March 1, 2007 | Mama Smith

what a little sleep can do

Levi emerged from his 3 week growth spurt, chunkier and sleepier. Thank the Lord. We actually got a normal dose of sleep last night, which was much needed for this wiped-out mom. It’s one thing having a newborn keeping you up at night. It’s a whole different ballgame having a newborn keeping you up at night and a toddler keeping you on your toes all day. You moms with 3+ kids…well, you’re just in a whole different game all together. The Mommy Major Leagues or something.

After the longest day of my life, two days ago, I didn’t think I could wake up one more morning to the call of motherhood. Thankfully the sun was shining for a change and even though it was still frigid outside, we got ourselves outside for the first time in too long. We managed to get bundled up and head to the snowy, muddy park, not once, but twice in one day. That’s nothing short of a small miracle in our household right now.

Bundling up a squirmy toddler while balancing a baby in the sling doesn’t motivate me to do this often. Much less the sludgy, half-melted park that lures Brighton away from the colorful, dry park equiment and into the massive, murky puddles that have formed over the past few days. After chasing Brighton away from one muddy pit, I turned to see him running straight into another that was so deep, the water began pouring into the top of his boots. After bringing him home soaking wet, I must have been crazy to take him out again later that afternoon. But insanity is a mighty strong motivater. And being indoors for as long as we’ve been definitely starts to bring on the insane feelings.

So we bundled back up and headed to a slightly drier – or at least sand-covered, instead of mud-covered – playground down the street from our house. Despite the extra effort, it was a perfect way to pass these long winter hours that have been filling our days. Is anyone as ready for spring as I am?

Later we set up Brighton’s tent inside and finished the afternoon off reading books inside his new fort. Here he is emerging to hunt down some more books to read.

Whenever I’m taking pictures he runs to the other side to see the digital shot of him that I just captured. He liked these ones I took of me and him for some odd reason. He kept saying “more, more” and sitting back in my lap after checking out the digital image of us. As if these images would somehow stake a claim on or bear proof of me being HIS mommy. I liked them for the B they represent – his static-head from the tent, his stone-cold expression and his token pacifier that has refused to leave his face since Levi arrived.

Lastly, a goofy parting shot of the new, almost 4-week-old “Why-Why” – as Brighton has now been calling him. It’s much better than the nondescript, generic “baby” that he had been referring to him as.