cuddle time

Is there anything better than cuddling little kids?

Vera loves to cuddle. Actually that's probably an understatement. She adores cuddling. It's one of her favorite things. Sometimes in the morning when I'm feeding Hattie, Vera will come in and when Hattie's done eating the three of us will cuddle in the chair together. We will talk about what we have planned for the day and many times Vera will look at me and say, "But first we finish cuddling." It's the best. And really it helps me slow down and remember what is important.

It really is such a gift that I get to stay home with my girls. It can be challenging, but it is so worth it. Cleaning the kitchen multiple times a day and picking up the same toys every day and reading the same books over and over again and changing diapers. It can be hard. It can be draining. It can make me feel lonely. But when those girls look at me, it's worth it. And do you know why? Because there will come a day when they GO TO COLLEGE!

I know, I know. My daughters are 2 1/2 and 4 months. Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit. But hear me out.

Today was one of those mornings where I was so thankful that the girls nap at the same time. The day really started at 4:00 when Hattie woke up to eat. I got a little bit of sleep once Hattie went back down but it wasn't long before Vera was up and wanted to cuddle. 

Once both girls were awake they both wanted attention and there's only one me. And then Hattie pooped while Vera and I were eating lunch. I decided to get all the dishes cleaned up first and then change Hattie's diaper. When I went to get Hattie out of her chair I noticed that poop was everywhere. I took her upstairs and realized that the only remedy for the situation was to give her a bath. I called down to Vera and asked her to come upstairs and join us. Vera and I gave Hattie a bath together then I got Hattie dressed, put her in her crib and went down to the basement to wash out the poop clothes. When I got back upstairs I saw that Vera had brought nearly all of her crayons into Hattie's room, along with half of her play food. And Hattie was crying.

By the time I got them down for nap I decided I just needed some time to catch my breath. I turned on an episode of Gilmore Girls. Rory was moving into college and in the last scene Lorelai went home. Alone. And I started crying.

Someday these two precious girls will go to college and Derek and I will come home without them. There will be weekends and holidays and summers. But those mornings of sitting in a recliner in Hattie's room and cuddling with my two girls? Behind us. I'm not going to lie, there are mornings when I would love to just sit and drink a cup of coffee and stare out the window. Mornings when a certain 2 1/2 year old wouldn't rub my arm incessantly. Mornings when I didn't begin my day with spit up all over my clothes. But as cliche as it sounds, those cuddles are priceless. They are worth more than my coffee and my personal space and my clean clothes. So every chance I get, I will cuddle my girls.