Cramming It In

For the past 9 months, I've either been super sick, super busy, or it's been super hot. Usually, a combination of the three. And thus, not up for much in the fun department. And now that I'm down to 1 week until this baby is born, I'm feeling super guilty (surprise, surprise!) that my poor kids have had a really lame time of it lately. I didn't take them to the pool or the park hardly at all this summer. I've been too tired for "fun" outings. In fact, I haven't done much more than drag them along with me to Target and the grocery store. And now I'm realizing that in one week, we're going to be sidelined at home for a while with a new baby! So I've been feeling the urgency to get out and do some fun things with them...hence the trip to Six Flags and the pumpkin patch in the past week, I suppose.

So today I met up with a friend at Hoppin' House for a little bounce house fun. And I tried to let go of my inner control freak. The one that says "It's noon, we have to leave. It's time to eat lunch." The one that seems to think that the world will end if we're not home at 1:30 for Mason's nap. The one that is constantly pulling my kids out of their fun so that we can move along to what's next. And we stayed...and stayed. And they played and played. And had so much fun. Eventually, my friend ran out and got us all lunch...but that was after 1pm, waaaay after our designated lunch time. And guess what? They didn't starve. In fact, they didn't eat any better than they usually do (unfortunately). And then they played some more. And I didn't try to hurry them out of there. I just let them play. And eventually, to my surprise, they were ready to go. 3 1/2 hours of jumping, bouncing and climbing did eventually tire them out and they left willingly...no fits, no sadness. And we got home an hour after Mason's usual nap time. So he took a later nap. And it wasn't a big deal. Geez. Why do I always make it so hard? Am I really so rigid?

I'm hoping I can let go and be a little more like that once the baby comes. I've been such a scheduler in the past. And I know that won't change completely. Scheduling is just who I am - I need it, especially with a baby. But I'm hoping I can relax a little bit more with this little guy. Enjoy him a little bit more. Not stress out about every little detail. Realize how short-lived the sleepless nights are and not stress out about them. And I'm hoping I can be a good Mama to these other 2 little people. I don't do well without my sleep. I can be more than a little on the crabby side, I'm going to lie. And a little on the weepy side. Little babies just aren't my specialty. Hopefully I can make it all work.

We shall see...7 days from now. Yikes.