Two nights of very little sleep, and what little I did have being constantly interrupted, make me feel a bit fragile emotionally.
There are times I feel so tunnel-visioned. Like, there is the government shut-down happening in America, and the tragedies that just happened in Kenya, and endless other big world news. And I do care about those things! But today I’m here all clutching my coffee cup for dear life, collapsed on the sofa because my baby didn’t sleep well for two nights and I have a terrible kink in my neck. First world problems for sure.
Hudson is cutting the last three of his eye teeth, and then he has a full mouth of baby teeth. (I know, I know, such a mommy post). But cutting them is painful business, and on top of it he has a mouth and tongue full of viral ulcers. He sleeps fitfully at night, even with Tylenol, and during the day he’s permanently attached to my hip.
But I walked out into the living room this morning and laughed.
It’s probably lame humor, or maybe it’s because laughter comes more easily to the weary.
But I saw Zoe’s arrangement of our trunk-turned-coffee-table ~ the coke box cocked all sideways. That’s exactly how she (age 6) means to place it, thinking it adds interest “so not everything looks the same.”
And it drives Olivia (age 4) and me nuts. NUTS. It’s really not even a big difference, but we definitely have our opinions about The Arrangement of the Coffee Table. So there is this on-going joke/battle between us, as Olivia (and I) turn it carefully so it is perfectly aligned, and Zoe very deliberately cocks it at 45 degrees.
It just really hit my funny bone this morning, to where I felt ridiculous for laughing so hard. Little tears pricked my eyes, I found it that funny.
Crazy, I know. I had a few thoughts of wondering where my intelligence has gone and if my true senses have fled since I gave birth.
And then I felt a fresh renewal for my day. That was a little touch of God in my exhausted morning, ridiculous humor or not. He is not a God of a straight face, of telling us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and just trying to make it.
No, He’s a God that enters our world, He came to us, Who breathes fresh life and sweet grace for each day. He is creative and varied, who delights to be seen in our days. Even in little crazy things like cocked coffee table arrangements.
I’m also so so encouraged by this post on Authenticity. Wow.
Today, I’m thankful that God is a God of humor, who smiles and laughs,
annnnnnd, I’m thankful it’s FRIDAY!
Happy weekend, lovelies!
I just read your last post earlier this morning but didn’t have time to comment so I came back and saw you’d posted again! I just loved seeing the post of all of your family. Makes me think about how ours will be one day!
And I agree with you and Olivia- I like it straight, too! :)
Thanks so much, Kellie! And yes, I think your family will be one close-knit family too! :)
The funniest thing happened when I clicked on your name to go look at your site… It took me to a site I have never been to before, and I was like, “Did Kellie just adopt??” I was so confused! And then I realized the link must have been incorrect, because it wasn’t you at all! It just gave me a laugh. :)
This makes me want to drive to your house. and be with you.
NOW.
Please come. NOW. On your way to Colorado. :)
^^ What little sister said. ^^ Dear me, how I love your little houseful of girls and a teething boy. I cannot wait to see Zoe and Olivia’s houses someday. :)
That is exactly what I think – I cannot wait to see their houses one day. :) I cannot wait until you come to mine!!
So funny! and cute! and just what you needed!
This is too cute! And yes, thankfully God is a God of humor, or a lot of us would be done for. lol :)
May there be JOY in your journey…
Good read…here this morning. I’ll be praying for you..
Thank you, Bevy! I appreciate that!
LOL!!! My sister and Mama do the same thing….. I’m happy to know we’re not the only ones! :D
That is too funny! :) So there are other funny quirks in families out there too!
ok so til today I am just a blog stalker but I had to comment on this post. :) my name is Stephanie Overholt Miller and i’m from SC originally and now in Ohio and we have a lot of mutual friends, but what I wanted to say was that I also had two lovies that went though these mouth ulcers and it might just have been the WORST sickness EVER! For each of the babies it lasted for two weeks and so at the end of the month I thought that I might have lost my mind! I thought that I would tell you what the pediatrician told us to do and that was to rotate ibuprofen and acetaminophen every 3 hours even in the middle of the night which turned out to not be a problem because we were up all night anyways! She told us to put Mylanta(or something similar) and rub it on their gums and not to use oragel because it was too potent for that many sores because it could numb their throats and they could choke to death! Good luck! I pray it doesn’t spread and that it ends really really really soon.
Oh my goodness, you’ve had the same thing with your lovies?! The viral ulcers are awful!! I feel so sorry for my baby but I’m also at the end of my rope to know what else to do to help him. THANK YOU for that information! All I heard was that they have to run their course, a doctor can’t do anything to help the ulcers, but I will definitely use your tips! Thanks again for commenting. You may just have saved my sanity. :) And it helps so much to know that someone else knows what it’s like (even though I hate it that you DO know).
