188. You're the Mom

Tea time

Rest time

In between time

Nothing stops when you're the mom

Play time

Sleep time

Have-to-pee time

They need you, cause you're the mom

187. A Giggle, A Bonk, and A Song

Thomas giggles as he zooms down the stairs, his belly bumping each step as he slides. Janey chases after him, "Go, Thomas. Go!" Laughing, she jumps the final step. I descend at a much milder pace, exhausted from days of being ill. They reach the bottom and are out of sight before I found the turn of the staircase. It's not long before I hear the inevitable smack of baby skull against furniture. Learning to walk is hard enough without your three-year-old sister pulling you along at her accelerated pace. Thomas cries as I expect. This thunk was harder than usual. I pick up my speed, but I am not fast enough to be the hero this time. I am serenaded (if you're a mother of more than one you understand why I choose this word) by Janey's words. "Oh, no, Thomas. Thomas broke (Janey-speak for bonked) his head. It's okay, Thomas." I hear her giving him kisses and round the last corner in time to see her hugging his head. Thomas stops crying and gives his rescuer the smile she deserves. "Are you okay?" She asks. He responds with his monosyllabic word-for-all-words, "Ah." Janey waits for Thomas to right himself, grabs his hand, and slowly (impressively slowly for my energetic daughter) leads him to his favorite ball. I'm pretty sure the angels are singing.

186. Father with thy power great

Father, with thy power great,

Help me, heal me, think of me.

Take this body, remove hate,

My life is thine. My soul for thee.

Father with thy power great,

Bless my life. I can't do all.

Guide me, for my life's not fate.

Help me so I do not fall.

Father with thy power great

Help my children go through life.

Watch them through their great debate.

Guide them through their times of strife.

185. Our Flag

Stripes of white and stripes of red.

Honor soldiers now long dead.

Stars of white on a field of blue.

To our country we are true.

Wave the flag up high today.

Freedom stands. It paves the way.

184. I Scream

I scream in the car because I can

I've screamed in the car since we began.

I scream and I scream the whole ride long.

I scream and I scream from dusk til dawn.

I scream with Teddy. I scream with my toy.

I scream with anger. I scream with joy.

I scream and I scream the whole ride long.

I scream and I scream from dusk til dawn.

183. Alamo

American heroes 

Lost that day

All for a cause

Men, women, children

One star is free

182. Bats and Boats

Bats and boats and bugs galore.

Cats and coats and crunchy gore.

Fats and floats and flaming s'more.

I hate camping. Don't want more.