Third Time Around

Today Charlie and Chanelle had their first track practice.  We travel about 40 minutes to the track so there can be no last minute rushing to get to practice on time.  I was feeling quite pleased with myself as I finished feeding them a quick dinner, got them changed into track gear, packed the diaper bag and camera bag and was carrying Meadow to her car seat in perfect time to meet Chad at the track at 6 o’clock.  As I headed toward Meadow’s car seat, I noticed, well, how can I put this delicately?  I noticed that something reeked.  Next, I noticed that my hand was a bit wet and when I flipped Meadow around I realized that there was a reason that she suddenly seemed content after hours of fussing.  I can’t describe it as a dirty diaper, because her diaper was quite clean.  It was her clothing from her shoulders to her calves that were a mess.  (Explain to me how this happens?)  Needless to say, we were delayed for a bit while I quickly bathed her and cleaned up the mess that had eventually spread to me. 

My first instinct was to be frustrated and annoyed at our delay.  As soon as I laid her in the tub, though, she flashed her bright toothless grin and her sparkly blue eyes blinked happily at me and all I could do was sigh and smile.  That Meadow. . . we adore her.  It’s been awhile since I’ve really talked about her so I thought I’d quickly update. 

Next week our baby will be six months old.  Say what?!

At six months we are already beginning to see some personality develop in our girl.  She knows what she wants and she is persistent until she gets it.  It seems that the object she most often wants is her Mama.  Meadow is, without a doubt, a Mama’s girl. Charlie and Chanelle were pretty equal opportunity when it came to Chad and I.  Meadow, though, she just wants Mama.  I will admit it. . . I love this.

Girlfriend sees me walking through the room and in her own special way (blood-curdling scream) she calls out Mama!  If she’s in the arms of another wailing, more often than not, my arms comfort her.  I will admit that sometimes this is exhausting, but overall, I am cherishing these fleeting days.

Another sure fire way to make a smile spread across her lovely face is this. . .

Charlie.

She is quite taken with her big brother.  If he walks through the room–Meadow knows it.  If he is talking, she is listening.  If he plants himself in her view, she is smiling.  The coolest thing about this is that the adoration is shared both ways.  Just today the kids and I were talking about Meadow’s birth and Charlie shared his perspective. . . I remember when Meadow was born.  When I first saw her I almost cried because she was just so cute.

Um, are you really a six year old boy?  I love the way he loves her. 

Meadow reaches for us now.  She laughs and wants us to play with her.  She babbles and gets excited with a high pitch squeal that produces laughter in all within earshot.  We do everything we can to include her in our normal daily activities.  Last week she experienced her first dance in the rain with the big kids. . .

She liked it.  A lot.  Well, for a little bit, anyway. . .

And then she didn’t like it and, as you can see, Chad had a great amount of sympathy for her. 

Our third run though this baby-thing has, without a doubt, been a bit different from our first two experiences.  Maybe we  I am a bit more chill than I used to be (Chad has always been chill.), maybe a few years of experience has made me more confident, or maybe I’m just flat out tired.  Whatever the case, I will admit that the guidelines have changed a bit.

What is wrong with an almost 6-month old enjoying a Twizzlers?  It truly is the twist you can’t resist.  Watching her gnaw on this treat provides more entertainment than watching a four-ring circus any day.  Seriously, I could watch her for hours.  Funny thing is, I would have never done this with Charlie or Chanelle.  Right or wrong, it is what it is.  We just enjoy having fun with Meadow.

Sometimes Chad and I talk about how “easy” life would feel if we just had Charlie and Chanelle.  How much less hectic.  How much more sleep we would be getting.  How much work would be getting done.  How much better our garage would smell.  How much clearer our brains might be.  How time might be multiplied if we were still the four of us. 

When it comes down to it, though, such thoughts are fleeting.