Spit-up in my shoe

A teething baby and a toddler with a cold can make for a trying week. Just when I had settled into a good routine of running two mornings a week, it seems all of that has been thrown out the window. I am a little surprised at my own reaction to this reality of my life. I thought by now I would have gotten used to altered plans, lack of sleep, the noisy blend of baby babble and toddler talk. Apparently I have much more to learn about living gracefully in this season of life.

Yesterday I woke up on the wrong side of bed after being up twice with the boys. I didn't have the energy to run, much less get my cup of coffee before the children woke up. I was bound and determined to make it to Bible study for the encouragement and reprieve I find there.

Sure enough, we made it. I dropped N off in his classroom and went down the hall to nurse M. As I was burping him and wondering if I would make it into the classroom before the start of the talk, I felt the familiar warm slime of spit-up inside my shoe.

Now, I have become quite accustomed to "wearing" spit up. I don't even mind the smell of it enough to change my clothes if I'm going to be around the house all day. But feeling it on my foot inside my shoe was way past my personal tolerance for baby body fluids! I tried to dry off as best I could with some paper towels but my foot still felt gross.

I headed down the hall to M's nursery. When I got there, I announced, "I have vomit in my shoe!" The nursery worker got a funny look on her face and asked if I shouldn't head home if my child had a virus. I quickly explained that I was just looking for a little sympathy and didn't need medical attention. Does anyone identify with this need for validation? With the growing desire to accomplish a personal goal (running, for me) or just daily tasks (like unloading the dishwasher before the dirty ones need to be loaded again) rubbing up against the realities of living?

On the sweeter side of my life with these two precious boys, we have been enjoying a newly created "book nook" in the living room. It consists of a cuddly blanket on the floor beside a table that holds our board book collection.

For the past two days, N has been asking to go there as soon as he wakes up in the morning, and after his naps.

Here he is right after breakfast, giddy with the thought of going to the book nook!

Sometimes we go there just to sit. Other times we listen to glow-worm's songs. And other times, we read books.


Baby M even has his own spot in the book nook. He likes it when we read stories to him.


Of all the things I have done to make the house more child friendly, this is the cheapest and easiest by far. I think it's probably N's favorite, too. Snuggling with the boys in this cozy corner makes it all better for me. That, and going to the pizza parlor with Aunt M, being out in the afternoon sunshine, taking a warm bath and getting in my pj's really early.