Two Years Ago, Today!

My baby, well not so much baby, is 2 years old today! I can't believe how fast time goes by... it seems like she was just born yesterday! Madelyn Rae Gjerness was born at 8:20pm on September 16, 2007.

Maddi is sitting on the potty, but has yet to actually go peepee in it yet. She likes to help bring dishes to the counter after a meal. It makes me smile when she says "please" and "thank you", especially "bless you". She loves to dance, particularly when High School Musical is on! She is already a shoe diva, which makes me wonder what the teen years will bring... ugh! Maddi got her first tooth on her First Birthday and is still getting them in today (this is obvious by her whineyness).

I'm in aw of Maddi every single day... she makes me smile on regular basis. This little girl is really mine? I am completely and utterly in love with my daughter!

No Baby Maker Here

My Mother-In-Law brought our niece, Korryn and her daughter, Melodie to see visit today. They flew in on Friday from Colorado for two weeks. This is the first time we've met Melodie, who was born on February 19. She is so VERY adorable... those Gjerness cheeks make me laugh. <- Maddi had/has them too!

Now, while I think she is just a doll, it firms up my decision to not have any more kids myself. One is enough... well, kind of five, but that's not the point. I absolutely do not, I repeat, DO NOT want to have any more babies. And yes, that is written in stone. Korryn, if you ever read this, it has nothing to do with Melodie directly, so no offense intended! I am grateful that Dale is on the same page as me!

It's funny, cuz I can't even remember Maddi being that small! When I look at pictures, she just looks so different. What's even more funny is that I used to think she was the cutest baby when she was younger too... she must be getting cuter as she gets older! I'm not biased or anything.

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn’t worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about
immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried..
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn’t want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn’t stop the hurt….
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much…
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn’t know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn’t know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn’t know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

Share this with someone who you think is an awesome Mom.
Leslie J. Allen
DSMS English Department Chair
Site Technology Rep (STR)
ConnectMe Power User (CPU)
http://cmweb.pvschools.net/~leallen

”It takes a village to raise a child.” African Proverb

Frantic, First Time Mom

Today, I was that frantic first time mom who rushed her child into the dentist office only to find out that the “injury” is very common. Maddi and I were at our play date… she fell and hit her mouth on the corner of a table… blood every where! She wouldn’t let me look to see where the blood was coming from… not that I could, there was so much of it! We got into the car and headed to our WONDERFUL dentist who took a quick look and told me it was okay. Whew! It’s pretty swollen, but she’s going to be fine. I think I was still shaking at the time… breath in, breath out.


However, I am grateful that I’ve dealt with other kids with bloody mouths when I was a toddler teacher… so, no real panicking on my part.


Now she’s napping. I’m afraid to look at her lip when she wakes up… so sad. My husband reminded me that this is just the FIRST time something like this will happen. This is the part of motherhood that totally freaks me out. When I was a toddler, I split my lip open several times… getting stitches 3 of those times… you can still see scars.

My Baby is Growing Up!

We have spent this past week sick, me and Maddi. It really sucks when it’s both of us who are sick… I just want to veg out and rest… with a toddler, that just doesn’t happen.

This morning, we did laundry together… she likes to take the clothes out of the dryer and throw them on the floor for me to pick up and fold. Then I’ll hand her the wet clothes to put into the dryer. What a big girl!

Later in the day, Maddi showed up in front of me with a candle in a glass holder… it took me a minute to realize where she got it from. I didn’t hear a crash… how did she? OH! She pulled the runner so that she could see the candle and proceeded to reach for it… and show mommy! I immediately forbid her from growing up anymore! Why don’t kids listen now days?

After the hubby got home, he decided to give Diesel cookies… Maddi always has to get in on the action, so she usually gives him some too. As she’s giving him the cookies, she says “sit” (well, not so clearly, but both my hubs and I looked at each other and knew what she was saying)… she did this several times in a row! OMG… my baby isn’t so much a baby anymore.

Can I Get Some Wine With Those Boogers?

My poor little munchkin is still very sick and I am ready for her to feel better. Unfortunately, I think she as passed it on to mommy. Grrr! We are almost out of Kleenex… her sad little nose. We were supposed to go to a play date today, but I had to cancel last minute. If you have ever had to wipe or aspirate the nose of a toddler, you know that it’s near impossible…

While she’s laying on her back, not willingly, mind you…
Mommy “sits” on her to hold her arms to her sides…

With one hand, Mommy holds her head from twisting (not an easy task)…

And with the other hand, Mommy gets to suck her boogers out with the lovely aspirator!
I’ve done this 4 times today… I’m ready for a nap or a glass of wine! It’s only noon, so I guess the wine is out! When is she going to blow into the Kleenex? I’m looking forward to that day!

OMG… I just realized that I’m still watching the Disney Channel and Maddi went for her nap about 10 minutes ago… Shakable You - Imagination Movers! I’m not sure where the remote is, and God forbid, I actually get up to find it.

Binky or No Binky? That is the Question!

Yesterday, I was somewhat excited that Maddi didn’t want her binky. As a matter of fact, she refused it. She has a really bad cold, so she can’t breath while sucking on it. Then, my hubby came home… he gets her to take her binky. There goes my hopeful thinking… today, she’s back to the binky. Now, mind you, she’s not one of those toddlers that constantly needs a binky anyway, but still, it would be nice without.

But because of the dreadful binky, she, once again, made me smile.

As I approach her with her grape flavored medicine that she so, obviously, loves… she takes her binky out with one hand, as if to get ready for the medicine. She says “no, no” and holds up her other hand, as if saying “talk to the hand”. It is so cute, I just couldn’t help but laugh.

The Joys of Motherhood

Over the past few days, my Maddi has been sick… she very rarely is this sick. While pondering where the joy of motherhood is hiding… underneath all of the vomit, diarrhea, boogers and crying… it must be there somewhere! My baby girl, with her excellent timing, walks up to me and says “hello” and blew mommy a kiss… THERE IT IS! That made the last few sleepless nights all worth it.