People always say, "Your life completely changes when you have kids." They throw it out there like they are warning you about the impending Armaggedon. But I've been a mother for over a year now, and I have to say, I still don't quite understand why some people believe that life becomes completely unrecognizable once you have children.
Don't get me wrong, there have certainly been some changes around here. Since Cadence arrived, Steven and I have not had one of our overnight TV series marathons, watching an entire season of a show in one sitting, with only short bathroom and snack breaks between episodes. We came close this Christmas when we started watching Rescue Me on Netflix, and managed to finish five seasons between Christmas and Steven starting his new job on January 3, and we only managed that because all three of us were sick with the stomach flu and didn't feel much like moving off the couch.
We've also found that mealtimes are a lot more fun when there is toddler around. That's not to say that Steven and I don't enjoy each other's company. Almost every meal we've ever eaten together has been fun. We talk and laugh and joke around, and we have never once run out of things to say. But, there is nothing that can compare to to mayhem that ensues when you share a meal with a child.
Tonight, for instance, we sat down to eat dinner and watch a little TV. Steven and I were finishing up the leftover Sloppy Joes, and Cadence was having some whole wheat macaroni with spaghetti sauce, some cubes of Colby Jack cheese, and blueberries. Cadence is an absolute blueberry fiend, so that I usually try to hide them from her until she has eaten some of the other items on her tray. She worked her way through most of the macaroni and cheese before spying the blueberries. Her eyes widened in surpise and she pointed at the plate.
I spooned a dozen or so onto her tray, and laughed as she inhaled them with the speed and efficiency only rivaled by a Shop Vac, or perhaps by our food-mongering dog.
"More more more," Cadence insisted, pointing to the plate, her mouth and chin already covered in purple juice.
For the next 30 minutes, Cadence happily worked her way through two entire plates full of blueberries. Steven and I sat watching, amused by her antics. We watched Cadence sing to the bluberries, squish them between her fingers, and stuff fistfuls of them into her mouth.
She turned to make faces at her Daddy and giggled madly when he made faces back.
Finally, when Cadence threw her hands in the air and declared that she was finished eating, it was time to hit the bath and scrub away the layer of blueberry now covering her entire body.
I couldn't help but carry my camera along to get a few photos of Cadence in the tub, and I got a great shot of her hamming it up for the camera. Obviously she and her Daddy have been practicing their Gene Simmons Kiss impersonation.
Then, I counted "One...two...three..." and Cadence closed her eyes for the final rinse.
Today's 365 Project entry is dedicated to those little changes that take place when you have kids. Dinner and bath time will never be quite the same again.
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