Memories on Maplechase: "Look! They have a new baby!"

Well, we do have a new baby, but, "Look! They have a new baby!" is what I always say to myself when I see the tell-tale pink or blue ribbon on mailboxes or porch posts. I remember very well the day my aunts tied a pink ribbon around our porch post. And now, there's this one:

For the record, our little JayBird arrived on April 09, and the blue ribbon remains today. The pink one stayed up a long time, too, and I've always joked that I like leaving them up so the neighbors (and the HOA) would have a little extra compassion when they rode by and found the grass a little too tall or the shrubs in need of trimming.

Last night, though, I realized the truth. It was after I read a blog post titled "dear moms with little babies". I realized that I don't really care what the neighbors think, and if the HOA sends a fine, we'll deal with it. I realized that the person who needs to offer a little extra grace is me. Most of the time, I'm doing my very best to keep us fed and clothed while digging deep and (usually) finding more patience than I ever dreamed my body could house. I am so far beyond caring how the yard looks or if there's enough dog hair dust bunnies in the foyer to build another dog. But every now and then, that feeling of insufficiency creeps back in. The Southern Living magazine images of homes remodeled for the owners' lives "with kids". The Pottery Barn Kids catalog. A blog post about efficient, effective household management. A visit to a friend's house whose children are in school, whose home was surely always so clean and tidy.

I realized it's me who needs to see that bow every day. And not just the blue one, but the pink one, too. I'm going to hang them on the door into the kitchen from the garage to remind myself that my babies are still little. I'm going to remind myself to offer a little extra grace.

The Papa will be delighted to know that I'm ready to take down the bow. But not the unruly jessamine vines. Visitors need a little warning about what awaits them inside.

JayBird's birth story will come, but for now, how about just a picture? I snapped this one today...