April 14, 2010

The window sill is the place to be.

If you had approached me on my wedding day, placed a hand on my little nineteen-year-old shoulder and said, "Serene, in five years time, you will have four small kids, a constantly messy house, and forget your obsession with organization, 'cause it just ain't gonna happen. So just let it go now... just let it go." I probably would have poked you in the eye with my tiara and whacked you over the head with my bouquet.

Then you would have been so mad you would have yelled, "Oh ya! Not long before your seventh anniversary you'll bake 15 loaves of bread in a single day! So HA!"

Then I would have had to chase you out of the reception with my big platform shoe. I had found them in the garage since I had completely forgotten to buy wedding shoes.

I probably should have thrown one at my brother when he quite unexpectedly grabbed the microphone and read an autobiography that I had written about myself when I was only ten years old.

The last phrase in the book that he read was, "And I want 50 kids."


Eh hem. Anyway...

There are so many days I still feel like a little teenager and catch myself thinking, "Whoa, I'm a mother! A real, honest to goodness, walking, talking, crying, screaming mother! Wait, that can't be right! I'm still just a kid!"


But it's true. Everything about me screams out to those around me that I am a mom. Right down to the way I talk. Geez, just because I use the word "ginormous" and "undy-wondies" doesn't mean I don't have an amazing vocabulary. Besides, my kids like when I call their underwear "undy-wondies", they think I'm smart because of it.

And instead of having kids, some people get pets. Like a cat.

Cats to snuggle on your lap insisting on being held, scratching your face with their nails, or basking in the warmth of the window sill to greet you when you come home.


Me? I have kids to do all that. I don't need a cat.


Now if only I could get them to clean themselves, and hiss instead of scream, we'd be set!

And if you are one of those brave people who manage to have both kids and pets, well, more power to you I guess.

But I bet you don't use cool words like "undy-wondies".

20 super cool people speak:

Anonymous said...

You can bet that I don't use cool word like "undy-wondies", but I now use stinkin blinkin thanks to you and sound almost as awesome.

BTW, we tried your Santa Fe Casserole Bake and it was a hit! My kids said to put it on the menu list. Thanks!

Evelyn said...

I've been meaning to ask...are your boys twins??

Scrappy Girl said...

This post was perfect for my first visit to your blog. I read your profile and thought...WOW...that's alot of kiddos at her age. Sounds like you love it and I am now hooked on your blog. I am adding you to my blogroll. Happy Wednesday!

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

Pearl: LOLOL! Yes! I L.O.V.E. that you say "stinkin blinkin" now. Awesome.
Yea! I'm SO glad you guys liked the casserole!

Evelyn: No, they are 14 months apart. But the older is built a little smaller and the younger is built a little bigger so they do kind of look like twins.

The Scrappy girl! Shucks *blush* thanks!

Nicole said...

Way to go on the bread. I'm going to go on a limb and say I'm glad my kids don't hiss - maybe I could take a growl though instead of a scream.

Saimi said...

Undy-wondies huh, I used to call them whitey-tighties. Maybe thats why my boys started requesting boxers.....

By the way, nice job on the bread baking! Very impressive!

TEAM LINDSAY said...

I currently have 3 cats and 1 kid. Of course, only 2 cats are really my pets. The other adopted us, suckered my husband, and now lives very well as a sunroom/outdoor kitty. And kid #2 is on the way, and she will only be 16 months younger than her brother... But I don't want 50 kids. Probably not even 3, but we'll see... And when kid #1 graduates from diapers, I'll have to remember "undy-wondies". Your posts always make me smile :)

See Mom Smile said...

19 when you got married? My oldest will be 19 this summer. The thought of her being married scares the chocolate out of me. My teenage self is still in awe that I am a mommy. She still wants to be dancing to big hair bands!

ldsjaneite said...

