This will not last forever.

As I just sat down in silence, well white noise really, for the first time today and nursed Joseph in his room, the first thing that came to my mind was that I forgot to have that tea party. She kept asking me and I said we would once I cleared off the table. Well, the table didn't get cleared off until nap time and then when she woke up, I was already preparing for dinner. I should have had that darn tea party...such a simple request. Looks like tomorrow morning will be a breakfast tea party. Mom guilt. I'll slip a positive in and say I did let her stay up after I put Joseph to bed and we played a game of CandyLand.

This will not last forever. That is my new favorite thing to keep in mind. As in, there will be a day when these children will not be as demanding...and that will be the day I miss it.

I put Joseph to bed at 7:45pm. He just woke up to nurse at 11pm. He slept longer before needing to nurse when he was a newborn. This will not last forever. There will be a day I will be wishing for these late night cuddles back.

Madeline has been extra dramatic and whiny lately...whining is like nails on a chalkboard for me. This will not last forever. There will be a day that I am wishing to hear that little squeaky voice again, whining or not.

Joshua tends to tell me EVERY single detail of his Madden season on Playstation. This will not last forever. There will be a day that I am wishing to have a conversation as innocent as a video game.

Usually around 4-6pm every single day, you know, the exact time that dinner preparation begins, is when Joseph does not want to be put down. It's so crazy because he will play on the floor the entire day, but the second he knows I'm starting to do something he'd like to be on me...I am wearing him on my back most nights I cook dinner or anything else between those hours actually. This will not last forever. There will be a day that he tells me to put him down and let him play by himself.

Now that her baby brother is mobile and able to get to me while we are playing with her, Madeline has started competing and making sure we are paying attention to her instead of Joseph...it makes play time a little tense. This will not last forever. There will be a day that she wishes we would leave her alone and go talk to her brother.

Oh man, teenage attitude and drama is the worst. It has me wondering if I will survive these years and what in the hell I was thinking having more children that will one day become this beast called a teenager. Josh works all aspects of it too...tone of voice, body language, overall annoyance with absolutely anything we ask him to do. Maybe fortunately, this will not last forever. But, I know for a fact there will be a day I wish I could have this goofy teenager back.

Being a parent is rewarding...and exhausting. Seriously. Mentally draining at times. Teenagers, toddlers, infants, there is no easy childhood stage to parent either...they all come with their own complications. But, they also come with their own beautiful memories. I look forward to every single day with my children because this will not last forever. Childhood goes by so fast...I am able to see that first hand with Joshua, not a day goes by that I don't wish I could make him a little guy again. Cherish it because children truly make life a blessing.

Time for bed. I have a tea party to prepare in the morning.

So thrilled to play CandyLand.

There are days like this.haha.

Those eyes.