Three in diapers

I know of exactly two women who have lived to tell the tales of having three children in diapers. One, a fellow military wife who was blessed with triplets. The other? My mom. Also a military wife. (Incidentally, both from Iowa!) I'll take that as a good sign - since I, too, am from Iowa and a military wife. Oh... and I'll have three kids in diapers.

I know what you are thinking. But let me be clear, NO - I am not pregnant.

Instead, I am thrilled to be joining the workforce again as a nanny to an absolutely adorable little guy I'll call BuddyJ. He is just 2 weeks younger than my sweet little girl. I almost feel bad even calling this a job. BuddyJ and Pumpkin get along so well. They sit quietly and play duplos, giggle over cookies, play the piano together and take naps at the same time. At the same time. So, yes...they are still both in diapers. But I think I'll be able to make it work.

I'm so thrilled to have this opportunity while we are staying here. BuddyJ doesn't come until noon, so I still have time in the mornings to clean, exercise, and take my time getting everyone ready for the day. I've been so blessed to not have to rush off to work every morning - and I'm thankful to still have that. I'm also looking forward to having a new personality influence Pumpkin.  She hasn't had someone so close to her age in her life for an extended period, and I am anxious to see what the two learn from each other.

On a completely different subject, Valentine's Day is coming up. I never know what to make of this holiday. I'm not crazy about it - but I think my feelings would be hurt if it was forgotten by Captain America. Our first Valentine's Day together he filled up a box with Hershey's, Reese's, KitKat's, etc. Today that box sits in our closet filled with all the notes he has ever written me. But now that we are married with two kids, Valentine's Day is a little different. I don't know what he got me, but I got him a waterless wash and wax spray for his truck. I'm so romantic. I'd clean it for him as a surprise, but every time he leaves he takes his truck with him! (Imagine that). I didn't fully think that one through, I guess. Happy Valentine's Day - now go clean your truck.  Or better yet, I'll clean it for you - but you stay inside with the kids. I'm sure he'd be thrilled.

When I think out these scenarios, I think about what other couples do during these romantic occasions in their lives...anniversaries, birthdays, valentine's day...and I always end up wondering what my Grandpa and Grandma did. How did they celebrate? What did they buy each other? They just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, so I think it is wise to mimic the successful.

I'm not 100% sure, but I would bet they didn't do anything to celebrate. You see, my grandparents, products of the Depression, are nothing if not practical. Usually in a young marriage (with young children) lavish dates and weekends away are just not practical. My guess is they found romance in every day life. Food on the table, clothes on their backs, a roof over their head. Isn't it nice that someone cares enough about you to earn money enough for the both of you? Isn't it nice that someone takes the money you earned and turned it into home-cooked meals and a freshly made bed? Isn't it romantic that at the end of the day you can sit with your feet on the same footstool, in the dark (mostly to save on electricity), and just let out a sigh of relief that you both made it through the day? That sounds pretty romantic to me.

So, Captain America...if you are reading...if all you do for Valentine's is sit down with me at the end of the day and put your callused feet on the footstool next to mine, and all you give me is a deep sigh of survival...that is OK. Because, if in 67 years we are doing just that then my whole life will have been absolutely wonderful.

For better or worse - but never for granted.