Sweet Southern Stories: October 2013

October 17, 2013

Jacob O'Neal Humphrey...My More Than a Handful

JACOB O'NEAL HUMPHREY... I had no idea that I'd be using Jake's full name in demand of attention at such a young age. I mean, I thought that was reserved for the teenage years! It's a regular around here.

Picture it...a beautiful fall day in South Carolina, I'm excited to scoop Jake up from school, hear about his day, and take him to a playdate. I have Emma Claire on my hip and rush to his classroom door at noon.

"He had a great day" the teacher announces. Just that morning she told me "he is always so sweet, I mean always". We head out of the school and the children are running around the large tree in front of the school as they often do. Jake wants to join them and a few minutes won't make us too late.

When it is time to round him up he refuses. I grab him and tell him 5 more minutes. I know he is not happy at the hand of five fingers I flashed at him and I realize this probably isn't going to go well. I usually rack my brain quickly, shuffle through the tricks I have and pull the best for the situation, BUT I have none today. None??? I haven't been in this situation before, one child on my hip and one who is gaining length and strength all too quickly. I go for it!

"It's time to go Jake. We are going to Chic-Fil-A to meet up with your buddy!" He refuses. He not only refuses, he throws himself in the grass like a first time tantrum. I can handle this...ignore... He runs off. I finally catch him and scoop him up onto my other hip and head to the car. (Yah, it's called mama adrenaline.) One step, two, three, four, PLOP out of my arms by his will and onto the parking lot ground. I am boiling mad. "Get out of the road," I demand. Nothing. Again and again I demand and nothing so, I scoop him up by his arm and set him on the sidewalk where he is safe. He lies there. I look at him and I look up at the 20 + moms and who knows how many children still enjoying their afternoon right in front of us. I am now boiling mad and boiling embarrassed. I knelt there with Emma for what felt like ten hours. :)

Finally, a kind mother asked how she could help. Thank you Lord - You almost gave me more than I could handle!

As I packed the kids into the car and had a chat with Jacob I could hear a few moms on the side saying how they remembered those days and how they had been there oh too many times. How kind I thought. How nonjudgemental. How I wanted to cry at that moment for their sinciere understanding. I mean, judge me; no problem. I was doing the best I could after all, but to hear the total opposite was warming.

I guess God almost gave me more than I could handle, but He also gave me the people I needed in that moment, the words I needed to hear in that moment, maybe even a lesson I needed in that moment...

Emma Claire is Six Months

Oh Emma, I cannot believe you are six months old already! Time has really been flying and I just want you to stay little forever and ever and ever and ever and...well, you get the point. :)

You weight about 15lbs 1oz. You have the cutest chunky baby legs! Don't worry, I won't document those cute things. Instead, here is a picture of your darling little tootsies!

You are eating 1st foods and love sweet carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and avacado! You have no interest in fruit...unless it is Jake's applesauce.

You still adore Jacob and just love for him to be around. I love it! You are ticklish under your ribs and in your neck. I love it! You won't sit up for long, but you're always doing crunches like you want to get up and go. I love it! You put the wubanub paci in your mouth on your own and it is too cute. I love it! I guess you can tell that I just love you and everything you do! ...as does everyone else. You are just darling!

October 8, 2013

The Confessions of a Tired Mother

After one night too many of reaching into the fridge for a bottle in the wee hours of the night I put my mama foot down. I gave Emma Claire the last bottle of the evening, put her in her crib and closed the door. She must have been tired because she fell asleep - no complaints. Then, midnight struck and like that she woke. However, I gave her a paci and she fell back to sleep. Whoop whoop! Then, again at three thirty in the morning...wah wah! I gave in and brought the little pumpkin into our room, we snuggled on the bed while I fed her a bottle. When she finished I lifted her to a sitting position, leaned her over my arm, and she fell into her usual middle-of-the-night ragdoll position - eyes closed, arms dangling forward over my supporing arm, head drooped. The only reason I knew in that hour that she wasn't actually a ragdoll...her deep snoring! REALLY EMMA? HOW ABOUT A BURP!

I carried that little pink sack to her crib and laid her down ever so gently only to be greeted with big, bright eyes, and a wide smile. How does one do that? Nothing was going to put her to sleep. So, I thought to myself...does this little ~~devil~~ angel not like her crib or is she just wanting her mama. Knowing if I returned her to my room she'd end up sleeping in there night after night I did what any ~~normal~~, tired, petite, mother would do...I climbed into her crib, curled her under my arm and waited. In only a few seconds she looked up at me with a little Emma smile, gave a little Emma giggle, stuck her paci in her own mouth, rolled in toward me and passed out. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

At this point I am thinking how the hell do I get out of this crib without waking her? Every move I made seemed to create the loudest of sounds. I put one hand on the side rail one on the front and as gently as I could pulled myself up and out. I made it! I made it! Oh how Jake would have done the "we did it" dance for my huge accomplishment. THANKS FOR THE STORY, EM! FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME DAYTIME EVENTS TO BLOG ABOUT!

I went to bed slightly tickled at the ridiculousness I surrendered to, slightly proud of my accomplishment, and very well aware that I need to work out these arms if I plan on doing any more pull ups at the crib!