Breakdown of my life....

I have to tell you, this summer has been different. It is slowly dawning on me that these four munchkins, are not munchkins anymore but little people.  My whole life has been moved to "that next phase".  I know all you moms have heard about it.  Just wait until they are older and you are going to miss them snuggling you, NEEDING you, and loving you. To begin, I feel there are endless stages of life but these are the ones I have personally lived through and are in my inherit future.   So, here's the list:
1. Baby #1: Such a darling, so beautiful. Look at this baby we created together.  I am so fulfilled, except I'm a little bored because they don't talk to me and all they do is eat, sleep (during the day and not at night), and poop (all over EVERYTHING! Blowouts!).  I mean, look how beautiful this child is?! Umm, I sort of miss work but I am SO FULFILLED...right? No, we can't go to the movies at 10:00 at night anymore, we have a baby and she eats every 20 minutes, but look at her! She's so worth it! Man, I miss sleep. zzzzzz Sorry I dozed off there for a second. Oh, isn't she beautiful?

2. Drowning in babies:  I refer to this when I had all four kids under the age of 7 and, although I do look back on it with fond memories.  I remember crying, A LOT...both my kids and myself. I remember NEVER, EVER sitting down.  Which sort of made me think, why was I not skinnier! I NEVER sat down!! I was running all day, every day, and all night.  Anyways, I digress.  You are making it through each day, each hour the best you can.  There are good special moments, you love your kids, but man your tired.  Monotony is very present in your life and for me atleast, my husband was busy trying to provide for these kids and go to school, or training or whatever.  But, you've got a handle on it now, you are NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER BORED.  Getting away without the kids is a MUST and having good friends is a necessity.  This was the sloppy kisses, spilled milk, never ending playdates, crafts, teaching moments, etc that made me love being a mom.  Multi-task? No problem,  I can pretty much do anything one-handed while stirring the macaroni and cheese with my feet and changing a diaper while having a conversation on the phone all at once! I am woman, Hear me Roar!

3. All the kids are in school: So, this next stage is my stage.  All my babies that consumed my life have all gone away to school.  My youngest started kindergarten, and now I have FREE TIME! I get to catch up on shows that have been in my DVR for YEARS (sorry babe, I keep saying one day I WILL watch them) WOOHOO!! Oh wait, I volunteer at my littlest every week in her class, oh yea and at my 2nd.  Oh wait, there's a party and YOUR ROOM MOM! My 3rd has a project due, sports, sports, sports. Why am I never Home!! What happened to being home all day and not wanting to take all the kids to the grocery store? Wait, I've been to the grocery store 5 times this week. That's ridiculous. Grocery Bill is doubled with these kids appetite. Oh man, I have to start making a pork chop for EACH kid instead of having them ALL share one.  They haven't hugged me once today, or asked me wipe their bum (you know this happens), or kiss a boo boo.  They are pretty self-sufficient, get themselves dressed, even feed themselves cereal in the morning.  I can *gasp* sleep in a little if I wanted (only is the summer). But, the little moments that they take to talk to you, and YOU take to listen ,because now you are a little more selfish and not used to being their everything anymore. OH YEA, and vacation is getting good! Naptimes are over, for the most part crankiness is minimal (well sort of).

4. Kids start moving out: Now I actually can't talk about this one yet, my oldest is just starting 8th grade.  I am already dreading this next stage! I miss Stage #2 as ridiculous as it sounds. I don't want my kids to leave! But with that also comes good stuff...right? Like my husband and I are more like when we first got married.  Just us...just a little fatter, older and umm wiser? Okay, maybe not but you get it.  Okay, I'll have to come back to this when I'm at this stage because it would be pure speculation or going off of my friends who are at the stage right now.

So, as I watched my friends kids this last week made me think of these stages in life.  I had her baby and her 3 year old and my four, plus my oldest had a friend over. I had forgotten what its like to do the one-handed cooking, while another was pulling on your leg.  I didn't sit down once, not even to feed the baby.   I was tired...and as much as I miss the "drowning in babies" stage, I am so thankful where I am in life.  I really do have the best of both worlds..(Oh Hannah Montana now I'm quoting you). I love that each child will seek me out and actually do still want me around.  They still do want to snuggle, and talk to you.  They want you at everything (atleast right now), and still say I love you.  They are young enough to be kids still and not young enough that I have to do EVERY SINGLE thing for them. So, I guess the moral of the story is just enjoy where you are in life.  It will end...unfortunately/fortunately.  How can I not just love these kids!