5.16.2006

Better Than a Webcam

This morning, at 6:15 am I awoke to my baby grabbing my nose.

And poking me in the eye.

And sticking her fingers up my nostrils.

And smashing her forehead into my cheekbone.

And digging her nails into my neck.

And kicking my stomach.

And I was very very happy. About all of it.

Because this morning I woke up in LA, the beginning of another extendatrip. And this time Thalia--and Nate--are right here with me.

Just last week I arrived home after five days without the baby, and discovered she had to reacclimate to me. She remembered me, but fussed when I took her out of the arms of her grandma. She sat in my lap, but cried when Nate left the room. As my former therapist used to tell me, I'm very good at saying, "I'm okay! I'm okay!" most especially when I'm not. I wasn't. It was difficult. No, it was more than difficult. It sucked. Big time.

But this morning, awakened by the grabbing and poking and sticking and smashing and digging and kicking, I dragged my sleepy, jet-lagged self out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom. While there, I heard Nate comforting our whining daughter with, "don't worry sweetie, Mommy will be right back."

And I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt.


45 Comments:

Blogger Beth said...

How exciting for you! I'm so happy for you that you got to bring the whole family with you this time. Must make having to do the business part of the business trip a lot more enjoyable. Congrats!

5/16/06, 11:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It always comes back to this: Everyone else is "NOT THE MAMA!" You - you are the mama. She knows that, and she will NOT forget.

I'm glad you have both Nate and Thalia with you on your travels. That is wonderful.

5/16/06, 11:30 AM  
Blogger Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah said...

It's great isn't it?

5/16/06, 11:34 AM  
Blogger Jenn said...

OMG I seriously was wondering this morning if I was the only person who gets HAPPY when their daughter cries when I leave the room or leave her with grandma. I was like, am I sick that I smile when the baby cries. What's wrong with me!

p.s. it doesn't happen often. I leave her with grandma and she smiles and waves at me. =\

5/16/06, 11:39 AM  
Blogger Sandra said...

I misted up with your last line. I am so happy you are all together on this trip. She knows her mommy loves her...

5/16/06, 11:51 AM  
Blogger Perstephone said...

That sounds like the best way to wake up! And I, too, secretly get excited when my son whines or cries because I'm leaving or not there or because the person holding him is not me. There's nothing like that feeling!

Glad you're all able to spend time together. It must brighten up your trip so much!

5/16/06, 11:52 AM  
Blogger carrie said...

Oh, those kids sure do know which buttons will turn on the water works, don't they?

Our littlest took THREE minutes to remember her Mommy when Daddy and I returned from a vacation last year! All of the kids were staying with my parents and when we came to pick them up she just stared at me and wouldn't leave my Mom's arms.

It was the longest and most agonizing three minutes of my life!

You are lucky to have them with you.

5/16/06, 11:54 AM  
Blogger toyfoto said...

Ah ... Annabel has been sick, so I've been home. I hate missing work because it means everyone else has to work that much harder, but damn if I don't LOVE this illness-induced regression back to sleeping in my arms and cuddling. I want her to feel better soon, but not too soon. ... if you know what I mean.

5/16/06, 11:57 AM  
Blogger Lisa said...

Awww. So happy you guys made the trip together. My hubby's feelings would get hurt alot too when he'd come back from a trip and our son would smile in recognition but only wanted mom.

Those trips are tough on everyone. My hubby has been making those 6-7 day trips alot lately.

5/16/06, 11:59 AM  
Blogger Stacy said...

There's nothing better than baby love. Enjoy!

5/16/06, 12:01 PM  
Blogger j.sterling said...

i know you're constantly trying to make me jealous with your trips to LA. *cries*
i love that they're with you this time.. i am LMFAO @ fingers everywhere they can go! hahaha
do you ever work in SF?

5/16/06, 12:09 PM  
Blogger Lumpyheadsmom said...

So. Jealous.

Still being shunned, over here, and I haven't been traveling.

I know, I know, he'll come around. But, damn.

5/16/06, 12:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is WONDERFUL that they are there with you!!!

5/16/06, 12:12 PM  
Blogger Her Bad Mother said...

The Husband rejoices at baby depilation (he'll be without chest hair by the time she's 7 months old) and groin kicks because it's LOVE.

And because any and all reminders that baby is close, that baby loves the close, needs the close, are gold.

So happy for you.

5/16/06, 12:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think all babies have the same wake up Mommy routine. The finger up the nose is a killer. Glad to hear they're with you. My husband always loved when my daughter and I went with him.

5/16/06, 12:34 PM  
Blogger josetteplank.com said...

:-D

This made me smile, too. I'm so happy for you!

5/16/06, 12:46 PM  
Blogger ms blue said...

That's a family moment to remember. BIG smiles all around!

5/16/06, 12:47 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

It must have melted your heart. I dont travel quite as much as you but after a few days on the road, I miss those simple morning routines with my babu girl! Have a good time in LA with the family!

5/16/06, 12:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i'm about to start a "big person important job" and i'm dreading leaving my baby... thanks for telling the truth about working and having a baby at the same time... and glad your bubba gave you a good kick this morning ;)

5/16/06, 1:04 PM  
Blogger Mom101 said...

Mummy v: plenty on this here blog about the hard realities of being a working mom. But when it comes down to it, I dont' know that I'd trade it. I'd trade some of it, but not all of it. Lots of luck with the Big Person Important Job

5/16/06, 1:35 PM  
Blogger the mystic said...

I didn't get here in time to comment, but your tribute to mothers is incredible. I wouldn't even know that we're all in competition if I didn't surf the web and watch so much damn TV!

