I know this has happened to all mamas of potty-trained kids one time or another.

You ask your child, “Before we start, do you need to go to the bathroom?”

Child: “No!”

Mom (suspiciously): “Are you SUURRRRRE?”

Child: “Mom, I told you already. I don’t need to go!”

Mom: “Okay then.”

Then you go wherever you’re going… and it’s surely some place without a nearby restroom. And then your child says:

“Mommmm, I’ve gotta poop REALLLLYYYYY BAAADDDDD.”

You Know Where I’m Going with This

Yep, that’s what happened earlier this week when Fadra (from All Things Fadra) and I went hiking. It was an impromptu playdate. We both needed out of the house and so we grabbed some sandwiches, had a picnic and set off on a little hike by a lake.

I was pretty stoked because I got to wear my Kelty pack… something Daddy Roo usually gets the “honor” of. Little Roo tried to climb in it pretty much as soon as I pulled it out of the car.

The walk to this part of the lake was pretty uneventful. Little Roo pointed at stuff and babbled mostly nonsense (except “airplanneeee!”). The older guys looked for the white dots to mark the trail and talked about leaves.

The perfect afternoon hike.Until Big Roo utters his “I’ve gotta poop really bad and I can’t hold it” speech.

We were about 15 minutes from the restrooms, which were near our cars.

Oh boy. We’d better get going.

Big Roo was on a mission. He didn’t have time to enjoy the hike and I didn’t have time to chat with Fadra. By this time, Little Roo (and my lower back) were done with the carrier so he was walking. And we all know how slow toddlers can walk. Plus that kid was in full-on exploration mode.

So, Big Roo and I turned our leisurely hike into a hiking sprint while Fadra walked with Little Roo and her son Evan (who’s camouflaged somewhere in this picture). At least they enjoyed the hike back.

Big Roo and I made it without incident (but with lots of “I can’t hold it” and the serious contemplating of pooping outside- hey, I had baby wipes, just no trowel)!

When the rest of the crew got back, Little Roo was happily waving a tree branch. Fun stuff!

Then the kids got to be the subject of iPhone-picture-taking mamas. Aren’t they cutesies?

Guess what Little Roo is pointing at? Fadra’s iPhone case, which has pictures of what LOOKS like are cookies.

And finally, my two boys, with nary a bodily function to hinder them from enjoying the beautiful day.

Have you ever been stuck somewhere with a kid who “HAS TO GO POOP RIGHT NOW” and not a bathroom in sight?

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I haven’t dressed up in years.

But since Big Roo insisted on being Mario this year, I thought we’d go all out and dress up as a family (although we almost didn’t). Presenting Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad…

The reason we almost didn’t all dress up is because I didn’t think Daddy Roo and I could find the stuff to pull ours off. We decided we’d go to ONE Goodwill and see what we could dig up. Score! I found a pink dress and a sleeveless t-shirt to make Little Roo’s vest. Daddy Roo couldn’t find any overalls (who really wants men’s overalls anyway) so we ended up buying his. Aren’t they a cute match?

The day of our Halloween parade Little Roo did NOT want to wear his shower-cap-turned-mushroom hat. But on Halloween he was totally down with it.

And I made the little blue medallion from chipboard, paint and Diamond Glaze. The wig and gloves came from Target. I tell ya what, the “Glamour Girl” wig kept me warm outside.

My little Toad and Mario…

I’ve been a sucky gardener for a long, long time. If I looked at a plant the wrong way, it’d die.

Despite this, I’ve been determined to start a vegetable garden for a couple of years now but never determined ENOUGH I guess.

Until now.

I wouldn’t call it a full-fledged “garden” but a friend gave us some plants a few months ago and it was just the push we needed.

We planted tomatoes (three varieties), two pepper plants (jalapeno and banana peppers) and two eggplants (two varieties).

And guess what?

I actually grew something, dog gone it.

Behold, my first tomato.

Big Roo got to pick that one. He was SO psyched (and yes he’s wearing his pajamas, thankyouverymuch).

Little Roo put himself in charge of the peppers. He’d been trying to pick them for weeks so I let him have a go at it.

Total? One tomato, one jalapeno and one banana pepper. (We also have another jalapenos and two more tomatoes growing.)

