Fear and M&M's

The holiday weekend was much anticipated and prepared for with nothing on the books for the week following, and yet, somehow, the days have quickly become saturated with any number of activities... social, business, kid-related, and otherwise.When Judah woke up just after 6 this morning to nurse (way to go, buddy! Seven hours!) I decided to make the most of a few selfish hours without being accountable to anyone. What? Mindless internetting anyone? Making some lists, surveying the homestead for efficient management, drinking a few *hot* cups of El Salvadoran coffee, and generally getting my head on straight before The Voice arouses and I struggle to complete a single thought without the interruption. Listening to incessant chatter is one thing, and is what I *knew* about little ones. I was unprepared for the requirement that each idea is verbally validated by... you guessed it, ME. They tell new parents to talk to their babies all day long, giving a running commentary of each activity to allow the babe to hear and process as much language as possible. BEWARE, young parents... you may be trapped into this for years to come. :)

I hope it goes without saying that I understand the value of these formative months and years in terms of my daughter's language development; I recognize that this is all completely normal and needed and part of the job. I want with everything in me to be triumphant over each day, but it seems that 8:30pm inevitably finds me collapsed at the computer, thankful beyond measure that she is quiet and upstairs. For the last several months, Eden has filled any vacant auditory space with "ah doe-ing?" (For those not fluent in Eden-speak, she is asking what I am doing.) This question seems innocuous enough, as answers can generally be straight-forward, and fact-based, with little need for on-the-spot philosophical contemplation. Somehow, though, the matter never seems to be settled with whatever answer I come up with. ("Ah doe-ing, mommy?" "Feeding baby Judah, sweetheart." "Oh." ...continue to nurse 13 more seconds... "Ah DOE-ing, mommy?" "Still feeding baby Judah, honey..." Repeat indefinitely, with interspersed demands for raisins, juice, park, Fraggle Rock, and going to Boppa's.) However tiring, I've become accustomed to this routine, and have done my best to vary my answers to utilize the greatest variety of vocabulary words I can. That's my job, right? Being a good momma, right? The first of yesterday's milestones sent a shudder through me that I can't quite explain, but one which I'm sure those mothers who have gone before me will understand despite my lack of said vocabulary:

After getting an answer for what I was doe-ing during her lunch, Eden looked at me, dead in the eyes, and said, "Why?"


*me whimpering and hiding under the computer desk*


Luckily for me, there was a trade-off. After lunch (and seven or eight more "whys,") Eden pooped on the potty for the first time. I'm hesitant to put too much confidence in this initial victory as I know it's early in the game, and I have my reservations about Eden's readiness to take this on, but WOW! She did it! (And she certainly savored the three M&M's she received as her just reward... now momma better be sure not to let her sweet tooth get the best of her and leave Eden's potty treats alone...)



Way to go, Eden!