Shaking with laughter over here . . . . I know what you’re saying about being a little tunnel visioned. I mean for goodness sake, I used to be ON TOP of the news and call senators and send emails and write letters and LOVE to be in the know about all things in our world and country. Now?? I had no idea what someone was talking about the other day when they mentioned a government shut down. Oops. I’ve decided except for the important snippits that husband passes on to me from time to time, I just can’t handle the brain overload of so much {negative} news!! I can barely handle the things right in front of my face that must be done. Like straightening cocked coffee table stuff, for example. . Ohhh . . . I believe the Lord sees and knows and walks with us in all this. Every.single.time that I’m pregnant or have a little one, I think so much of the Isaiah verse that says He gently carries those who are with young. That’s us. You and me. He only requires that we do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him . . . and however that looks for each of us in our time in life. Ok, I guess I should go do my own post instead of taking up so many lines here. This just hit my funny bone and brought tears too because it’s just all too familiar. Also, mouth sores?? Sophia just got over a week of those! I hope we didn’t share them with you!! And now my other two seem to have a bit of it too. So sorry!
I’m so way behind commenting on your blog! I do read every post and it usually sits up on my screen for days at a time! Anyway..that story is so cute. We have some of those same little things happen in our house..and I think they’re worth laughing at. You are the sweetest Mom Clarita!!!
Hope you get some sleep soon. If you were my neighbor I’d take your kids and let you have a nap! We actually just gave another one of our neighbors a “nap” the other afternoon. We had her kids over so she could go to bed and sleep. I feel so bad for her..her new baby sleeps two hours a night! and she has a one and a three year old too. I forget sometimes about sleepless nights..it’s been a while since we’ve had a baby in our house. So yeah, if you moved here! You’d get more sleep Clarita! ;) Plus you’d have snow at Christmas time. ;)
Have a great weekend!
XxOo
No worries! I do the same thing, and I don’t comment nearly all the time either! :) It’s just how life goes, and that’s okay!
BUT I WANT TO COME BE YOUR NEIGHBOR!! And for more than just babysitting and sleep and snow at Christmas offers!! :) xoxo
Awwww…such a sweet post. Bless you for sharing your heart! And, I’m so glad that God met you where you were today….He knew you needed that laughter. By the way, have you tried the teething tablets from Walmart for your little guy? They work so well for my little girlie.
Aww, thanks, Cheryl! God did know I needed laughter. :)
I tried the teething tablets a while ago but they haven’t seemed to do anything that I could see… Maybe I’ll try again! Thanks for the reminder!
Clarita, that was so well written. God really does care about the details of our lives and don’t you love how He brings humor even in the smallest things! I enjoy reading your blog and love to see how you are a mommy to your sweet little ones. Charmaine
Thanks so much, Charmaine!
Maybe it’s because I have my own “baby won’t sleep kink in my neck”, but this post warmed me right to the core! It made me wish I lived down the street and I could carry my Pearl on my pajama-clad hip and drink coffee with you in the kitchen. I’m definitely “team Clarita and Olivia” when it comes to the coffee table tug-of-war :) Things must be lined up. they simple must. always. no exceptions. You’re lovely inside and out!
I love when we’re hit with ridiculous humor. I feel for you, being exhausted and having a sad little guy and then that coffee table arrangement! Ha! I LOVE that! Yes these days are tough. It’s frustrating when they get tougher in different ways. I pray that God will bless you with needed sleep and energy this week.
This was fun. Those hilarious moments caused by our children can be JUST the perfect thing to help us put love for motherhood back in our hearts during really tough times. And laughing so hard you cry is just awesome. :) My sisters and I used to have little “battles” like this–so funny. (I’m with Zoe on this one.) :) So sorry about the ulcers!!!!!!! They are horrible!!! We babysat a baby one weekend who had them, and she was just miserable. I hope they heal soon! poor baby and you.
preciousness! love these moments of letting it all go and just having a good ole laugh. :)) and i’m one of the quirky ones like zoe.. i like things a bit cock- eyed!! ha.
Hey there… just stumbled across your blog… what a precious family and home… my son had those ulcers one time.. horrible.. horrible.. there is a concoction the dr. Mixed up for it.. malox, benadryl…and one more thing but I cant remember.. you put it on topically with a q tip.. it gave immediate relief. Maybe you could ask the dr. Or pharmacist what the 3 ingredients are… hope he feels better soon. And that is sooo funny about the coffee table. !!
Hi Melissa! Thanks so much for commenting! And you know what those ulcers are like too?? My goodness, I had no idea they could be so awful! My son is finally over them, but I will remember your advice if it ever comes back again! Thanks so much!
I just had to comment…. I was that same little girl about 18 years ago who always changed the coffee table magazines different from how my mom had them….. have fun with that battle!! ;) My little girly is almost 2 – I’m sure I’ll have that to contend with also coming up here in a few years! =)
Aww, I’m so glad you commented! That’s so funny you and your mom had the coffee table “battle” too! :) It’s so fun to see the difference personalities of children and what makes them tick!
My rugs, furniture, books and table top decor are mostly all on angles… hmmm. what does that mean? ;) what a hoot, you and your girls. but I hear you on the NUTS part too. we have that around here. my ideas, their preferences. some things matter! others… not.
and oh how I hope that you are getting some rest till now! your little guy too. so sorry. i remember now that i forgot. it’s hard. teething can be exhausting! i’m convinced that giving birth expands our sense of humor, so that little things CAN and DO make our day!
AHHHHHH, Cindy comments are just too great!! :) Whenever I’m with you or hear from you, I’m so encouraged. I just think you’d make an awesome big sister. Wanna adopt me? I’ve never had a big sister. :) xo