Something Men Won't Ever Really Get

When I gave birth to Daphne, I chose to do it without any drugs. Luckily it was a relatively quick birth for a first baby...otherwise I may not have survived:) During transition I remember focusing on the curtain in the room and thinking, "either this baby is going to have to come out RIGHT now, or I will pass out and not be alive to meet my daughter." I could go on and on about that experience, but it isn't the point of this blog post.

Not long after Daphne arrived and my life began as a mother, my father in law, very curiously asked me to explain the pain of childbirth. I can't even remember if it was over the phone or in person and I'm pretty sure I had no words to describe it. You know that feeling?! I think he got that I was having trouble coming up with an adequate comparison and so he quickly jumped right in and in complete genuine curiosity asked, "Is it like when you stub your toe really badly?"

Once again on my part there were no words in response. I think I may have said, "no, not really!" And he let it go.

I still chuckle about that comment every once in awhile. And to his defense, his wife had two c-sections, in which the fathers weren't allowed in the operating room...so he's never witnessed one. I just love that he was trying so hard to understand what I had just gone through.

Well, I couldn't help but rethink my thoughts on his question the other day when I stubbed my pinky toe very badly. Granted I KNOW it wasn't anywhere NEAR labor pains w/o any meds...seven years have passed since Daphne's birth and my toe did hurt A LOT! As I lay on Ruby's bed sputtering some choice words...I took back some of my chuckles about my father in law's question years ago.

I had no baby to show for it and a broken little toe.




(my feet look so gross in these pictures..)

This Girl of Mine

Since I no longer write in their baby books, I think this is a fitting place for me to record the girls' milestones. I should and need to do it more often. Their quirky, sweet, and sometimes challenging phases come and go and I want to remember them. I want to remember what Spring 2011 was like in Ruby's development as a outgoing three year old, and the trials and tribulations and growth that Maisie is allowing me to experience with her, and the triumphs of a little first graders life.

Daphne is soaring. I often repeat in my head, "thank goodness" for Daphne. She warms my heart, and makes it burst with pride daily. Here are some recent examples of the warming and the bursting:

Speaking of phases...Ruby is coming out of one in which she was scared to go to bed alone. Every night as bedtime approaches she still always asks me, "Me come get you in your room?"...which means , "If I get really scared, can I know that you'll be in your room, down the hall, and that I can wake you up?". Of course, we don't want a habit of that, and she actually never does it...but I always answer, "yes, if you are feeling really sick or very scared." Daphne loves her little sis so much that she spent a few nights sleeping in Ruby's room to smooth things over for everyone - her decision. And on nights when I said she couldn't sleep with Ruby or she didn't want to, Ruby would sometimes go into Daphne's room and cry that she was scared. Daphne has a really tender heart and basically didn't know how to help her little sister.

So one evening, Daphne marched down the stairs with this note and handed it to Mike:



Our hearts melted FAST.

Daphne also is loving school life. She gets into school spirit (picking out purple each Friday)and memorizing their school song (we all know it now!), chats about all her classmates and roots for them too, and wants to dress special on any sort of thematic occasion. On Dr. Seuss' birthday we did "who-ville hair" and colorful attire, and she wanted me to make her a paper necklace that stated, "I'm a who-girl." Then on St. Patty's day we straightened her hair and painted it green. I can't even tell you how excited this makes me for her high school years! I hope she doesn't become "too cool" to be bold!






The best memory of late was when we were on our way somewhere and she put on her make-up..which I let her wear to very informal events, like days with Grandmas. She tucked her favorite book under her arm and pranced out to the van stating,

"I think I'm gonna be the type of girl that is real stylish..but kinda book-wormy too". I think my smile cracked my cheeks...I mean, how cute was that. And that is a mother's dream...a daughter who cares about her appearance and that enjoys dressing up...but is very academic too!

Speaking about academic...she came home on Friday bursting with joy. Two kids had been chosen from her class to proceed to the next round of the school's spelling bee. She was one of them! She spelled words like "soloist", "mountain", and "scissors" correctly. That was one of those proud moments that I mentioned above. She's always been all about words!

Last but not least to wrap up Daphne's milestones right now...she is taking tumbling and improving leaps and bounds. She is super close to her back walk over and if you stopped over unexpectedly at any one moment you would probably find her in handstand form. She rarely stops practicing.

Next on Daphne's agenda is her all girl slumber party that she has been planning for the last couple months..just waiting for her mom to feel better. All her friends are awaiting it anxiously and we're pinpointing an April date soon! When I sub at her school, which has been often lately, I have lunch with Daphne and get to chat with her girlfriends. It is such a perk to the day. Pictures of the momentous slumber party to come!!