Uhhhhs and dahhhhhs

One thing I was not prepared for about being a parent was how extreme the ups and downs would be. And I don't mean from one month to the next, or one milestone to the next. I mean from one moment to the next.

Yesterday when I got home from work, my two babies were on a warpath. They were screechy and whiny and refused to eat their dinner. They threw food on the floor and cried because bananas were not on the menu.

They only nominally enjoyed their bath -- usually a highlight of their day -- and one baby pooped in the tub (a different baby than last time, mind you) causing Lester and me to have to corral two soapy babies on the bathroom floor, while he cleaned out the tub, washed off the tub toys, ran new bath water and started all over again. The starting all over again sparked a cacophony of protests and wailing, as they were having fun crawling naked on the floor and getting into all the things they know they shouldn't. And it sent the whole rest of the night into a downward spiral.

At 2 a.m., Cary woke up screeching. He wanted me to pat him on the back and/or hold him all night, and I obliged for a while,with both activities, but at 3:30, it was time for me to get some sleep -- and him, too, for that matter. So I let him cry until 4:15 when he finally petered out.

Needless to say, this morning, I was thinking, bleary-eyed and jittery, "This parenting thing is a serious DOWN."

And then, while playing with toys on the floor this morning, Cary and Dean discovered a little Playskool lion. Immediately, Cary started waving the lion in the air, singing, "eeemum-mum-ay," which is his way of singing the hook from "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," one of the boys' absolute favorite songs. Dean saw Cary singing and joined in, waving his arms from side-to-side, saying, "mum-mum-mum." Then they both looked toward the iPod dock, and at me, and back at the iPod dock, as if to say, "Play it Mommy!"

I put the song on the iPod, and Dean wanted to be picked up, so he could dance with me. "Uhhhhh?!" he said, looking adorable. I picked him up and he grinned so sweetly, I couldn't help but shower him with kisses. Then Cary began pulling at my pants leg, pleading "Uhhhh! Uhhhh!" so I picked him up, too.

Picture me with two big baby boys in her arms, swaying to the music, grinning wildly, singing, "A wee-mum-mum-mum-a-way." We danced and spun around and sang. I kissed them and they giggled. Cary rubbed his thumb and pointer finger together, imitating snapping. Dean laid his head on my shoulder, and his hair smelled delicious, like sleep and coconut oil and little baby.

The boys were so happy, they couldn't stop smiling. And I was in what can only be described as parent heaven.

They were crushed when the dance-a-thon had to end so I could go to work -- even though I played the song twice -- but I know I really made my sweeties happy this morning. And isn't that all we want, as parents?

On my way to my car, I thought, "This parenting thing is a major UP!" And I didn't even really feel tired all day at work, despite the night we had.

Now I know for certain that parenting is filled with uhhhs and dahhhs -- sometimes coming one behind the other, fast and furious, without warning. But the good news is the uhhhs will come. And boy are they sweet.