Box it Up

So...Russ has been working nights this week.  This means that he leaves around 4 or 4:30 and doesn't return until nearly 3 am.  Which is a good night call schedule, by the way.  This also means that it takes him a while to settle back down into sleep mode, so he doesn't get to sleep until even later.  Which means he sleeps all morning and rests again before he leaves.  This gives Mama about 2 hours each day to "do something" if I need to (like go to the tanning bed, drive to Sonic alone, etc).  And that's just fine.  The other 22 hours of my days are spent looking at these sweet eyes....

Who wouldn't want to do that?!  I've also been a little under the weather this week...making those 22 hours a little more taxing.  Ha!  I don't know if I've said this publicly, but I have HUGE respect for all you single moms!  I always have as I saw it when I was teaching.  I knew it had to be difficult for married moms to go home after a long day of teaching, testing, writing lesson plans 50 pages long, and getting evaluated every two seconds.  Then, they had about 2 hours for supper, baseball, cheerleading, homework with their kids, and bedtime.  I knew they were strong women.  I do not claim to be one.  I've played with the idea of going back to teaching when Millie Janalee is in school...but I don't know if I'm strong enough or have enough energy.  Ha!  Kudos to you working moms!  But, to do all that AND do it alone?  That takes things to an entirely different level!  Even those of us whose husbands work many long hours and travel to work out of town on off days have the support of another human adult.  Someone to at least talk "adult talk" with and hold the baby while you go potty if you're lucky enough for him to be home when the urge strikes.  Having this terrible cold made me think of these women more often.  Especially with Russ gone most of the time.  Whew!  And a cold doesn't even count as being sick!  What about when you have the flu or stomach virus!?  Praying for you now. 

Wild Saturday night!

Millie Janalee and I always manage to have great time!  While friends were texting me from their Saturday night outings...I was having my own "wild Saturday night!"  There's no other place I'd rather be on Saturday nights than with this cute baby doll!  And her Daddy too...when he's available.  I think his next day off will be the Saturday before Easter.  Not that I'm counting down or anything.  Ha!  I'm SO thankful for such a hard-working hubby!  And he rarely complains about it.  I'm ashamed that I'm not a better wife to him. 

You may remember that we have a new member of our family these days.  Millie Janalee's little toofie joined our Party of Three on March 5, 2013!  It's the cutest little toofie I've ever seen, and it keeps growing out of those sweet gums.  We decided it was time to start our dental hygiene lesson #1.  Brush!

Russ and I are not the best dental patients in the world.  I'm pretty sure I've seen worse...but we are certainly NOT GOOD teeth people.  We don't go get our teeth cleaned or checked like we should.  I'm terrible at flossing.  Like, I don't ever do it.  Do you think I'm gross now?  We have cavities and crowns and more!  We have high dollar mouths.

Thankfully, Millie Janalee won't be inheriting any of our "teeth genes," but every little girl needs to know how to brush those pearly whites.  Because one day, she will be coming to me asking to have her teeth whitened for some boy!  Didn't we all do that?  OH...yours were already perfect and white?  I see.  Anyway, Russ and I have been having a fun time helping brush Mr. Toofie during bathtime.  Haha!  Millie Janalee is so enthralled by the fun game!

Every time I look at that cute little tooth, I'm reminded of how fast these bitty baby days are flying by!  I just want to box up all these moments and put them on a shelf for safe keeping.  I tried boxing my little girl up yesterday.  She thought it was great fun, but I realized it wasn't going to serve my purpose.  Putting her in a box would not keep these baby days around any longer...

"Are you serious, Mama?!"

So, we just played in the box.

Actually, I needed to make some more baby food and this was a fun way to keep Millie Janalee by my side and contained to a clean spot.  I think she enjoyed her playtime.  I envision her doing this one day with the box all decorated like a Barbie car or space ship.  Ha!  But for now, this box now holds some of the 6 month clothes Little Miss Priss has outgrown.  So sad!

I just want to BOX IT UP!  Box up these little baby days!