When Life Gives You Chocolate // Evangeline [July 2015]

With being a mom full time, I can get pretty lack in certain things every now and then when everything starts to become overwhelming and I feel like a crazy person. When you've been cooped up in the house for practically a week straight with a toddler who gets into everything, makes a mess of everything, whines about everything, etc., etc., I think you'd go a bit crazy too. So that's why I caved and gave Eva a chocolate egg yesterday....and it wasn't in her highchair. Let's just say she was pretty good for a while as she went to town getting chocolate not only all over herself, but the floor and the blinds on our sliding door as well. But in all honesty it didn't bother me, and I was all too happy to clean up her mess because it meant she was happy. Life is so much easier for me when she is. And that's not to say mothers should just give their children whatever they want to make them "happy" or that it's all about me and making life easier. Because with a baby/toddler, life just isn't that easy. Too many times I pity myself on those bad days of Eva when all she does is make messes and want to cuddle, and bemoan the fact that I'm not accomplishing anything. But I also have to remember that these days are fleeting, and pretty soon she won't want to cuddle at all. I dread those days, so I'd better enjoy the ones at hand. 

Although these days are pretty trying because she's learning what discipline is, she still fills my life with a lot of joyful exuberance. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. At this very moment she's sitting on the couch beside me, the toothpaste and her daddy's toothbrush in hand. She's concentrating very hard as she tries to squeeze the toothpaste out onto the brush, but without any results. I have to take it away, but for the moment I'm laughing, and laughter is such great medicine.

And on a side note, while trying to take a few pictures of a succulent that I bought from a friend, Eva's little pudgy fingers kept getting in my shots, which at first I thought was exasperating, until I found this sweet image. I was immediately sorry for getting annoyed, and I'm thankful for this reminder that I just need to pause, step back, and enjoy the moment in all it's sweetness. Her baby curiosity is absolutely endearing.