It may not be anything like the bounty The Barefoot Contessa gets from her garden. But for this girl, who’s thumb was once pitch black, I’ll take it.

Capture the Everyday is about getting you to capture those everyday moments in your life! Each Thursday, I’ll issue a simple challenge to capture something that’s a part of your daily life. You can post just a picture or add some words to go along with it. You’ll have a week to get it done and then I’ll issue another. It’s a quick, easy way to start capturing those little parts of life we sometimes take for granted.

This Week’s Assignment:

Celebrating Freedom

This past weekend, we headed to the lake with some friends. It was my first time on a boat in years and the kid’s first time period. As we cruised around the lake, I couldn’t help but think of all the things we take for granted. How fortunate we were to have the wind whipping through our hair. To eat sandwiches and chips and snacks to our heart’s content. It may look like a typical day at the lake but it symbolized more. It means we are free.

Okay it WAS lake water but my Photoshopping skills have made it look gross…

Big Roo said that Little Roo looked like a potato in his life jacket. Hehe.

Next Assignment: Place where things pile up

Your turn!

If you want to participate, just a few things to note:

- Grab the badge (code is in column to the right):

- Feel free to write about what you captured. A funny story about it. A history on it. How you’ll remember it. What will you want to remember about that picture 20, 30, 40 years from now?

- Just a picture and a caption are fine too.

- Don’t worry if you “aren’t a good photographer.” Consider this practice. Plus, it’s about capturing the memory, not a pretty picture.

- Visit the blogger ahead of you and as many others as you have time for.

- Leave a comment below (this notifies me through email that you linked up).

Nothing makes me feel more completely and utterly like a mother than a little pair of dangly legs.

So trusting. So vulnerable. A little body wrapped around my hips, knowing that I’m here to nurture and care for him, even if he doesn’t grasp what those words mean.

Those legs hang limp yet free. Free yet dependent. Dependent on me.

Legs belonging to a little boy scooped up when he needs me. A boy who totally trusts…

… that I’ll make sure he can rest when he’s tired.

… that I’ll protect him when he’s clinging to me from fright.

… that I’ll make him better when he’s sick.

Last week, Big Roo woke up with a croupy cough. Not just a hack but that horrendous seal-bark sound they call stridor. He was screaming, scared not only by his sore throat but by his shortness of breath. I’ve dealt with croup before so I quickly carried him into the bathroom, turned on the hot shower and waited for the steam to work its magic.

I held him, pacing in a small patch of floor so we could stay close to the shower.

He screamed.

I soothed.

I swayed as he clung to me, those legs hanging in pure surrender.

I held him even when my arms started to burn. That’s what a mother does. Luckily, my hips rarely fail me. I think a mother’s hips were made to carry our children this way. To carry their burdens as our own. To fiercely pull them to our chest when they’re being threatened. To provide them with a sense of security no matter what. To LOVE them.

I’m used to Little Roo being wrapped around my waist. I love every second of it because I know when he gets Big Roo’s age those moments come less often.

Yet there we were. Even though Big Roo is a tough, independent four-year-old, that night I realized how much he needed me. And how much affection I could give him just from letting those legs dangle.

I can’t help but think of my favorite line from a Dave Matthews Song:

“Would you not like to be…
Sitting on top of the world with your legs hanging free?”

Those little souls. I’m their world at this age. Daddy Roo and me.

I know it won’t always be like this.

But I’ll hold those little bodies as long as they’ll let me. And let those legs dangle.

Capture the Everyday is about getting you to capture those everyday moments in your life! Each Thursday, I’ll issue a simple challenge to capture something that’s a part of your daily life. You can post just a picture or add some words to go along with it. You’ll have a week to get it done and then I’ll issue another. It’s a quick, easy way to start capturing those little parts of life we sometimes take for granted.

This Week’s Assignment:

Fun with Water

I’ve got one for ya inside and one out.

Here’s Big Roo at one of his swim lessons. Look at how proud he is. I’m so glad he’s getting more comfortable in the water. He’ll be a fish before the end of the summer.

Little Roo will be sticking to drinking water for now. Although he’s a little bit nonconformist.

