Mayonnaise Momma

Mc Duck,

You call me mayonnaise Mama. This has no relation to the condiment mayonnaise because it has been my name for a while now and today when I used some actual mayonnaise from a jar and you asked what it was you seemed surprised that something else had the nickname you had given me.

You give me hundreds of sweet puckered lip smackers and wrap around hugs. You ask me to hold you when you are tired. You do not by any means want to sleep alone nor will I make you do so. You do not want me to have to stay in the hospital and have my stomach cut and have your Daddy put you to sleep at night. Lord, help us through that one!

You tell stories about our day and recall moments with your Daddy and retell them to me. You bust out your Nana and Daddy and tell me when they give you treats, let you watch a movie, or something eventful happens. I wish for everything you would always tell me every little thing just like you do now. You've had a few sad incidents with other kids not being nice pushing you and kicking and saying, "Get out of the tunnel." You STILL repeat these to me which makes your overprotective Mama Bear not want to let you play out of her sight.

When you play alone, you like to pretend to read, sing and do motions, act out scenes, and act shy when I catch you. You have started a shy smile or try to hide your smile from me at certain times now which is a little sad to me but part of the growing up new emotion process I guess.

You ask for family activities and tell me you like it when we are all together as a family...even if it is a Target run because you know Daddy will get you a pretzel from Auntie Annies in the adjoining mall!

You are experiencing new strong emotions and become overwhelmed with them at times, want to be held and then explain to me how you are feeling. I am so grateful for the way we can discuss things.

We play imagination games every day. You are always coming up with new ideas for me. On the airplane you were a elephant squirting me with your nose getting me all wet. You put out fires and rescued people. Your hammer is also a helium devise. You make me chef Shadden specialties with "no meat" remarking that, "some people eat meat." You make me playdoh popsicles and worm sandwiches.

You still make sure I receive a sticker or stamp whenever you do.

You ask to dress in items, "like your Daddy" everyday. Matching is very important!

You wear underoos everyday and use public restrooms better than your Mama. We just might have a baby potty in the back of the family mobile because of this!

You ask for a zillion books every night and always con me into more than the allotted time. You say, "okay lAaaaast One!" knowing there is no way I can resist the way you say last. After books you con me into songs after songs it's tell me a story and another story and you alternate between wanting real and pretend. Your favorites are family bear stories and Daddy's stories.

You still ask to go to the Kids Museum in Michigan!

You say, "Mommy, someday I would like to go to zoo and oorkstraw." Orchestra! I'm on it baby bear! I explained that the orchestra was really special and we would have to get tickets and dress up to see the symphony play. You asked if that meant that you would have to wear dancing shoes and if there would be horns there as well as violins. It's all about the horns! Daddy surprised you with a trumpet that you have been wanting for a long time. It gets action everyday.

For September 11th's anniversary we attended a Hero's party featuring fire fighters

The highlight was tearing the streets with the sirens and lights blaring on a real firetruck

I couldn't believe how fast they went! We had your hands raised in the air feeling the wind and I had to hold on tight to you because we were slipping and sliding. You loved it! It was one of those fantastic moments.

Dear Baby Girl,

We are home and I am having days where I feel pregnant. You move and stretch your limbs across my left side and my eyes barely open when Shadden wakes me in the morning. I feel you getting bigger. I feel more of you inside me little hints of personality to come. When I imagine holding you in my arms, I well over. Little moonbird.

I've become disappointed in doctor appointments. I miss the midwife prenatal care where I felt increased connection to my baby and left every visit feeling like a fiesta was in order because of all the life blooming around me.

Your brother sees you and wraps his arms about you and gives you the sweetest unexpected kisses. You are loved dear one. I stir inside with nursery plans that will probably never happen! I wish I could do all the things I long to do for you. You have me craving grapefruit, tangerine sorbet, and cheese. Havarti and grapefruit, oh! how I love you. It is hard for me to dress but I don't dare buy a maternity shirt because I want everything to go towards your wardrobe. I have no idea how I will ever balance life with you and Shadden. I pray with all my heart God will lead me in baby steps along the way. You are the Lord's miracle.