"The Lightless" Chapter one

Mother's mission impossible.

                Okay so my mission is not impossible or at least the end mission that is. But it is impossible to keep the Tupperware lids off the floor and remember every door that needs to stay closed. That’s okay though because the end mission (raising a faithful child by loving and teaching her every day) is very possible. This post is a peak into my everyday life with my beautiful daughter Elizabeth and though it would be impossible to mention everything (she is very busy) I will give some highlights that happen nearly every day.

                I strive to wake at least an hour and a half before she normally wakes up so I can exercise. By the time I am finished with that (normally around 8) she wakes up ready to start the day. We have breakfast and often watch a signing time movie (something she loves), then its chase time. It seems as though she plots new ways to make messes faster so that the minute she is down and free she can wreak as much havoc as possible before nap time. I chase her around the kitchen (since my toys are much cooler than hers) picking up pots and pans and lids and containers till I can't stand it anymore. No matter how many of her toys are made available they don't hold a candle to whatever I am doing so moving to the living room so I can crochet rarely works. After a few minutes of trying to get her occupied with her own toys I usually move to practicing my voice lesson; one of my favorite things to do. Elizabeth loves this as well and even does one of my warm ups with me, we call them the nanas. I can already tell she is going to be a great singer.

                The weather here has been beautiful for the last week or so and Elizabeth LOVES going outside, or "ain", as she calls it (this baby word is derived from the word rain and translates into outside in the common speech). When possible and reasonable I will take her out of doors so we can push her stroller around (she pushes it) and sometimes play with her puppy Lewa. She could spend hours outside whether its 0 or 100 so I am frequently (If not always) taking her inside before she considers it to be time.

                Nap time (Or the sacred don't touch mommy time) is usually around one and if I am lucky will last a few hours. Elizabeth is really tough so she will almost always take a good nap even when I know she is teething.

                If her nap goes well she will wake up talking and laughing and get really excited when I come in to get her. I love getting to "rescue" her as I often get rewarded with a snuggle on the shoulder. The rest of our day is usually spent getting ready for dada to come home so we make dinner and clean the house. She will literally do a happy dance the minute Adam walks in the door and she will often scream with excitement- she loves her dad. Adam will often play with her while I finish up dinner and one of their favorite games is chase daddy. Adam will go to a corner and say "oh no!" and jump, then he will hid behind the corner and wait. Elizabeth knows this game well and will immediately start laughing. She runs to the corner and looks at Adam who proceeds to repeat his part around every corner of the house as she chases him. It's simply adorable.

                Then finally, it's time for bed. I am still nursing Elizabeth morning, noon, and night so when I say "Do you want milk? And add very quietly "its bed time" she gets very excited. She can sign milk (open and close your fist as if you were milking a cow ) so sometimes she does that when I say it. She almost always goes to bed without crying at around 9 so Adam and I have some time together.

                Well there is an abridged version of my day with Elizabeth. Each day of course is a new adventure and sometimes my patience is pushed to the limit. My strategy for those days is to step back and remind myself of the end mission, raising a daughter of God. So that even when the day to day missions seem impossible, I know without a doubt that I am doing my best to succeed in the end mission.

                This post is dedicated to Norene Harmon, a friend I have yet to meet. As always feel free to comment below and follow me. Thanks for reading! =)