Today while you napped, I ran around doing laundry, picking up dishes, letting the dog out, cleaning the bathroom. I made lots of lists. Grocery lists, to do lists, emergency contact lists for the babysitter. I edited pictures, I updated my blog and I ate my lunch while standing up.
At any given point in time, a mother has 10 separate "to do" lists and 20 different reminders floating around in her head. There is dry cleaning to be picked up. Grocery shopping to be done. Trash that needs to be taken out. Preschool paperwork to be completed. Dish washers that need to be emptied. Laundry baskets to be put away. Dinner to be made.
Today you woke up from your nap crying...hard. I don't know if you had your first nightmare or if you're teething, but I know one thing.
You wanted your mommy. You clung to me when I picked you up, and I knew you weren't done napping so I sat down and rocked with you. I felt your head slowly lower onto my shoulder...I felt as your body relaxed and your breathing steadied...I felt you loosen your grip on my shirt until your little hand was comfortably resting under your chin.
And I stayed there. I forgot about the lists. I forgot about the laundry. I didn't care about the dishes in the sink. The dirt on the floor. The spilt milk on the counter.
I stayed there. And I smelled your baby smell...a mixture of shampoo and milk. I felt your sweet breath on my neck and your hand on my chest. I stayed there. And relaxed with you. I forgot about everything that needed to be done and people that needed to be called.
And if there is one thing I know with absolute certainty...it's that there is no better feeling in the world than holding a sleeping baby.
