Quietness is Overrated

It seems as if this is the era of crying. Anna cries because she doesn't get her way. Eli cries because he's learning to stand up, thus resulting in many falls, because he's incredibly a momma's boy, because he wants to be held, because he's hungry, dirty, tired, and you name it. There's never a day that goes by that both of them don't cry for some reason or another. Today was that day....as was yesterday.

It began with Eli deciding to go on a 90 minute crying spree yesterday afternoon instead of taking a nap. It continued on into today. Typically he will play in his crib for awhile before crying and letting me know he wants out. Not this morning. Nothing seemed to work. I wasn't quick enough, didn't cook fast enough, couldn't spoon fast enough, didn't have the right toys, nor did I have the spare time to sit around and hold him all day.

Anna often feeds off Eli's emotions (as well as mine) and thus became a crabby patty since Eli decided to be one. I'm sure I wasn't in the best of moods either.

They teamed up together to either cry, fall in the floor throwing tantrums, or peruse the DVD/Video section that they know they're not allowed to touch. They even took to putting their sticky fingerprints all over my new digital picture frame.

Oh, whoa is me. Or so that's how I was beginning to feel. After multiple spankings, countless times of being sent to their rooms, and multiple explanations of why what they're doing is wrong, nothing seemed to sink in. While going through the nighttime routine of getting ready for bed, Anna was going potty. Just not in the potty. She decided that peeing in the floor would be more fun. And unbeknownst to me, when I went to pick something up, I stepped in it. Needless to say, I was so thankful when 6:45 and 7:30 came -finally, they were down for the night and I had a moment to myself....a quiet moment.

But it was in that time that I realized just how boring and overrated quiet time is. No laughter, cries for mommy, sweet little mischievous giggles, my precious Anna saying "I love Mommy, I love Daddy, I love Bubba." Anna teaching Eli how to speak "Say mmommma, momma, momma, momma. Say dada, dada, dada.' then giggling when he does. The sweet dialog:

Me: Let's go watch TV
Anna: *with such enthusiasm* Watch Dog! (The Fox and the Hound)
Me: "No"
Anna: "PIG!" (Charlotte's Web)
Me: No
Anna: Bug! (Bee Movie)
Me: NO!

The quietness lacked all that life is and has become since I've become a mom. The 'noise' is my new reality and while at times it seems daunting, I can still look back at days end and see all the sweet moments through all the chaos. And while there are days I can't wait for 6:45 and 7:30 to roll around, I know it's okay. I know that there will be days like this. And that too is okay...so long as the 'noise' and all that comes with it starts afresh tomorrow. Peace and quiet are good. But the sweet moments that come amidst all the chaotic moments are what life is all about.