.....Incorporating the girls in my weekly chores has become so much fun for me....my two little anxious helpers....the latest labor of love has been assisting with food shopping....since groceries are delivered in NYC, it becomes an "event" that the girls look forward to.....
......our grocery day usually begins like so......Mommy announces that groceries are coming that day, we all get excited when the delivery man buzzes our apartment, we laugh, jump up and down and all of us race to the front door........the three of us greet the delivery man enthusiastically, we ask his name, tell him ours and then Elsie might add an "and how old are you?"......when the delivery person can politely escape, Elsie runs to the stairs and yells "bye" repeatedly until he is no longer in her sight......probably very uncomfortable for some and very amusing for others.....
.....so this past week, as each girl pulled out their item from the box and wobbled into the kitchen carrying a heavy bag of rice or a large bunch of bananas......I noticed Callie was not pulling her weight......she was quiet, hand't made a trip to meet me at the refrigerator for several minutes and luckily me and my camera were in such a place she did not know she was being watched......she had been side tracked by her bright and juicy item that never it made it to the fruit drawer.....
.....the first bite is always the juiciest and then the strawberry is no fun anymore....and it's time to try a new one.....
.....that's when I had to expose myself.......she was burning through those berries so fast, I knew if I didn't intervene, she would make herself sick...........and sick she was, but it wasn't because of the strawberries....
.....she got sick with the ick.....poor baby has never been so lethargic and lifeless....
......and because my neighbor Sara is such a considerate and thoughtful friend, she came to my apartment and picked up Elsie for a 4 hour play date.....
.....which gave Callie the opportunity to be loved on by her Momma the entire time.....
......she affixed to me in the carrier, me in my PJs covered in strawberries from the day before......the two of us just rocked.....and walked.....and sang.....and hummed....and soothed.....and it wasn't just me soothing her.....it's in the moments of times like these that I am also soothed by my children.....their little eyes looking up at me.....speaking a million words in their expression.....wanting me to take away their misery and knowing that in this instant in time, it's their Momma that they merely want....I am comforted in the thought of knowing that I have the capability to be devoted to them, that I can give them love and refuge from their suffering.....
......and as I rocked Callie, knowing Elsie was building a tent in the playroom with her dear friend William, I was so peaceful.....regardless of all the sheets, towels, bath rugs, bed linens, and hand towels that needed washing- nothing mattered except that I was chest to chest, bonding and caring for my sick child....and even in my unwashed, unkempt and smelly state of existence, there wasn't anywhere else I would have wanted to be....
......our sick house has reminded me I am in the right place in my life, doing exactly what I am meant to be doing....
......and that beautiful thought was reiterated to me again three days later when Elsie caught the bug.....
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......just a few photos before the week turned to liquids and PJs......
......our old neighbors came back to the city for lunch and a debut of a DVD that Caitlin was in....nothing like watching a good french speaking tutorial DVD with yogurt raisins.....
.......and nothing like a 5 kid play date two weeks in a row!......
.....and Elsie is 2.5 weeks into being fully potty trained......and I have quickly learned to take the portable potty with us everywhere......
......just a little reminder that my girl's happy smiles and darling expressions will be back in no time....
.....Happy Friday!....
.....here's to a healthy and soothing weekend for all.....