36 hours

Today was a first in my experience as a mama of two. Jamie left for Raleigh (for a job interview he has tomorrow @ 11:30am) around 3pm today, leaving me with all of the duties required to care for Jadon and Macy for 36 hours. Okay, so many people might think, "Yeah, and?" Well, I really don't have much to say to people who would think that ;)

Here's a recap from tonight (in the blur that I can remember):

4pm: kids wake from a long nap, potty, change Macy's diaper, put in a DVD, give both kids a tiny snack, nurse Macy, prep dinner

5:30pm: make homemade waffles and berries with yogurt on the side, make plates for each kid and myself, (Macy in high chair, Jadon in Bumbo on floor, me standing), Yes, we said grace

6pm: cleaning, cleaning, cleaning as I go; Macy ate yogurt with her fingers (because she won't eat from a utensil of any kind, teething?? no idea), hose off both berry-stained and yogurt crusted kids, put dishes in dishwasher, hand Macy a string of beads/blocks, hand Jadon a box of Leapfrog magnetic letters...clean, clean, clean

6:15-7:30pm: playtime, while a Brainy Baby Music/Art DVD plays, kids dance and sing, we all three play Ring Around the Rosey (they LOVE it!), read about a 5-year-old girl who has cancer, my heart breaks because this could be us (read their story here), pray WITH Jadon and ask him to pray for little Kate, cry, post prayer request on Facebook, try to Skype with Gramma, but hers won't work for some reason, play cars, nurse Macy, clean up toys

7:30pm: bathtime, grab all post-bath clothes/diapers, etc., talk to Jamie on speaker phone, Macy splashes water EVERYWHERE, Jadon dumps boatfuls of water on Macy, can't find the wash cloth (Jamie tells me its on the shower door...thank you, Daddy!), Macy is getting fussy, Jadon is getting rambunctious, dry off Macy, get her dressed, balance keeping Macy out of the bathroom drawers, while attempting to get Jadon out of the tub, Jadon asks what the box is that Macy has, I tell him it's to see if Mama is having a baby (hahaha yeah riiiight!), get Jadon dressed, grab all dirty clothes and diapers and both phones

8pm: hang out in their bedroom, practice Jadon's verse for the week ("How awesome is the Lord Most High." ---Psalm 47:2), listen to accompanying song five times, while he focuses on the words, sings, and bouces a little, Macy is ripping books off the shelves and trying to attack the CD player, Jadon plays cars, Macy plays with the kitchen set and fusses A LOT, nurse Macy several times in an attempt to put her to sleep, try rocking Macy (sitting and standing, while Jadon and I sing "Rockaby Baby"), Macy refuses to sleep, clean room, simultaneously practice saying Bible verse with Jadon, change Macy's diaper

8:30pm: go to living room, nurse Macy to sleep (though we have not been doing this for about a month now), put in a Max Lucado DVD for Jadon, put a sleeping Macy down on couch, take Jadon with me to our bathroom to get his toothbrush and have him potty, put his diaper on for bed, sit on living room floor and brush Jadon's teeth, read him two books, say prayers

9pm: put Jadon to bed, Eskimo kisses, bear hug, regular hug, "I love you" hug, kiss

Me: I love you to the moon and back. Sweet dreams. Goodnight, buddy.

Jadon: Mama, I love you to the moon n' back. Love you to the stars n' back. Sweet dreams, Mama. Give Daddy kiss?

Me: Daddy's not here, buddy. He'll be back tomorrow.

Jadon: Mama, I love you, Mama. I see you in da moring.

Me: Okay, goodnight, buddy. Sweet dreams. You're my favorite. I love you.

Now wasn't that easy? Ha! Actually it went better than expected. I still have the entire day tomorrow, which I honestly am trying not to think about. I love and miss my husband so much, and can't imagine doing this without him. Of all the things I missed most about him, I wanted to hear him ask, "Do you want a cup of coffee?" I always say "no," but today I made a cup and thought of how blessed I am to have a husband who is considerate enough to think of me, before he thinks of himself.

High: Did you read all of that good stuff? (two kids, Bible verses with a toddler, Ring Around the Rosey, praying for others with my toddler...)

Low: I didn't get any pics or videos to go with this post. What you think I am, supermom?

And a P.S. I am not done with Macy for the night, by any means. Because I will be weaning her in the next few weeks, Jamie has been so sweet and handling any night time or early morning fussiness she has. Tonight, I'm certain I'll be nursing her a gazillion times, but am praying for a miracle good night's sleep. Did I mention how much I love and miss my husband?