Jasmine's Baptism - Cherry Blossoms

Mommy, Somebody Needs You!

Posted on February 27, 2014

by Megan Minneman Morton

Ever since we brought our new daughter home, her older brothers have been the first to tell me when she is crying, whimpering, or smelling a little suspicious.  “Somebody needs you,” they say.  I have no idea how this little saying started, but at first it sort of annoyed me.  I could be enjoying a quick shower… “Mommy, somebody needs you.  The baby is crying.”  Or, sitting down for a second, quite aware that the baby was beginning to stir from a nap…. “Mama, somebody needs you!”  Okay!  I get it already!  And not to mention that the newborn’s needs pale in comparison to the needs of 2 little boys.  Somebody always needs a snack, a band-aid, a different sock, ice cubes in their water, a NEW Paw Patrol, a stream of snot wiped, a hug, a story, a kiss.  Some days never seem to end, and the monotony of being “needed” can really take its toll. Then, it all started to hit me, they need ME.  Not anybody else.  Not a single other person in the whole world.  They need their Mommy.

The sooner I can accept that being Mommy means that I never go off the clock, the sooner I can find peace in this crazy stage of life.   That ‘Mommy’ is my duty, privilege and honor. I am ready to be there when somebody needs me, all day and all night.  Mommy means I just put the baby back down after her 4am feeding when a 3-year-old has a nightmare.  Mommy means I am surviving on coffee and toddler leftovers.  Mommy means my husband and I haven’t had a real conversation in weeks.  Mommy means I put their needs before my own, without a thought.  Mommy means that my body is full of aches and my heart is full of love.

I am sure there will come a day when no one needs me.  My babies will all be long gone and consumed with their own lives.  I may sit alone in some assisted living facility watching my body fade away.  No one will need me then.  I may even be a burden.  Sure, they will come visit, but my arms will no longer be their home.  My kisses no longer their cure.  There will be no more tiny boots to wipe the slush from or seat belts to be buckled.  I will have read my last bedtime story, 7 times in a row.  I will no longer enforce time outs.  There will be no more bags to pack and unpack or snack cups to fill.  I am sure my heart will yearn to hear those tiny voices calling out to me, “Mommy, somebody needs you!”

So for now, I find beauty in the peaceful 4am feedings in our cozy little nursery.  We are perched above the naked oak trees in our own lavender nest.  We watch the silent snow fall and a bunny scampering across its perfect white canvas.  It’s just me and my little baby, the neighborhood is dark and still.  We alone are up to watch the pale moon rise and the shadows dance along the nursery wall.  She and I are the only ones to hear the barn owl hooting in the distance.  We snuggle together under a blanket and I rock her back to sleep.  It’s 4am and I am exhausted and frustrated, but it’s okay, she needs me.  Just me.  And maybe, I need her too.  Because she makes me Mommy.  Some day she will sleep through the night.  Some day I will sit in my wheelchair, my arms empty, dreaming of those quiet nights in the nursery.  When she needed me and we were the only two people in the world.

Can I enjoy being needed?  Sometimes, sure, but often it is tiring.  Exhausting.  But, it isn’t meant to be enjoyed every moment.  It is a duty.  God made me their Mom.  It is a position I yearned for long before I would ever understand it.  Over a 3 day weekend my husband couldn’t believe how many times our boys kept saying, “Mommy.  Mommy.  Mommy”!  “Are they always like this?” he asked not able to hide his terror, and sympathy.  “Yep.  All day, everyday.  That’s my job.”  And I have to admit that it is the toughest job I have ever had.  In a previous life I was a restaurant manager for a high volume and very popular chain in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  A Saturday night at 7:30pm with the expo window overflowing with dishes, a 2 hour wait, and the electricity inexplicably going out has got nothing on a Tuesday, 5:00pm at the Morton house.  And let me tell ya, South Florida diners are some of the toughest to please.  But, they are a cake walk compared to sleep-deprived toddlers with low blood sugar.

Once upon a time, I had time.  For myself.  Now, my toe nails need some love.  My bra fits a little differently.  My curling iron might not even work anymore, I don’t know.  I can’t take a shower without an audience.  I’ve started using eye cream.  I don’t get carded any more.  My proof of motherhood.  Proof that somebody needs me.  That right now, somebody always needs me.  Like last night…

At 3am I hear the little footsteps entering my room.  I lay still, barely breathing.  Maybe he will retreat to his room.  Yeah right.

“Mommy.”

“Mommy.”  A little louder.

“Yes”.  I barely whisper.

He pauses, his giant eyes flashing in the dim light.

“I love you.”

