Monday, March 28, 2011

Motherhood

Lots has been going on in our world since the last time I updated the blog. So...if you don't follow me on facebook, hold on, because you're about to be updated FAST.

Christopher got a job! Yay! We moved to Louisville at the end of January. Our new ward has LOTS of young couples, and lots of babies. It's pretty much awesome. We moved into a condo that is 5 minutes away from Chris's work, so he can even come home for lunch. I'm so thankful for that time with my husband in the middle of the day!

On February 19, we found out--we're having another baby! Exciting? Of course! Terrifying? Most definitely! This brings me to what I've been thinking a lot about lately.

Motherhood.

Being a mom is hard. It's hard physically, it's hard emotionally, and it's hard intellectually. I haven't been a mom all that long, but the reality of motherhood hit before they even put my sweet baby James in my arms. As James was being born, he breathed in some fluid, and had to be tended to right away. They quickly snipped the cord and carried him away. I hadn't seen his face yet. As the moments passed, I began to be more and more aware that something wasn't right. The crying baby was supposed to be in MY arms, and I was supposed to be the one making everything all better.

I was scared, I was confused, and I couldn't do anything to fix it. The hustle and bustle of the delivery room clouded over, and I was left mostly alone to panic for a moment. Then they put him in my arms. The beautiful squidgy baby who was all mine.

The months that followed are mostly a blur-

colic.
reflux.
formula.
new formula.
new formula again.
growth spurts.
smiling.
rolling.
yelling.

And here we are today. James has forgotten how to sleep, and is begging his parents to forget right along with him. I put him down in his crib, and he yells at me for a while before he finally conks out. When I say "yells," I mean it. He's not crying, he's yelling at me.

And we're going to have another one. And I'm terrified.

Sometimes it's difficult when the thing you've wanted your whole life, the thing your whole being has yearned for turns out to be the most challenging thing you could ever do. All I ever wanted was to be a wife and a mother.

But I guess it's okay that sometimes now all I ever want is a long nap in a hotel room somewhere on the other side of the world, right?


Anyway--here's the video that helps me get through the hardest times.

6 comments:

Kathleen Morrison said...

Love ya Adrienne. Thanks for sharing. You are an amazing mama and I feel lucky to have you as a friend. Our October babies are certainly a blessing.

Jen DCP said...

Love that video, boy did I need the uplift! Thanks for that.
Motherhood is the most demanding, but most rewarding "job" I've ever had and I'll take that Hotel Nap vacation with you anytime you want. We'll get rooms right next to each other so we can order room service and make sure it's quiet for each other.
Hang in there, it's so hard being pregnant with a small child at the same time but you're doing it with grace and style.

Tiffany said...

Isn't it funny how the most wonderful thing in the world, the thing you could most never live without, can be the most challenging thing imaginable? So glad I found your blog, and so glad you moved into our ward! Let me know if you ever need ANYTHING!

Caiti said...

It will all be fine. Before you know it you will get the hang of it all and say you are ready for a third one. ;)

Lauren said...

Adrienne you were so right when you said, "But I guess it's okay that sometimes now all I ever want is a long nap in a hotel room somewhere on the other side of the world, right?" haha But you are doing such a great job and I'm seriously so proud of what you have acomplished and how you have followed the Spirit to make such amazing and perfect choices for your life. You are such a great example to me! You will handle two babies beautifully, I just know it! :)

SARIE said...

so glad to hear you are still alive! Love your face and 7 things about you. I love that you get to see Chris during the day...You're so lucky!