Yesterday, I:
1. Made three loaves of bread, sliced it, and put it in the freezer.
2. Made 4 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies.
3. Washed dishes three times (from the weekend and baking).
4. Had the table set (even with placemats and cloth napkins!) before Nik got home.
5. Had dinner basically ready to go before Nik got home (it was leftovers but I still had it all ready).
6. Cleaned up/decluttered the dining room, kitchen, bedroom, and office (recovering from our crazy week last week).
7. Even wrote a blog post.
Today, I:
1. Made it to Bible Study a half-hour late and had to leave more than a half-hour early (so was really only there for about 50 minutes).
2. Delivered some of yesterday’s cookies to two of our good friends who were a huge help to us last Thursday, during a big crisis we had (with a screaming baby in the back seat).
3. Managed to saute the onions and carrots for tonight’s dinner but that’s as far as I got and it will most definitely NOT be ready before Nik gets home.
4. Nursed a lot and held a grumpy baby who refused to be worn, sit in her Bumpo, sit in any chair, lie on her quilt, or be basically anywhere else except in her mama’s arms.
In other words, my output today can be measured in milk and comfort and that’s about it.
But the truth is, I was worn out last night by the time I actually let myself stop and so maybe the Lord knew I needed to rest a little bit today.
And the big job that I needed to do today will wait. So I type with a sleeping baby in my arms, try not to fret about all that I need to do, and give thanks for this baby, grumpy though she is.
Salmon and Souvlaki 
Lovely. I love your sweet attitude, Laura. Your family is blessed because of it.
“In other words, my output today can be measured in milk and comfort and that’s about it.”
That makes tears come to my eyes [the hormones may be arriving with my milk 😉 ]. It paints a beautiful picture of what many days as a mother are. And it’s so okay. You are so thoughtful of Ellie. You are an amazing mother. [on top of wonderful sister/in law, friend, and I’m guessing wife, even though I haven’t the privilege. 😉 ]
Oh, that’s so how mothering goes! Good for you for going with the flow. 🙂
Love, Karyn
I heartily agree with all of the above! I can remember your Granny telling me when I was a young mother that she always gave herself permission to have a quiet day after a busy one.
An appropriate poem for you (and maybe more so for Meggan!) is:
“Song For a Fifth Child” by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton This says for a fifth Child, but I think all moms need to be reminded of this occasionally. So glad you’re “giving yourself permission”.
Love you.
It seems like I had so many of those days with Avery as an infant, that I feel I am neglecting Delaney! Sometimes when she is grumpy she wants mommy and sometimes she just wants her space. With a 2 year old running around, I miss the time of being able to just focus on her. I always wish I could capture those moments in a bottle for later. They go away so fast!
Thanks so much for all the encouragement everyone! Today I’m managing to get a little bit done. Mom – I like what Granny said – perhaps it’s even good to plan in a quiet day, not just give myself permission to have one, huh?
Here’s a link to the song Mom wrote about:
http://www.eaganwestmomsclub.org/Poetry/SongForChild.htm