You know you're a mom when...

It's 6:30 AM. You are lying on the couch, propped up at an incline because you are sick, and you are pregnant so can't take any medicine, but need some relief for that congestion. There is a 20-month-old boy, small body nestled on your chest and side, head tucked in your armpit, fitted in froggy pajamas, breathing deeply and contentedly on his mama. Your shirt has been pulled up by the froggy-adorned toddler, and in his sleep he gently rubs your belly in a circular motion like you are Buddha. As the toddler rubs your belly round and round, round and round, the baby within you is kicking, thumping, dancing wildly. The baby has been doing somersaults and kickboxing maneuvers since 4 AM, and you have not slept a wink since then. The toddler rubs the belly, and his hand juts up now and then from his baby brother or sister's early-morning hip-hop performance or football game.

This goes on for an hour and a half.

And she realizes that without a doubt, yes--she really has become a mom.

Realizations of motherhood persist throughout the morning as she makes her way to the bathroom and has to hop over Luke's "Puppy" board book, a crashed train, an Old MacDonald-playing John Deere tractor, and a rolled-up diaper that has not yet made its way to the garbage. And as she gets to the bathroom, the realization continues, as she removes a small green-handled potty seat from the toilet before she can use the facilities. And as she reaches for the toilet paper, the realization continues still, because she can't find the end of the roll. It has been unraveled several feet. And when she goes to take her bath, she thinks she finally has a moment of no maternal responsibility. So she sits in the warm water relaxing, but not much time passes before she feels a bizarre sensation of something moving across her back. Alarmed, she looks behind her and sees that it was a bright orange sand mold of a castle floating atop the water that swiped along her skin.

Ah, mommyhood.


Speaking of mommyhood, Siena is tranforming before our very eyes. We are germ-carriers right now, and have had to witness her transformation solely on the computer screen, unfortunately. :( (Bright side: It will be all that more exciting when we are healthy and can hold her!) All tubes are now out, and she is doing just great. She is also finally able to nurse, and any bets, Sam is reeeeally starting to feel like a mama (either that, or a dairy cow). Now we just want her to put on some flab so she can come home!


Just have to include this shot of Sam as a baby. She looks so much like Siena! This means Siena has a very promising future, looks-wise...

A few side notes about Siena, and when she was born:

While Sam was in labor last Sunday, we were hanging out back in Davis with Sarah while Bethany's parents were in the waiting room at the hospital. There were some pretty funny comments said, both by our little man and by Sarah. (They are a comedic pair. If you are ever feeling down, just come hang out with them. They will make you laugh. Promise.)

On our way to church that morning, Luke called out loudly, "LILO!" because he knows he usually gets to see Shiloh at church. He kept on calling for his Uncle Lilo. Finally, Bethany said, "You know what, Honey, you won't be able to see Lilo this morning. Auntie Sam is having a baby." Luke looked up at Bethany with a face full of puzzlement and concern, and then said just one word, which pretty much sums up the whole process of having a baby:

"BOOM!"

Sarah's description of labor was a bit more involved, but equally hilarious. She noted to us that having a baby is "like pushing out one big toot--only a little different."

Once we brought the troops to the hospital that evening, as we waited for the "SHE'S HERE!", Sarah commented that Shiloh was "probably nervous, excited, and hungry, all at the same time." Pretty accurate, we'd say.

And Luke was obsessed with the idea of "Lilo," "Tam," and "Baby." (He now won't say one of those words without saying all three of them. Their blog videos intrigue him; he watches them enthralled, then says "MO!" because he wants to watch more. He seems to "get" the idea that they had a baby.) We think we'll hire him out as the world's best labor coach, because the whole time as we waited for Sam to push out her little bambina, Luke kept saying loudly, demandingly, commandingly, "BABY, TUM!!!" ("Baby, come!") with his arms jutted straight out, hands palm-up, and fingers sprawled, as if calling her forth. He kept chanting this. Baby, come! Baby, come! And lo and behold, she quickly obeyed. (She probably heard him. His voice lately has been bursting with so much vigor and enthusiasm; we wonder if the passionate volume might pop someone's ear drums.)


Stories aside, here are more pictures. A couple shots of Luke with his buddy.




Saturday day out with Daddy and Ra Ra (Sarah). Snacks packed in his beloved Nemo tin, Daddy saying "cheese" for the camera, Luke excited... All set to go!


We have tried another set of overall pictures, for fun, to see if we can get a better shot. Although he looks deformed, this one sure does capture Luke's personality. Too excited and passionate to contain himself.


It is hard to get a toddler to stay in one position for a photo. He wanted to practice jumping.


Ah! He's still! (And my, what a pose.)


And with parsley on our nose from chicken-noodle soup, we bid you farewell.