Babies Are Overrated
Date: Tuesday September 9, 2008Posted in: Emily, Family, Graham, Nathan, Parenting
OK. Babies are not really overrated. Heck, I have had three of the little buggers. I was just trying to think of a title and that one popped into my head.
For while I truly love babies, what with their soft skin, powder smell, blah, blah, blah, they are physically demanding. There is the carrying, the rocking, the bottle feeding, the dressing, the undressing, the dressing again, the bum wiping. Oh, the bum wiping! Thankfully there is only one of my kidlets who still needs assistance (Um. The first three letters of that word seem to stand out for some reason), but her poops are usually a clean sweep.
Dear Emily: when you are old enough to read this I am sure you will find it funny that I discuss the texture of your feces. Love, Mommy
While we were entrenched in those bleary newborn years we would often dream of a day when the kids were a bit older. We made sure not to wish the years away too quickly, but the constant state of exhaustion got to be a little, well, tiresome. We longed for a day when our kids could give us more than a smile or a giggle. When they would grow into little people who were fun to hang out with.
That day has arrived.
Sure, there is the emotional exhaustion that occurs when your children get older. They get older and think that the own the world. They may or may not throw a bit of attitude.
This is all par for the course. The physical demands decrease, but the emotional demands increase. The added bonus, we have found, is that we get to have complete conversations with the kids. Not only that, they crack us up on a continual basis.
The personalities make their physical cuteness a little over the tops sometimes. I feel like shouting, “I love my kids!” from the rooftops. Until the attitude comes back and I threaten to lock them in the basement.
I am kidding. Maybe.
We honestly have been having a lot of fun together. The first week of full-time school has been hectic (Over an hour each day spent dropping off/picking up Graham. Then there is the lunch to pack, forms to fill out, etcetera. Never mind all of the other stuff we have going on…), but we have been enjoying some stellar “family time” in the evening.
The weather this past week has been phenomenal. The mornings are cold (Thank God for heated seats in the van!), but the afternoons are comfortably warm. I start the day in jeans and a hoodie and by mid-afternoon I am in capris and a tank top.
After supper we have been having nightly games of Bocci (a form of lawn bowling). The kids love it and are getting pretty good at it. Miss Emily has her own technique.
She is wee so she gets a handicap. She walks straight over to the white ball and drops her bocci ball.
She is on my team.
Her big blue eyes help to distract the competition.
I was in a bowling league during my elementary school years (Nope. It was not cool. Nor was I) and I seem to have kept my technique. I have seriously whooped Matthew’s hiney. I cannot get too arrogant, lest he challenge me to a game of basketball. He is the star of that (far cooler) sport.
We have been enjoying this stage of the kids, which is why we are planning a trip to Seattle next month. We are also planning to take the kids with us to Mexico after Christmas. We loved the chance to go without kids in February but think that our monkeys would love the break from winter as well.
I am sure that being confined in an aircraft with three kids six and under for seven hours will finally push me over the edge from (relative) sanity to a padded room with no windows, but hey! Think of the blog fodder.
In the meantime I just wanted to put it out there that I like my kids. Most of the time.
31 Comments
Your kids have to be some of the cutest kids EVER! So adorable!
That’s awesome that you’re taking the kids on vacations soon - I’m sure they’ll have an incredible time. My parents started taking my brother and I on vacations when we were quite young, and those are some of my favourite memories. It definitely helped instill the travel bug in me!
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Comment by Sharon on September 9th, 2008 @ 1:23 pmI am thankful for the normalness of your family after spending an unpleasant hour at the DMV getting my licence removed. There was a mother who repeatedly told her child to shut it. Instead of hijacking your post, maybe I’ll blog about it.
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Comment by witchypoo on September 9th, 2008 @ 1:33 pmYou are a brave gal taking all three kids to Mexico! Wowza. 
Jordan and I often talk about the day when our kids are both a bit older, can play together unsupervised while we, well, do nothing. Can’t wait.
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Comment by Jen on September 9th, 2008 @ 1:38 pmI wish that Emily’s dress came in my size.
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Comment by hills on September 9th, 2008 @ 2:06 pmGreat post, Ange! We are at that stage also, where we are able to enjoy a LOT of things with the boys that we only dreamed of before. Trips away are sooooo much easier when you don’t need to take diapers, a portable crib, a pushchair, special food/drink, etc. I am loving how spontaneous we can be now they are older. It’s especially good now that nobody is having an afternoon nap! Amazing how “tied down” that can make you feel, even when your kid naps well in the car or pushchair. Just easier when you can cruise and do whatever you want.
I think your kids are going to love the trip to Seattle, and even more so the trip to Mexico! The games you play after dinner sound fun, and what a neat thing to do as a family!
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Comment by Hannah on September 9th, 2008 @ 2:28 pmwe love us some bocci! last year for christmas we got father in law a glow in the dark bocci set, it totally rocks!! Have fun traveling around!!
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Comment by Heather on September 9th, 2008 @ 3:23 pmBut until that 7 hour flight? Bocci is FUN! Kids are sweet and CUTE!
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Comment by The Over-Thinker on September 9th, 2008 @ 4:00 pmI hear you on all counts. Well except the soft skin and the baby smell still get me. Having a friend with newborn twins is the best of both worlds
And the plane ride will be grand as long as you avoid Mr. and Mrs. Grumpypants!