And just like that, he is gone.  Scampered back to his room.  But, his words still hang in the cool night air.  If I could reach out and snatch them, I would grab his words and hug them to my chest.  His soft voice whispering the best sentence in the world.  I love you.  A smile curls across my lips and I slowly exhale, almost afraid to blow the memory away.  I drift back to sleep and let his words settle into my heart.

One day that little boy will be a big man.  There will no longer be any sweet words whispered to me in the wee hours.  Just the whir of the sound machine and the snoring husband.  I will sleep peacefully through the night, never a worry of a sick child or a crying baby.  It will be but a memory.  These years of being needed are exhausting, yet fleeting.  I have to stop dreaming of “one day” when things will be easier.  Because, the truth is, it may get easier, but it will never be better than today.  Today, when I am covered in toddler snot and spit up.  Today, when I savor those chubby little arms around my neck.  Today is perfect.  “One day” I will get pedicures and showers alone.  “One day” I will get myself back.  But, today I give myself away, and I am tired, and dirty and loved SO much, and I gotta go.  Somebody needs me.

Showering Sweet Baby with Love

I'm going to be an auntie in just a few weeks!!!  I've been waiting for this day for a while but always knew it would come -  my sister's going to be an amazing mother!  With that said, this event is a special one that was planned straight from the heart.  It was a combined effort from both sides of the family and was a success!  My sister and my brother-in-law have so many good people who surround them and wish them well.  Here are a few photos from their baby shower.  Praying for a healthy, happy and safe delivery.  Nerd, I know your lifelong dream is to have a chubby baby so I hope the universe heard you.  I can't wait to meet my niece, Madelyn...I'm gonna smother her with hugs and kisses!

MCB xo

I

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UNIQUE WAYS TO CELEBRATE SAYING "I DO"

10 Outrageous wedding receptions

by Jessica Padykula

If you’re stumped on what direction you want to take your upcoming wedding reception or ceremony, take inspiration from some of the most outrageous ones we've seen in a while.

We asked event planner Preston Bailey to share some of his most unique, totally out-of-the-box receptions.

1

Ceremony at twilight

If you're having an evening reception at home or in an outdoor space, take inspiration from this ultra-sparkly setting. Here, the backyard of a home in Carmel, California, is transformed into an enchanted ceremony garden, and the result is pure romance.

2

Donald Trump's wedding

Would you expect anything less from Donald Trump's wedding? Opulence is the name of the game here and the setting for his reception is nothing short of gorgeous. Candelabras encrusted with white hydrangeas, roses and wisterias add an elegant touch to the wedding of Donald and Melania Trump at the Mar-a-Lago club.

3

Green bridal suite

By hanging ribbons from the ceiling and adorning the walls with floral screens, Bailey was able to create a dramatic setting with an almost ethereal quality. Who wouldn't want to get ready for their big day in a space like this one?

4

Raising the bar

Bailey totally transformed an empty hotel ballroom in Jakarta, Indonesia, when he created a stunning golden floral tree accented by hanging crystals. The awe-inspiring piece of decor was used as a centerpiece for the bar area. We'll drink to that.

5

Starry night at the Waldorf Astoria

Too cold out for a fresh air wedding? Feel like you're celebrating under the stars no matter where you are or the season with a reception that recreates the feeling of a clear night. LED lights in the ceiling were used to create an intimate and star-filled wonderland at the iconic New York City landmark.

6

A bit of whimsy

A life-sized floral carousel in Java, Indonesia, adds a pretty yet playful effect to this celebration. The gorgeous piece makes a dramatic statement for wedding guests to enjoy the after party and creates an eye-catching anchor for the reception space.

7

A grand greeting

This wedding reception gets a luxe look like no other when a vintage bird bath is adorned with flowers. The unique addition to the wedding is not only an escort card table, but something that also serves as a statement piece.

8

Sophistication in the South of France

A wedding in a romantic locale like the charming, elegant South of France needs to look the part — and this one does. Hanging crystal chandeliers, classic white tables, tall green hedges, topiary centerpieces and cherry blossoms create a look that's chic, classic and oh-so-sophisticated.

9

A fairy tale effect

Romance should take center stage when it comes to weddings and there's no better way to create a romantic look than with flowers. This ceremony in Puerto Rico was designed by hanging wisteria from the ceiling and using roses as aisle markers. A pretty floral gazebo was also displayed to greet the bride and groom.

10

Winter wonderland ceremony

A winter setting can be just as romantic — if not more so — than a summer one. In this over-the-top but truly stunning wedding, oversized branches and blue lighting were used to create a Russian-inspired winter ceremony for Melissa Rivers.

http://www.sheknows.com/love-and-sex/articles/1017611/10-outrageous-wedding-receptions