He does love the pool though. Tries to run straight into the deep end. Good thing I’m speedy too.

Next Week’s Assignment: Getting dirty (come on. get your mind out of the gutter.)

Your turn!

If you want to participate, just a few things to note:

- Grab the badge (code is in column to the right):

- Feel free to write about what you captured. A funny story about it. A history on it. How you’ll remember it. What will you want to remember about that picture 20, 30, 40 years from now?

- Just a picture and a caption are fine too.

- Don’t worry if you “aren’t a good photographer.” Consider this practice. Plus, it’s about capturing the memory, not a pretty picture.

- Visit the blogger ahead of you and as many others as you have time for.

- Leave a comment below (this notifies me through email that you linked up).

For a few months now, something’s been on my mind.

Gratuitous shot of stinkin' cute lunchboxes

Here I was. A full-time working mama, turned part-time working mama, turned laid off and freelancing.

I’m now working with clients on marketing and social media while pouring over Momcomm to turn it into something even bigger.

Needless to say, I’m exhausted. But? I haven’t felt this energized about my work in years.

The great childcare shuffle

Since I got laid off, I’ve been dealing with childcare arrangements a week at a time. Big Roo was staying at his daycare two full days a week and Little Roo was going to his old caregiver’s house when I needed the extra help. But money is tight so I kept him home as much as possible and worked during naps and after the kids went to bed.

What’s been on my mind? Them going to the same school. A preschool which runs in the morning hours. I know many moms are used to the preschool scene, whether they work or stay at home. For me, I needed a solution that not many places offered: daily morning care for a four year old AND a toddler.

Let me tell you how insanely frustrating that is to find. Four year old? Easy peasy. Toddler? Two days a week is the norm. As a working mom, that doesn’t fly. How can I work during the day when I have a total of about six hours to myself? I hate to say it, but I felt shunned. I became the mama who doesn’t fit anywhere.

Getting shunned… but not for long

Daycares don’t offer part-time care for toddlers around here and preschools only offer two days/week. As I searched for a place to care for them, it became apparent that you’re either supposed to work full-time or you’re supposed to stay at home. It made me feel guilty that I was going to leave my toddler for four or five mornings a week. If no one offers that option, it must mean few people do it.

I equated few people doing it with “no one does it because it’s just not right.” Silent judgment… not by someone’s actions but rather by the lack of offering something suitable for moms like me. Moms somewhere in the middle. After wallowing around in that for a few weeks, I shouted (in my head, but it was still loud): screw that!

I’m working hard as hell to help support this family of mine. I’m working until midnight every night writing blog posts, preparing consulting proposals and doing freelance work.

You may say blogging should fall to the wayside in a time like this but let me tell you: blogging is bringing me some of the best opportunities I’ve gotten. It’s the new resume.

I do all this because I want to work and stay at home. Yes, I want them both.

Luckily for me, I hit the jackpot. I found a preschool that offers EXACTLY what I’m looking for… a mile from my house! The teachers are friendly, they put a focus on learning yet know how to have fun and they didn’t cost a fortune. Triple score!

So a few months ago I eagerly wrote a check for my deposit, then notified Big Roo’s daycare that he’ll be leaving at the end of May (don’t get me wrong—that was TOUGH for me since he’d been there since he was 20 months old).

And then I waited for June to come. And by waiting I mean that part where I work tirelessly when the kids sleep and take care of them when they’re awake. I only survived on caffeine and snuggles.

The first day of preschool

On Monday, they saddled up for Big Roo’s first day at a new school and Little Roo’s first day at any sorta school.

When we got there Big Roo muttered, “I don’t want to go to my new school. I wanna go back to my old school.” This is even after asking me EVERY DAY for the past two weeks when he could go to his new school.

I started feeling guilty… but then he got excited again and gave me that super ecstatic grin of this. *wipes sweat from my brow*

Little Roo didn’t have a clue what was going on. But he was chill.

It didn't hurt that they had a Star Wars book.

When we got inside, I walked Big Roo to his room first at his request. His teacher is our neighbor so that was a big bonus. He walked in with Burt under his arm. Then in about three seconds flat he loosened his grip on my hand and sat down on the ABC carpet to make friends.

