Rhia's Blog: Almost Two? WHAT?!?!? and...Happy Mother's Day.

So, it's May. Rhia will be two years old in about three weeks. I'm not sure I can even wrap my brain around that. I'm not sure I can even begin to comprehend that it's been close to three years since I found out that I was pregnant with her. Where the heck does time go? Al and I will have been married for five years this summer, together for almost ten, Rhia is almost two, and I'm still not completely sure how this has happened. I mean, I know how this has all happened, of course, but you get my point. Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana and all of that.

Anyways. Happy Mother's Day out there to all of the moms who read this blog religiously (ha!), I hope it was an amazingly lovely day. I've been thinking a lot about being a mom lately (I mean, more than usual), for a variety of reasons (a few of my friends are having their first babies/having second (gasp!) babies, Rhia is getting bigger and more independent, and completely separately, has also been up a lot at night, therefore I spent a lot of time awake in the middle of the night on the couch with a frightened near-two-year-old-who-keeps-having-bad-dreams, therefore I have way too much time to think. But one can do a lot of thinking between one and four a.m., so that's what I've done. So, some thoughts--but, be warned, they are generally pretty sleep deprived thoughts.

Being a mom is exhausting. It's a 24 hour a day, unpaid, tiring, neverending shift. Even if I'm at work, my phone is on in case something happens to Rhia at daycare. If I'm not diligently assessing MAPs scores, Reading data, and (gods forbid) teaching, I'm worrying about that kid that bit her and whether or not she's going to suffer lasting psychological damage. I'm one of the first people to leave work in the afternoon, despite this making me feel like a horrible teacher, because I can't stand being away from her for longer than I have to, so I take work home with me, and try to get it done between her bedtime and mine (there's not a huge difference there during the week, either). I no longer use the restroom alone. I walk with a limp, not because of an injury, but because my daughter is so distraught over me leaving her on a daily basis for work to support her, that when I'm home she does that thing kids do where they wrap themselves around your leg and won't let go. I'm constantly lugging an extra 28 pounds around on my ankle (and I thought getting rid of the babyweight on my hips was rough). I know all of the songs on "Dora the Explorer," and if I have that freaking "backpack" song stuck in my head again tomorrow during state test prep, I may lose my mind. I don't go out to dinner, and if I do, my purse is full of stickers, crayons, and cheerios. I can't carry on a full-length conversation without interruptions of "Don't jump off the chair!" or "No, we don't lick the tables in strange places." A lot of my friends just don't get it. Because of this, I don't see a lot of them anymore. A lot of my friends do, and I love them unconditionally for it.

But being a mom is amazing. When I walk in the door after work, she runs up and wraps her little arms around my neck, and it's the most incredible feeling. She's brilliant, kind, and sweet. She can count to five in Russian (and thirteen in English), tells me all about her day, and always says "please" and "thank you." She says "I love you, Mommy." before she goes to bed, and can sing me a few of the songs I've been singing her at bedtime since she was born. She watches the Mariners with me every night, something her and I did while I was still pregnant with her and Al was gone nightly working on his Master's Thesis. Except now she can chant "Ichiro" and give me five. She even says "oh, man!" when they strike out. She "reads." She runs, jumps, plays, and never ceases to amaze me. I grew her from almost nothing, and that may be the most empowering feeling. Ever. She is my baby. I protect her from the scary things at night, sneak her chocolate when her daddy isn't looking (shh), and look forward to all of the mother/daughter experiences (both good and bad) that we will share in the future. It's heartbreaking and exhausting and never easy, but it's something that I wouldn't trade for the world. She is amazing.

So anyways. We've been crazy busy. Al is teaching two sections of History for Central, and is back and forth between here and Ellensburg quite a bit, I've been working nonstop and gearing up for the big state tests, and Rhia has been doing all sorts of amazing and smarty-pants things. Everything is "mommy and baby" now (actual mommies/babies, small/big flowers, animals, etc.), counting, helping me plant flowers, attempting to ride her tricycle, talking on the phone, climbing out of the small-child containers (cribs, etc.) that are supposed to contain her, and generally growing up. Her vocabulary has gone nuts, she's really excited to see Grandma Julie and Grandpa Mark for her birthday, and she loved visiting Uncle JJ in New Orleans over spring break.

So, some pictures, since I haven't posted them in awhile. Sort of hodge-podged, but, cute, regardless. Enjoy.