I will always love you

After yesterday's post, the thoughts just kept flooding in on the topic of being a mom and what it means. So I guess you can say this is a continuation or part 2.

Today, I had my whole day planned out. We would wake up, do the normal routine and then put Shaylee down for a nap around 11:30 ish. Welp!! Little Shaylee had other plans for nap time.
She is still in a crib and the space between the bars isn't all that large and I've never thought about really picking up her room before she takes a nap because the second she wakes up, Hurricane Shaylee would hit again.

After about 30 min of talking to herself instead of sleeping, I hear her banging 2 blocks together. So I decide I better go in a take her toys away so she could focus on what was important at this time... a NAP!!! Another 30 min goes by and I hear those blocks again. I have NO clue how in the world she got her little hands on another set of blocks but I'm now convinced she strategically places blocks around her crib to play with rather than napping. So I take those blocks away and she lays back down. A little while later, 12:40pm to be exact, I hear her jumping in her crib. I have to be at a work meeting by 1:30pm. So I made an executive decision and 86'ed the idea of her taking a nap so we could get ready to leave.

Have you ever taken a child out in a public setting who really needed a nap but didn't get one?

The meeting was quick and painless. Walmart.. ..wasn't. (then again when is walmart ever an easy experience??)

My child was a basket case!! And I am practically running through the store to get what we needed and get the heck out of there. I see other moms with children shoot me that sympathetic "OHH I've been there and I get it" look.

We survived Wally world and got home, praise the LORD!!  As things slowed down, Shaylee was ready to surrender to the idea of a nap. I always rock her for a few min before I take her to her room. As I rock her she starts to sing, "Rock-a-bye baby" in her little voice. All of my frustration and exhaustion is immediately thrown out the window and a tear pools in my eye.

No matter how much our children frustrate, exhaust, and tempt us... we love them. We love them when they rip open the box of granola bars and spill them all over the floor in Walmart. We love them when they take off all their clothes during "nap time" and pee all over their sheets. We love them when they get their greasy little hands all over the tv. And we love them when they bring the cat to you by it's back legs.

We love them. We will always love them.

One thing I will make very known and clear in my relationship with Shaylee and other children that may bless us in the future, is no matter what situation you're in, no matter where you are (even if I said you weren't allowed), no matter who you're with, I will come get you and I will always love you.

Unconditional love is something any mother feels for her child. Nothing your child does will make you stop loving them.

As we rocked and sang "Rock-a-bye baby" together, I looked in her big blue eyes and felt none of my earlier frustrations, but pure, unconditional love.

As I laid her down for her nap (the successful one), I bent down and kissed her head and told her I'd always love her. In her sweet innocence she replies, "love you too".

My world is complete!