I had to call him back over to give me a hug. He gave me his infamous crazy hug where he feverishly jumps up and down while hugging my waist. Dang, that kid was excited.

Little Roo’s excitement built too. In fact, I struggled to keep him in my arms in Big Roo’s room. Too much to explore and he wanted to go on an expedition!

I said goodbye and walked down to Little Roo’s room. Um yeah, now I was getting a lump in my throat. Are all those other places right? Is four days too much for this little guy? This was all new beans for my little man. Other than the church nursery, he’d never stepped foot in a classroom before.

Would he cry? Would he cling to me? Would they have to call me later to come get him?

Not exactly.

See? The kid won't even look my way.

He squirmed out of my arms before I could even get the gate to the doorway open. He toddled over to play with some chunky wooden puzzles and didn’t give me a second glance.

For the second time that day, I had to initiate the goodbye.

Reassurance… and empowerment

Nothing reassures a mama more than seeing her kids happy when you leave them. I know it won’t be like this every day but I needed that moment.

I needed to know they will do just fine.

I needed to know that I CAN be a working mama that has the afternoon with her kids.

I needed to know that I am not selfish for working. For one, it’s either this or go back full-time (we’re not rolling in money, people). For another, I want what both the working and the motherhood worlds have to offer.

For right now, I get them both in full force. We’re only two days in but I can feel the goodness coming from it for all of us.

And I’m incredibly grateful.

What happens when you combine those three things?

Disaster, pretty much. Except this story has a (mostly) happy ending.

My white iPhone 3GS is attached to my hip most of the time. We don’t have a land line any more so it’s the only way for someone to get in touch. When I’m at home, I typically keep it in my pocket or on a table nearby so I can hear it ring. And I MAY or MAY NOT tweet from it some throughout the day.

Anyway, last Wednesday the kids were home with me. Big Roo’s trouble-making antics were in full swing. The kid can’t seem to leave his little bro alone. It wasn’t even 9 am and he’d already been in time out once or twice.

We all wandered into the kitchen to watch the yellow finches devour the food in our bird feeder. It’s a daily source of amusement for them (and me too). Right below that window is our dog Trajan’s water bowl.

You can see where I’m going with this.

The next 30 seconds went something like this…

Big Roo grabs Little Roo’s head and pushes it into the window. It wasn’t hard by any means but enough to tick me off.

I pick him up and carry him upstairs for a time out (too fed up with the antics already that morning so I carried him… that way I didn’t have to argue with him to get upstairs).

I pretty much carried him up, sat him in his room and ran downstairs. 15 seconds for that, tops.

I came back to a sight that made me gasp aloud.

Little Roo. iPhone in hand. In front of the water bowl.

Dipping my beloved iPhone in the dog’s water.

Again.

And again.

I scrambled over there and snatched it from his hand. Poor dude didn’t have a clue what he just did. It was just like his water table… but more fun!

I tried to salvage it by sitting it in rice to pull out the water but I knew it was a goner. That phone actually had its problems before this. In fact, it wasn’t exactly sealed all the way around since my hubby had to replace the battery and pretty much move the entire insides around to do it.

I knew the phone was toast.

I called the hubby from Skype to tell him what happened and we talked strategy for saving it.

Luckily for me, it would turn on but you couldn’t see the screen. So I synced one last time.

After some discussion, we decided to suck it up and get me a new, shiny iPhone 4. A white one, at that.

That night after work, before we could talk ourselves out of a cheaper option, we headed out to the AT&T store.

So, here’s my old phone:

Daddy Roo took it apart that night and literally had to wipe off the water that was inside. It was pretty soaked.

And here’s my new shiny one (but a sucky picture, I admit):

And this post wouldn’t be complete without the offender, Little Roo (who also happens to be a peach stealer too as you can see):

I got a new shiny white iPhone out of it so I guess it wasn’t half bad. We even got a free Microcell at boost our signal at home. It’s just the money spent that stings. Even then, we were at the end of the contract so it was close to upgrade time anyway.

I guess you could say it was a mostly happy ending after all.

I honestly don’t know if this is supposed to be a serious post or a funny one.