And even though I don't work, my babies OFTEN preferred their daddy over me, but know this, no matter what happens, anytime in her life that she's puking, up in the middle of the night, crabby/whiny/overly-tired, it's be "MAMA" all the way!

We're irreplaceable!

5/16/06, 2:06 PM  
Blogger Arwen said...

I remember the first time I came back from a trip and Noodle wouldn't hug me and I was exhausted and I just had to walk away. That pain is like no other. Fortunately we grew out of that.

5/16/06, 2:08 PM  
Blogger GIRL'S GONE CHILD said...

Me too! (with the smiley face.)

5/16/06, 2:16 PM  
Blogger KatBliss said...

Definetely better than webcam!

5/16/06, 2:34 PM  
Blogger Mamacita Tina said...

Bruises are just reminders of our kids' love for us. ;-)

5/16/06, 2:40 PM  
Blogger Blog Antagonist said...

That must have given you a huge boost. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be needed. But remember that you always are. The roles may be reversed, but you are and always will be a very important person in her life. A stay at home Dad, wonderful though he may be, cannot take the place of Mommy.

Every baby goes through a phase where they favor one parent over another. My boys went through a phase where they favored their dad, and it drove me nuts. I was like..."I spend all day wiping your butt, your mouth and your nose and HE gets all the love??? WTF??"

5/16/06, 2:44 PM  
Blogger tracey clark said...

I swear, I could cry myself silly.I'm so dang emotional today.
I'm THRILLED they are with you. When you can wake up with a finger up your nose (and it's not your own) and you're happy...that's a rare and very good day indeed.

NOW, when are we going to rendez-vous??? I'm less than one hour from LA.

5/16/06, 2:46 PM  
Blogger Cristina said...

That is great. I'm so happy for you!

5/16/06, 2:51 PM  
Blogger Chicky Chicky Baby said...

It doesn't take much to make a Mom happy. Just a little reminder that she is, in fact, the most important person in her child's world and that's usually all it takes to make her month.

I hope you're still smiling!

5/16/06, 2:58 PM  
Blogger Lindsay said...

doesnt it make you feel soooo great to know you are loved like that???!!!! :)

5/16/06, 2:59 PM  
Blogger Canadian Mommy said...

aw! thats soo sweet! gotta love unconditional love!

5/16/06, 3:01 PM  
Blogger BabyonBored said...

What are you doing in LA? You're in my town now, sister. And still finding time to blog. I love the dedication.

My baby doesn't seem to notice when I leave town which isn't the greatest feeling either!

5/16/06, 3:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

to be honest, m101, i'm dreading it and still trying to convince myself i can live on $1 a week. it's amazing how important a career seems before you have your very own deft fingered nosepicker

5/16/06, 4:18 PM  
Blogger Namito said...

Wow.

You are doing a fabulous job with them...Nate sounds like a terrific big brother!

Warm fuzzies for yet another wet day.

Thanks!

5/16/06, 4:47 PM  
Blogger Mom101 said...

Paula: Indeed Nate IS a terrific big brother! But to his own sisters. Not to our daughter.

5/16/06, 4:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As much as I bitch and moan that I can't leave the room without someone pining for me, I'm glad it's not the other way around. I hear ya on the smile.

5/16/06, 5:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm dreading going back to work. I'm scared Mya won't remeber me. LOL.

5/16/06, 6:39 PM  
Blogger J said...

LOVE IT. Glad you found a solution, at least for this trip. :)

5/16/06, 7:23 PM  
Blogger doggerelblogger said...

Kids are the best travellers - everything's an adventure!

5/16/06, 7:25 PM  
Blogger MrsFortune said...

Hey, me too! On the "I'm okay I'm okay" thing! Let's both stop. Yeah right.

I'm glad they got to go with you.

5/16/06, 7:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah, how sweet it is. I am also top-notch at saying I am OK (having one of those days today) when I am not. Remember that at least until Thalia is a teenager, you will always be way, way more than just OK to her - for real!

5/16/06, 11:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There is nothing better than waking up with little fingers in your nostrils. I'm reminiscing about those mornings.

5/16/06, 11:39 PM  
Blogger Christina said...

Awww, that's so sweet. I'm glad they were able to make the trip with you this time. I miss those days of co-sleeping - Cordy was never really into it. Miss Independent prefers her crib over her snoring mommy.

5/17/06, 9:05 AM  
Blogger Movin Mom said...

I love a story with a happy ending;)

I will never forget the first time I had to go out of town for a funeral and my oldest had to re-acclimate to me when he was Thalia's age.
I didn't even think that was possible!
Once I had more bambinos it didn't happen again because the baby just follows suit with the big kids. If they got excited because I was home then so did the baby. It's as if the younger ones know if she's good enough for them then she's good enough for me!

5/17/06, 9:29 AM  
Blogger Andrea said...

So glad you have the flexibility to have them come with you!

When my little one was a little more than a year and a half, he suddenly noticed it when his dad had to go out of town for a week. Before, it never really bothered him, but this time, when Daddy came back, Gabe punished him. He wouldn't let Daddy hold him, change his diaper, get his sippy cups, play on the floor with him. It lasted a couple days before little man finally forgave Daddy, but it was rough.

Now, we're in a spot where Daddy is going out of town a week at a time every other week, indefinitely. We're on the second week out of town and it's sucking big time. But little man is older and I've tried to explain more to him what's going on, and he didn't punish Daddy at the end of the last week out of town. Maybe it's working. Hopefully his company finds a replacement for the guy Daddy's filling in for soon. This really sucks.

5/17/06, 10:16 AM  

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