Shopping Trip Woes

WARNING: Long post and ranting about various mom things. Might only be interesting to family or possibly other moms at the same stage I am at.

Being a mother is exhausting no doubt. It is very often physical exhaustion, sometimes mental, other times emotional and spiritual. Usually it is a little of them all. Going to the store with all three is about all I can handle mentally. Are you hearing me?? I feel as though I am trying to run in water. Ellie sees something princess, Luke sees something Toy Story (thanks to Toy Story 3 coming out in a few weeks). Those marketing people know exactly what they are doing. Ellie and Luke have pretty much learned they are not getting anything, but they feel the need to exclaim to me, "Mom, look!!!!" over every. single. item they see that even remotely resembles something fun.

I am walking fast thinking, "please, just look straight ahead-not to the right or left", but of course they do not miss a thing. And bless his heart, Luke tugs at my arm to come see as if we have been searching the world over for this particular Lighting McQueen figurine and have finally, finally discovered where it has been hiding. Ellie just wants to "look", at the princess shirts. And I am thankful that "just looking" is a fun treat too, as it has taken awhile to get to that place. But ya'll, I really feel like it is dragging heavy weights on both ankles to get in and out and get the things that I need. There is also the actual, physical dragging on the buggy (I will show my Southern-ness and call it what we call it here in the South). For those of you Southerners who are thinking "what else would you call it?" (because that is what I thought when I was first made fun of)-outside of the Southern bubble it is called a cart. When we lived in Albuquerque, my friend Meg always gave me a hard time about that. Anyway, back to my rant, Ellie and Luke have the hardest time keeping their hands off (and feet and entire bodies for that matter) while I am trying to push. And then when we finally reach the end of the trip, Andrew has had enough of sitting and would prefer to be held. So I hold him and empty the items onto the checkout with one hand, while holding the baby on one hip, while trying to keep from running over Ellie and Luke who are crouching on the ground examining all the toys and candy on the bottom shelves. It is at that point that the physical exhaustion really begins to kick in.

We aren't even to the car yet and questions kick in...mainly one question. "Do we have to take a nap?" And then the mental exhaustion really starts to come as I have to answer lots of questions on the way home, and say things like, "Yes, Luke, I saw the green truck that was the same color as Chick Hicks." (even though I really didn't) Because if I say that I didn't see it, he will try to get me to see where it was even though we have long since passed it. Or he will ask about some random building, "Mama, why do we never go there?" And then I answer(again, not even sure exactly what building he is referring to) "Because we just don't need to." Do you have these kinds of conversations?

Oh, the trip to the store. Sorry if I sound really negative about it, but basically, I just got home and got them all three in bed (woohoo!)and am having a little vent on my blog. I'm trusting that you can relate.

Although it sounds like we are having a bad week, it is actually going a lot better than last week. Ellie's school book came in and she is doing really well with her vowels. We have had various things going on so there have been a few good outings for us all and some adult conversations for me, which is my sanity.

As exhausting as they are, they are so stinkin' cute.

We were driving in the car one morning this week, and there was some fog. Luke asks, "Why is it fuzzy outside, mama?"

Andrew has learned to say "mommy", and does he ever say it. Over and over at the top of his lungs sometimes. Can you believe he is still not walking? (Ellie didn't walk until she was 16 months) He is so very, very close. I think his thing is he doesn't really try to walk slowly. If I take his hand, he takes off, and then I let go and he just tumbles to the ground. He is definitely more active and mobile and has finally discovered our stairs. Honestly, I can't believe it has taken so long. The other morning I heard Ellie and Luke cheering for him "Good job, Andrew, you can do it" They love to cheer for him and he loves to hear it! I'm thinking he is taking a few steps, but I come out of my bedroom to see him at the very top of our (hardwood) stairs. I quickly explained to Ellie and Luke they can not encourage this.

Ellie has lost her bottom tooth (not sure where or when) and her other one is loose. She is about to be missing her four front teeth. (Her top two got knocked out on two different occasions) She won't be crunching into any apples for awhile.

So, that is it for now. Thanks for hangin' around until the end of this post. Hope to have some pictures for you next time.