Some days I’m completely overwhelmed by the insane amount of close calls these kids have. You know, the times that if your child was just one inch closer, he would have slammed his head into the corner of the wall. Or the times when you go to grab your toddler a tissue and return to him bouncing up and down on the couch in front of a hard, hard coffee table.

No, this wasn't recent. But it WAS a case of being "one inch closer" to the corner of a wall. A few stitches on a beach trip but could have been worse.

I’m by no means a helicopter mom. I don’t run to coddle my kids over every little boo boo. I encourage independence and let them figure things out when it’s appropriate. And I know they’ll get hurt.

But dang, it seems like every few seconds I’m saving one kid or the other (or BOTH!) from impending disaster.

What frightens me is that all it takes is one second for a fun afternoon to turn into a trip to the ER. Or one misplaced step to a big fall. Or one inch closer to a broken bone.

I remember when Little Roo was a few months old, I was picking Big Roo up from daycare. As we were coming out of the school, a friend was coming in and stopped to hold the door open for us since I had an infant carrier in my hand. I barely uttered a “hello” before Big Roo darted up the sidewalk and towards the street. A busy street.

I was about to chase after him while holding the infant carrier but he was too quick. So I sat a clueless Little Roo on the sidewalk and started speed-walking towards Big Roo as I firmly asked him to come back. With a giggle, his kiddy run became a kiddy sprint. So I bolted, catching him before he ran into the driveway that leads down to the school.

Whew, that was close.

And those “that was close” moments continue everyday…

… when I walk over to pick up a toy and turn around to see 14-month-old Little Roo standing on the coffee table (he doesn’t know how to get down yet).

… when Big Roo spontaneously jumps off his bed and narrowly misses the chair.

… when Little Roo falls JUST FROM WALKING and lands a millimeter away from the door frame.

… when Big Roo grabs Little Roo from behind, squeezes him and then just lets go as Little Roo falls back like someone doing one of those team building exercises. Luckily I manage to catch him before he hits our hardwood floors.

… and on and on and on.

When I look back on MY childhood, I remember the times we got hurt. I never broke a bone but I do have a four-inch scar on my right leg from a fall that happened when I was ten. It makes me wonder how many times my parents saved us from those near misses.

Now I look back at most of my childhood “I-got-hurt” stories and tell them with a smile and sometimes even a chuckle. Because they were mostly minor things that were just part of growing up.

It’s almost comical how many times those near misses happen.

For now, I’m just gonna strap on my supermom cape and continue to play rescuer to my kids. And knock on wood. And pray that they stay “near misses.” Maybe I’ll even chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Maybe.

So tell me I’m not the only one who feels this way! Please?

Motherhood is full of sweet moments. A baby’s first giggle. An big brother’s kiss to his new sibling. A preschooler’s proud face as he presents you with his scribbled artwork.

I knew Saturday evening would be a sweet moment. It was going to be the last time I nursed Little Roo. He’s 13 months and I was barely producing enough milk anyway. I was ready to let go and he seemed ready, too.

But it was the moment afterwards that warmed my soul in a way I could never describe.

When he finished, I stood up from the rocker and placed his drowsy head on my shoulder. I needed to savor this moment as long as possible. In the darkness, we swayed back and forth as I reminisced at how big he’s grown.

Then I started to cry.

Little Roo loves to babble. Even at night you’ll sometimes hear sing-song hums coming from his room. As I cried, he hummed his little “words” through his pacifier. It was like listening to an opera singer. I didn’t know what he hummed… yet I knew what it meant. He was consoling ME.

The crying continued. Tears streaked my face.

He lifted his head and looked me straight in the eyes. The darkness swelled around us as the whole world spun away. It was just us two, enjoying a tender moment.

And then…

With a soothing hum, he raised his finger to my eye and ever-so-gently touched my damp eyelashes.

He knew.

Even in the darkness, this beautiful little boy knew my sadness. He knew exactly what his melodic hums meant. He knew just by my muffled sobs that I tears filled my eyes. He knew his momma cried for a part of his infancy that we’d never share again.

Instantly we connected in a way that rattled my core. How can this little soul know so much about complex human emotions?

My little boy consoled me and it set him at peace. As he drifted off to sleep, I gently floated him down to his crib.

And smiled at the pure moment we just shared between mother and son, untainted by words.