That's funny--we called them under-wonders. I'm all about no pets. In 10th grade, in groups we wrote predictions in French class for our classmates. One of them was that I would have 20 kids. *sigh* Not that I want that many. Preferably half of that. But I would be so happy with one. It's tough being baby hungry right now. I won't even let myself hold any babies!

Wow. I knew you when you got married. And somehow I didn't realize you were 19. Yours was the first proposal story that didn't make me feel like throwing up. It sealed you two as "forever awesome" in my book. And you prove it every day!!

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

I'm afraid to know what you call boogers!!!!
No, I have never used the word undie-wondies........
I used a lot different words in my motherhood days.......
You were a very young bride...you beat me by a year....

Did I tell ya we loved the casserole? It was divine!

Kristine Mullen said...

I like cats.....but there is no way they compare to "Mommy, I love you!" I had 3 in the first 3 years of marriage. All together....9 years of marriage and 6 kids, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world :)

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

Heidi: LOL! That's because Luke and I are so romantic, we went to "Gator Land" after he proposed. =)

And I was actually just two months away from turning 20.

Tauna: Hahaha!! We call them boogies around here. Yea for yummy casserole!

Kristine: You're right. It has been a crazy ride but we totally love it and wouldn't do it any other way.

All you cat women out there make a better woman than I am!

Pitterle Postings said...

We call them chonies (long OOO), or big girl panties (as in put them on and quite whining!)
After all my children, I find that I wouldn't want to miss out on a single one! (I would occasionally like a clean house though!)
Oh yeah, we threw in a cat two years ago (the girls needed responsibility, right??) and finally added a little Yorkie this year. He is fun and chases the cat, so we have the hissing and yowling going on which covers up the whining and screaming! (Well, I can dream, can't I?)

Charlotte said...

I was 19 when I started, too. And had my first 4 in 5 years. And then kept going.

This did nothing to affect my vocabulary. I always used words like "neslicks" (necklace) and "dorkisaur" (I don't think it translate into anything except a dinosaur size dorkiness) And no one can prove otherwise.

I still sometimes and stopped short at the thought that this is NOT playing house, this is my REAL LIFE.

Stacy said...

First of all, all that bread! you are officially my hero.

Second, I look around all the time and wonder who thought I was grown up enough to handle a husband, three kids, and a mortgage payment. Seriously? Aren't I still like, 20 years old and in college? I mean really, who thought this was such a good idea?

Third, cats are fine. They take care of themselves, and occasionally, they let you pet them. It's the dogs that are as much trouble as another child.

Fleur de Bee said...

Ahhh it's the little things isn't it! You're so much fun to come read about! Love your energy sweet Serene!!

xo

Mama Smith said...

I don't remember having cute names for things...just NIC-NAMES for all you..."Fat Boy"..."Libber-lini"..."Do-no-wrong"..."Scupper"..."Bebe-ha" (or Beebs"..."Blister"..."Pig Boy"...Don't blame me...I didn't think up those names! (smile)

Sarah Larsen said...

Oh how I loved your wedding flash back. I was 20 when I got married, and I still look back thinking it was awfully young. Although I've only managed to get 1 out. You're a champion at 4. Small story within a comment: I once co-hosted a conference for my work. I dismissed everyone for lunch by saying: "I bet our tummies are getting hungry by now." They still make fun of me for my mommy lingo.

Braden Bell said...

I am laughing at how you would have reacted on your wedding day if people had told you what was going to come your way. I have felt the same way, so many times. Life has turned out much differently than I had planned. That being said, I think it has turned out much better (on the whole) than I had planned, too.

Marcie said...

I like this post because sometimes I feel the same way. I feel like I'm still a teenager and wonder where the time went. Am I really 30 and have 6 kids or am I just dreaming? I love my life and wouldn't change anything, but it seems like I was a teenager for a long time and dreaming of the day when I have a family and now it's really come true. Only time is going so fast. I'm just trying to enjoy every minute because I don't want the kids to grow up.

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