Monday's Mommy Moment

As I snuggled Jonah this morning, before putting him down for his nap, I thought of something...

I always worried that if I had multiple children, I wouldn't be able to spend enough time with all my children. When Mallary was born, it made me so sad that Trevan wasn't getting my undivided time anymore. That didn't last long, once I got into the swing of things.

Now I realize, after having my third (for almost a year!!!), they all get enough love, time, and attention. Sure, Jonah doesn't get me all alone like Trevan did for three years, but we sure take advantage of that time whenever we can.

Jonah gets special alone time with John and I when the kids go to bed. Most nights, we usually hold him (fight over who will hold him) until he goes to sleep. We laugh at his quirkiness, and his silly, puppy-like behavior. We coo over this almost 11 month old as if he were only three days old. We just soak in Jonah.

I've learned to let go of the schedule, and the 'to-do' list in my head during the day when I'm holding him. I tell myself, this is 'Jonah time.' I don't worry what I have to do, or should be doing, he is more important. I don't think I did that when Mallary was this age. I know he's only going to be little so short of time, and I want to absorb every bit of his baby days that I can.

I think I've said from the beginning of his life, that he's helped me to slow down, and it's true. He has made me a better mother, for sure. If Mallary ever asks me to hold her, or snuggle with her, I drop, or stop what I'm doing, and we snuggle. My old self would have said, "in just a minute..." I'm more religious about not doing work during the day, and I don't feel guilty about it.

Anyway, another motherhood myth proved false. Younger children in a family can definitely get equal amounts of love and attention. Trust me, Jonah has no shortage of either!

John loves to pick on our kids. He thinks it's so funny to put this mask on Jonah, but Jonah didn't really appreciate it. I call the picture below, "Crazy Eyes."

Pictures from November 2010