Game Changer

In April of 1987, I made a visit to the doctor's office, expecting another ovarian cyst to be following on the heels of the one I had been diagnosed with a few months earlier. Instead, I found out that I was expecting my first baby. We wanted a baby so much, and I walked out of that doctor's office, sat in my car and sobbed with joy. I went to the store, purchased a pair of baby booties, and gave then to my husband that afternoon. We were ecstatic. Both sets of parents were equally joyful.

In December of 1987, we welcomed our first child, a 10 lb 1 oz baby boy, into the world. We had chosen his name before we even married 3 1/2 years earlier. Michael Andrew. I was in heaven. Over the next 19 years, more children would follow. 9 more, to be exact. I was expecting our youngest when that first baby boy was graduating from high school.

It's been quite a ride over the years. I have been actively mothering for over 25 years. And for 17 of those years, I have also been homeschooling my large and growing clan. I have loved every single minute.

But every mother will tell you it isn't fun and games all the time. There are character issues, discipline issues, sibling issues. You have to deal with bedtime, food choices, disobedience, crying, schoolwork, etc.

It's funny, but in 2012, something really big happened to me. It came in the form of something really small, but changed my life dramatically.

I became a grandmother.

I have brought 10 babies home from the hospital over the years. I have put in thousands of hours of  labor, rocking, feeding, changing diapers, singing, and soothing. But I have also put in thousands of hours of disciplining, reminding, teaching, correcting, reminding again and again and again.

Now I am wearing a new hat. I have been given a new title: MayMay. And let me tell you, it has been a game changer for me.
I am still rocking, feeding, changing diapers, singing, and soothing. I am still teaching and training, and encouraging a little one not to touch the Christmas tree, and not to pull my hair. I am still holding on as a little guy pulls himself up to the coffee table.    But my, how things have changed.

I am not up in the middle of the night with this little guy. I don't spend all day, every day, with him. I don't have to give him his very first swat on the rear. I don't have to teach him to read. I don't have to remind him over and over to brush his teeth. I get the good parts.

Being MayMay is like being a Mom without the stress. I can just love on sweet little Zeke as much as I want!! And his Mommy is so, so sweet about sharing him!! I told her early on, "Let me know if I take him too much. Seriously, just say, "I want to hold him", and I'll give him back."

But like any new Mom, she is glad for the break. I keep him every chance I get. I may or may not actually suggest to my son that he plan things to do so Zeke can stay here.



2 days old
 

2012 was a very difficult year for me in many ways. I will be sharing about some of that soon. But the highlight of the year, the one thing that helped pull me through, was sweet baby Zeke. He was definitely a game changer for me.

4 days old



4 months old, in MayMay's arms at a birthday party



8 months old, New Years Day 2013

8 months old

8 months old, outside with his Aunt Jessie and Aunt Lauren

8 months old, and posing for pictures. Look at those teeth!!

Watching Daddy fly a remote controlled helicopter, in MayMay's lap. As usual.



8 months old, at the zoo to see the Christmas lights.