priorities
My mom washed the dishes while I flipped and folded laundry.
My mom went and picked up Julia at daycamp while I stuck Charlotte in the Moby and made lunch.
My mom rocked Charlotte to sleep while I did a super high-speed clean enema in Julia's room.
I had a shower, but didn't take time to shave my legs.
I put my hair up to help beat the heat, but haven't brushed my teeth yet.
I've eaten lunch, but haven't had nearly enough to drink today.
Towels are in the washing machine, but the wet bag of dirty diapers is filling fast.
I need groceries and I should pick up my mail, but damn it's hot outside.
Life was busy before, but this is a whole new kind of busy. This isn't, "Should I watch Oprah or do some school work" kind of busy, it's "should I eat or should I bathe today" kind of craziness. This will pass, all too quickly and these precious newborn days will be over. When I am holding or nursing Charlotte, I savor every minute of it. If my heart starts pounding from looking around at my dirty house and long to-do list, I just look down at Charlotte and I remember how fast the time goes by. This is my last baby, my long-awaited and well-deserved gift and I don't want to wish away any of it. Not even the sleepless nights, wet bed sheets, dirty diapers, or the wet sticky baby burps.
I am *here*, mothering my last newborn. I will hold her sweet peach bum, stroke her silky head, and kiss those squishy cheeks until she's old enough to push my hands away, roll her eyes, and say "MOM, quit it already!"