yeah. these kids again...

I was just uploading some pictures to iphoto and found myself at the beginning of October when Annie was born. She just took her first steps last Sunday and is becoming such a little girl. That tiny baby stage has passed now, and her first birthday is not far off. Suddenly she seems so smart and so... long. The months and days that comprise the time between then, when it was just me and Henry home together to the present, to me and Annie and Henry have been nothing short of exhausting. Hence the lack of updates here. Mike has been working twelve hour days, and I often find myself questioning by 10:30 am how I will make it through another day. 8-8 is a looonnnng day of watching two other people and not really having a single moment to yourself. I mean seriously, these little people even follow you into the bathroom. People who don't have any kids won't understand this, people who do, will. Someone told me the other night that my Facebook status updates are boring; that it is always "Annie did this" and "Henry did that." The same person's updates usually center around their work or their "hobbies." I guess the kids are my work And my hobbies these days. (so eat it!!) Between changing diapers, feeding them, and keeping their little minds and bodies stimulated, the day (and my physical/mental capacity) leaves little time for much else. This is a personal dilemma at times, dealing with the sacrifice that is the decision to become a stay at home mother, and neglecting making a pay check, painting, being social, etc.. For me it was never a question as to whether I would take that on, and I was lucky enough to be able to do it. Some days it doesn't feel so lucky, but I have absolutely no regrets. While I was looking at Annie's first pictures I had the realization that I've been doing this for nine months, and that I've made it through. (And accomplished being here with Henry for two years before then). While it has seemed like an eternity, it has really gone by rather quickly. Big hurdles have been passed (Henry is finally close to being potty-trained- only one accident today!) and he starts school at the end of August. And then on to another chapter. And before I know it, this time will seem so distant, and I'll be yearning for these days, and wishing them back again (maybe only after a big glass of wine). I just know I will.
Tonight at the grocery store the woman behind us in the checkout lane was marveling at how happy my children seemed, and I told her yes, they really are. I couldn't help feeling so proud. They are happy, and it wasn't easy, lady (she should have seen them at 11:30 today when Henry was screaming from the time out chair).
I will so miss my babies being "babies"... seriously.