nuzzled into my body. I sat with him and thought “I was all he needed, just me for just one moment.”
And THAT was all I needed, too.
Yep. We’ll survive.
I love this. I love it so much.
You will survive! And you will wish (as we all will do) for simple days like these. Beautiful post!
I wish I was closer……I would SO help you out Beth!!! Hang in there friend!!!
Can’t wait to “meet” that baby girl!!! xoxo Of course I loved this………I love all your posts!!!
Yes, you are so right about everything. This stage will be over before you know it and you’ll think back and you won’t believe how fleeting this “moment” was. As you know, sometimes you wish you could just have your kids back at that age, even if it’s just for a day. I have to say, I love this series of photos of Eli, especially the first and second one and I love the fact that he is sitting there coloring. Freaking cute. Great post. I can’t wait for baby girl to get here.
How long has it been since I checked your blog? Because I really don’t remember Eli turning 6. He looks so big and tough (and friendly, of course).
You are going to have so much fun with Eli as he learns to be a big brother and starts to adore his baby sister. I’m so excited for all of you, especially that luckiest of baby girls who is joining such a wonderful family.
He’s just plain gorgeous. What your doing IS hard…but you won’t be pregnant forever. And these days of less than the right amount of sleep and constant moving, touching, even destructing, they’ll pass. And then you’ll long for the days where a simple snuggle was so easy to get. I’m so excited to meet tiny baby girl. But also to watch the other three grow into little versions of you. Because obviously, you’re amazing.
Love this! Enjoy every single moment. They are fleeting.
So sweet and true. I have 7 month old twins and we have our days…but I look back on those first couple of months and find myself in tears. I miss those middle of the night feedings and my time with them when they would just snuggle. I love the age they are now, getting BIG personalities and starting to move non-stop, but I find myself wishing I could freeze time for just awhile and keep them this age!!
You are a brave, strong woman! I know everything will work out just fine!
You are a brave, strong woman. Everything will work out just fine!
Amen, sistah! This too shall pass. Prayers comin’ your way.
Love this post. It makes my heart beat faster and all I want to do right now is go home to my babies. At least I had yesterday with them which I was so grateful for. I even picked Trey up on Saturday even though I was cleaning and listening to music, moving as fast as I could. But I didn’t deny his request for “uppy” and I just danced to the music while holding him. He looked back at me so adoringly and graciously…I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment I shared with him. I hope I never let these moments pass me by.
I needed to see this today. I am a teacher finally done for the summer…and with maternity leave now off until December. Today was my first day home alone with my 20 month old and we are expecting a new baby in a couple of weeks. I am SO excited…but SO tired. I know I will get through it and love it and it will all be worth it…but boy is it tough!
Oh I hear ya mama! My little Jax is 2 1/2, & is still the energizer bunny! He is so much fun, but EXHAUSTING! Never a dull moment, for sure!
I love all these shots, SO MUCH!
OMG Can’t wait till the time I will be(coming) a mom!
Good luck with that cute little boy! I love his face expresions, beautiful!
Love, Renée
“Because these days of chasing and teaching and waddling and aching are long, for sure. But I imagine the days, when they’re all in college and Brian and I are walking around the house trying to find something to do, this time scratching our heads, trying to figure out where it all went, well, I imagine those days will seem even longer.”
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!! So very true. Sometimes I just wish for an hour or two to myself but then I get it and I’m just not sure what to do with it. The emptiness is so strange I flounder around and accomplish nothing. You are a very wise lady–and I love the pics of big boy Eli!
“He’s at that age where he starting to express himself with grunts and yells and stomping and cries.”
Kind of reminds me of some grown ups. LOL. j/k
Good blog!
My Gram told me to enjoy every second of those long days. “Because the days are long, but the years are short.” With my first baby 14 now (and my baby baby nearing 6 months and 3 more in between), I know how true that is. I look UP to him now and he holds me when we hug. I’m glad for the advice. Thankful that I didn’t waste any of those moments.
Love this post.
Miss your words, friend.
xx-Z
thank you for this post…you brought it all home for me!!! Eli is totally adorable and I can’t believe how fast this pregnancy is going by…a little over 2 months until your baby girl arrives…that’s amazing!!!! Eli is quite the ham!!! Keeping you in my thoughts always…and again….thank you!!! xoxo
Goodness, it’s been a while since I visited. I can’t believe how big Eli has gotten! Number four on the way! You really do have a lot on your plate, and I can only imagine how exhausting it is. Once the new little one arrives, you’ll forget all these fears of how to get things done. As much as you’ve accomplished, you are certainly a strong woman. You’ll know when it’s time to give something up to get your life back in balance.
Yep. Uh huh. Exactly. Especially that last part.
OMGosh, I love, love, LOVE his sweet little face, Beth! Look at those expressions! AHH, I could snack on him ALL DAY! xoxoxo
I know he’s still your baby. But, when did he turn into a little boy? He’s amazing!