Earning My Motherhood Stripes

This season of motherhood is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.

The challenges, the exhaustion, the tears of frustration..

but also the joys, the laughs, the pride, and pure happiness of being a mother to Jolie, Parker, and Baker.

Yesterday was one of those days.  It was definitely a motherhood first for me.  One of those situations that I just had to laugh about to keep my sanity. 

Jordan was working, and I decided to brave a trip with all three kiddos to the mall to grab a coffee with my sweet friend, Kelly and let our kids play in the mall play area. 

With how warm its been outside lately, it seems like the safest place to wrangle my babes and let them run off some steam- especially when I am home alone with all three kids by myself for most or all of the day.  

It is easy for the walls to feel like they are closing in..and its only been an hour since we all woke.  

So, the mall.  Its typically a great idea.

The mall we like best is about 45 minutes away, so making the trip takes a little more effort than just a quick car ride up the street.  I loaded the girls up, breakfast smoothie in hand, and headed out to meet our friends.

All was fine and dandy - I exited the for the mall and started my way into the mall parking lot when chaos hit.  It felt like chaos, anyway.  I hear Parker in the back start to cry and I look back in perfect timing to see her spew chocolate smoothie all over herself, her carseat, and all the baby dolls and accessories sitting in her lap. 

What.  What is happening.  

This is never happened to me before, and at two and a half I don't bring an extra set of clothes for the twins.  I did have some spare pantie and a handful of baby wipes to clean her up. 

Side note: panic texting your husband does nothing for your sanity in a situation like this.  

Thankful that Kelly was already inside waiting on my circus to arrive, she came out with paper towels and promises of a bath towel we could use in her car.  When I asked Parker multiple times if her tummy hurt, she replied 'no' and kept asking about going to play.

'I want to play, mama'

Well, child, you need some clothes.  And a bath. 

So, taking full advantage of using the mall bathrooms I wrapped her in the towel and headed inside.  

It was everything I had not to just breakdown in tears and drive the 45 minutes home.  

Instead.. I laughed.  And made Kelly snap a photo before we walked into the bathrooms to basically bathe my Parker girl. 

Much to the dismay of this photo, Parker wasn't as miserable as she looks.  I'm not that terrible of a mother.. but seriously,  I casually walked by a woman very pregnant with what I can assume would be her third child and toting two other kids a little older than the twins, and the look on her face was priceless. 

So this is what happens when you add another baby to your life - towels are the logical clothing choice for heading to the mall. 

 a n y w a y

After we cleaned her up I had all intentions of going home, but after repeat assurance from Parker that her tummy didn't hurt.. and insistence that she wanted to 'play'.. I walked into H&M to find something cheap and decent for her to wear.  But not before I stopped at Starbucks for a coffee.

I needed coffee.

And my sanity. 

Of course Jolie was not going to allow Parker to get a new dress without her getting the same one, too.. so.. I pulled the tags off right there in the middle of the store and dressed them both.  

I walked to check out and handed the young girl the tags and tried to explain what I had been through  in the last hour in hopes for some explanation as to why I was sweating like a pig.. but she was all of about 18 years old and didn't care.

owell.

After we were all clothed again and coffee in hand, we headed down to the play area. 

I was thankful for my sweet girl to seem to have been feeling better.

I knew we were in the clear when she started asking for lunch- telling me she's hungry over and over.

So, we lunched.

Being a mama to these girls is always so much fun. Even when the day's events don't go as I would have hoped. 

Motherhood is not always rainbows and unicorns - its tough.  Having three to deal with is near to overwhelming - even when my third is a teeny sleeping baby strapped to my chest- but nothing I don't feel like I can't handle.  I have a feeling this won't be the last time I have a kid randomly puke in my car..

because sometimes..

kids just puke.

I'll just take that as a couple more stripes earned in this journey of motherhood.