We had a great holiday featuring a last-minute backyard gathering where, about 30 minutes before friends arrived, Andy real quick changed out of his sweaty bike clothes and I real quick changed out of my gardening clothes and together with our girls we real quick whipped some food and mojitos together.


Both the tomatoes and my toes object to the unseasonable cool weather (58 degrees right now) but we still managed to have a summer day full of exhausting ourselves outside, ketchup on white shirts, staying up late and naked kids running around outside.




I so remember summer nights, eating at the kid’s table while my parents and their friends at at the big table and told stories over adult beverages. I remember staying up past my bedtime and playing with friends, the cool green grass under my jammied feet. I remember the magic of sparklers.


Also, I feel quite rested today as I slept more than I’ve slept in weeks last night. It’s funny because I only got six hours broken into three chunks which, by all accounts, is not enough but it sure as shit beats four hours broken into five chunks.

would you believe this adorable creature is capable of torture?
This kind of extreme sleep deprivation makes me think about weird stuff in the middle of the night. Like Lady Gaga’s Alejandro chorus on repeat for hours and patriotism. You can read all about the latter in this week’s mama digs, Independence Day.
20 Comments
Little Ruby. Darn, wish it didn’t hurt.
Loved the quotation, Nici. I had to share it. Thanks.
i want to say … i’ve been there too. but i am there. like right now. and i’ll think about you guys tonight and wish you the best while i lay there awake with the teething babes as well.
you are such an awesome mom, Nici!
If all the world looked at motherhood like you do Nici, what a wonderful world it would be.
Way to go Mama!
I hear ya on the sleep mama… I feel like I haven’t slept, like really slept, since…well, since before I had kids. 🙂
omg, i need to get back and catch on nakey baby, but before that i have to say again how much i eat your photos up!
feel like i was there drinking mojitos with you guys…wish i was so very much.
that pic of ruby on the chair is mouthwatering great!
love ya.
I have the cutest granddaughters in the entire world!
xoxo
Nici I have been listening to Lady Gaga’s music so much lately – it gets me in the groove to sew! Funny.
LOVE the photos of your wee monkey.
She looks well rested.
Mojitos and nekkid babies! That’s something to celebrate. 🙂
dang you make my kids look good! your pics are my favorite. thanks for a perfect fourth.
“Growth is important and painful.” Awesome, and true.
The growth continues, as do the sleepless nights of waiting for tweens calling to say goodnight from a sleepover, or awaiting a teenager to get home. Enjoy the presence of the body snug next to you…needing to be safe in your arms. I now need to feel my kids safe in my arms more than ever!
Wonderful writing.
Nici!
Thank you for this post. I’m going through the same nightly ritual with Henry right now. Your post brought tears to my eyes… crying not brought on by my exhaustion but by your wonderful words. This time, when our littles are so little, is really so temporary. It reminds me of how grateful I am to be Henry’s mom and brings me back to the 5 years of trying for him. I would have given anything, at the time, to have a crying baby waking me up at all hours of the night. Now he’s here with us and I’ll take each sleepless night and be grateful.
Cheers to motherhood and the love and devotion we have for our children.
Kate
it all comes back to you, one hundred fold…
happy belated 4th of july!! just got back from a long weekend out of town and there is so much to catch up on … all in good time. but if i’m not too late, throw my name in there for the sodastream!! oh i love bubbles in my water 🙂
ps – you have some really cool giveaways … thank you!
I can commiserate with you on the lack of sleep. My 9 month old Sophia has never been a good sleeper and it is much worse when she is teething. She recently got all 4 top teeth in at once! yeah, not fun….and I have woken up more than once singing the chorus to that irritating Justin Beiber song, would much rather Lady Gaga! LOL Sometimes I wish something besides my breast would comfort her, but know that one day not long from now, I will miss these sleepless nights.
Oh I remember those days of intense sleep deprivation. My husband and I were walking out of the grocery store and he questioned my weird bobbing motion through the parking lot. I very rationally explained that I was dodging that fierce bird intent on dive bombing me. Needless to say there was no bird. He promptly drove me home, took the baby, and sent me to bed.
I love that picture of Rubes on the chair! I love your attitude about knowing this too shall pass!! xoxo