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Comment by Kami on September 9th, 2008 @ 4:33 pmI’ve never played bocce - and I”ve always wanted to. *SIGH*
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Comment by Rhi on September 9th, 2008 @ 4:44 pmGlad you are enjoying this phase of the kids. We’re still in baby land over here and may not be finished. So, it’s nice to read the next stages have many perks and some disadvantages, but less butts to wipe!
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Comment by little miss mel on September 9th, 2008 @ 4:47 pmI was in bowling leagues in grade school, junior high, and high school! Sadly, I was never *that* good but I always enjoyed it. I bowled a 200 game once…that was the highlight of my bowling career.
I know exactly what you mean about big kids vs. babies.
I think the plane trip will be easier than you think, and you all will have a GREAT time on a family vacation to Mexico!
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Comment by bethany actually on September 9th, 2008 @ 5:14 pmI’d want Emily on my team too!!! Your kids are so lucky to have you as their mom!!!
Comment by Michele on September 9th, 2008 @ 5:29 pmI love the blue eyes!
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Comment by Mrs. Wilson on September 9th, 2008 @ 7:47 pmFun, fun, fun. I love Bocci. Though I haven’t tried to play with my son, that could be interesting.
I hope you enjoy Seattle, we love living here. btw there is a great restaurant that has wonderful Mediterranean food and a KIDS PLAY AREA! Love it!! http://www.vioscafe.com/index.html
We go whenever we can. Lunch prices are much more reasonable.
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Comment by Kristin on September 9th, 2008 @ 7:51 pmWe are looking forward to when our kids are a bit older too, BUT we are defiantly enjoying them now as well.
I love your “Dear Emily…” too good.
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Comment by Elaine on September 9th, 2008 @ 9:37 pmDear Graham, Nathan, and Emily,
Stop growing up so fast! Especially since I’m not around to see it.
Love,
Aunty Dayna
I was on a bowling team in high school and then joined a few leagues outside of school during the summer… and joined one in college. Maybe it wasn’t the coolest sport out there but it was great fun!
That Mexico trip sounds great! My parents weren’t nearly as adventurous and I had to wait until I was 22 to get on my first plane.
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Comment by K on September 10th, 2008 @ 4:31 amFinally, the question of what is Bocci ball RESOLVED!
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Comment by slynnro on September 10th, 2008 @ 5:34 amI’ll rephrase the statement for you: Newborns are TOTALLY overrated.
Comment by gorillabuns on September 10th, 2008 @ 8:11 am
I think I should clarify that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE babies. I want to nibble on every one I see. Emily is still on the final edge of babydom and I nibble on her all the time. I had a friend with older kids tell me that each stage is equally delightful.
So far, it is true. I’m giving up squishy baby chub for school-age character
i’m so with you. i’m loving this stage that my kids are actually fun. and not a chore.
Comment by ali on September 10th, 2008 @ 10:08 amAWW, coming to Seattle just as I am leaving! I am moving to Portland, Oregon this weekend!
I agree, my god-daughter is 3 1/2 and oh my goodness, she’s a riot. Just as cute as a baby, but far more entertaining!
Comment by Kendrah on September 10th, 2008 @ 10:42 amWhile I love mah baby, I love her even MORE having watched her big brother grow bigger, and seeing how much more fun they can get. I now know that the newborn stage–while tough–is fleeting, and I should cherish it, but at the same time, I also know what I have to look forward to in a few years’ time when she’s his age, and I can’t wait.
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Comment by metalia on September 10th, 2008 @ 1:21 pmMe too! (That is like my kids most of the time).
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Comment by mommyknows on September 10th, 2008 @ 1:34 pmI love when they aren’t babies any more and start talking and just become more entertaining. My niece is almost 3 and she’s hilarious! (Just like her Auntie.) I want her to stay this age forever.
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Comment by Kristabella on September 10th, 2008 @ 6:40 pmI am eternally grateful that my daughter is a clean sweep pooper. Seriously, I am.
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Comment by Shamelessly Sassy on September 10th, 2008 @ 7:59 pmI love Em’s polka dots! Adorable!
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Comment by Camels & Chocolate on September 10th, 2008 @ 11:44 pmBabies are fantastic, but I see what you mean now that my oldest is three. Now, that age has its own set of issues, but I love the conversations we have!
Now that my little one is seven months old, it’s starting to fly by a little too fast for my taste. It’s almost enough to make one consider having another.
ALMOST.
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I only have one child and I don’t know if I’ll be having another one :O) My daughter is turning 2 and I can say that babies are really fantastic! I love it when my baby talks to with baby her “baby talk”. I don’t actually know what she’s saying. But I’m pretty sure that she is telling me something because it always starts with the word- MAMA :O)
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Comment by San Antonio Lawyer on September 14th, 2008 @ 6:38 am
I always find it funny how much I actually like (I mean LIKE as in as a person I like him) my 2 year old son. Of course I love him and coddle him and all of that stuff, but as a little human being? he is pretty damn cool.
I have to say I like him most the time - there is about 30 minutes a day where he drives me batty with his temper or clingyness in public but in general I love hanging with the little booger and taking him places….
Comment by Sleepynita on September 9th, 2008 @ 1:20 pm