A horrific trip to the grocery store...

Wow - I can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted anything. Hmmm...

We had a horrific trip to the grocery store last night. Possibly the most humiliating of my life. Embarrassing to say the least. Let's just say that I ended up with both kids IN the cart and all of my groceries precariously balanced UNDER the cart, a prayer of thanks that I only need "a few" things, and a sincere thought of parking my cart and running away.

In light of that event, I have decided to write a post extolling all (okay some) of the wonderful things about my kids. After all - what better way to remember that they're not always like that than to list all of the things that you love about them?!

So I love the impish look Colby gives me when he can't decide if my tone means I'm really upset with him or if I'm "just joking" him. And I also love the tight little O that he forms with his mouth as his eyebrows go up every time he is taken by surprise by something. I love that when I go upstairs to bed and get him up to go potty, he clings to me like a little monkey in his sleepy state and immediately tangles one hand into my hair and rubs my neck with the other. And I even love that when I tell him that I love him he often says "kanks, mom" instead of "I love you." I love to kiss him behind his ears - it's my special spot and I adore his tiny little nose. His hysterical laugh when he's tired and being tickled warms me to the very bottom of my heart. I love that boy from top to bottom, warts and all.

I love the gleam in Kailin's eye when she is truly excited beyond belief about something or when she learns something new. I love watching her be tender with her brother - especially when he is upset. She's going to be a good mom someday. I love the way her hair falls when we put a simple clip in it off to the side. I love it when she tells me she wants to "snuggle wif me" because it doesn't happen all that often. I love her big, wide feet. I hate buying shoes to fit them, but I love the feet. I love her creative methods she uses to justify why she should get to have more sugar (chocolate in particular) - "No, jellybeans isn't candy, that was SNACK!" I love that she's so passionate about things in her life even if it means that right now my mantra has to be "it will serve her well LATER" - her passion tells me that her early months didn't change her ability to feel. I love her throaty, raspy, uncontrollable laugh. It's usually when she's tired, but sometimes she surprises me - in any case it is one of my most favorite sounds in the world. She's coming into her own now with feelings and expressions and there is nothing more wonderful in my world than when she spontaneously says, "Mom? I just love you!" I love her more than I thought I could love another being on this earth. She is my precious daughter and my life would not be whole without her in it.

I'm going to try to draw on these things the next time I'm in the grocery store wondering if I possibly look like the WORST mother in the world with the most UNCONTROLLABLE, DISOBEDIENT children in the world.