Thursday, October 1, 2009

Hungry Girl

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)


Pride goeth before the fall. I cannot tell you how many times I've heard those words. Believe me, I need to hear them. I have a bad habit of being real proud of myself when I do something well or when I think I'm doing a better job than someone else at something.

I had my share of pride yesterday and then, of course, a fall....


I've been working hard all week cleaning out closets, packing up old clothes, organizing our office (that has been a "catch-all" for the two years that we've lived here), on top of keeping up with the other house cleaning, laundry washing, and child-rearing... Why's it called child-rearing? That's so funny to me...


Yesterday afternoon, I was "Playing Peggy" (I do it when I want to be like my Granny). On this particular day, I was trying to be like Granny by starting my "supper" right after lunch. DW had gone back to the office after lunch and I'd already started planning what deliciousness I'd cook for dinner. I'd be like Granny and have all afternoon for my peas to cook and by the time DW got home, he'd have one of his all time favorite meals waiting on him.


I was feeling all kind of wonderfully domesticated and like I'd been doing such a wonderful job taking care of my home and my family. Everything was straight and in it's place, peas were on the stove, precious was down for a nap and I was already planning my Wife of the Year acceptance speech for later that evening when my darling got home from work and saw what I'd cooked especially for him for dinner.


I don't cook them often, because they aren't really my thing. But, oh, are they his!

My man loves him some chicken and dumplings, add some acre peas that have cooked all afternoon and some cast-iron cooked corn bread, and he's about as happy as it gets.

Yep, I was on a roll for sure. I was doing quite well in my "Playing Peggy" role of the day. She'd have even been proud of the cornbread.
About that time, little miss woke up from her nap and decided it was time to play. I was back and forth checking on my peas that were still cooking on the stove and playing with her. I'd gotten up to check the peas and heard her crawling off... I knew where she was headed and didn't think she'd get there much faster than me. I'd add some water to my pot of peas and be right behind her. 10 seconds later, she was already in Cooper's room, and was chewing on something. Neither of these are unusual. His room is always the first one she goes to and she's ALWAYS putting something in her mouth. Yall, I could vacuum my house 5 times a day and she'd still find something to put in her mouth. I mean the most minuscule things that I couldn't possibly find even if I was wearing a jewelers eye. I don't know how she does it. When she puts something in her mouth, though, she only chews on it. She doesn't swallow, she moves it from side to side and rolls it around on her tongue. Well, she probably doesn't swallow whatever it may be because she doesn't have time to, before we're digging it out of her mouth. When I asked her what she was chewing on (I know, like she'd answer), she looked at me and smiled so big and just kept moving it from side to side. I couldn't see anything at first. Then she stuck out her tongue and there it was. Yall, my baby was chewing on a bug. I know. Call DCF, HRS, or whoever it is to report unfit mothers. I immediately started digging for it, praying she wouldn't swallow. Chewing on a bug sounds so much better than actually EATING a bug... doesn't it? She clinched those sweet teeth shut and I worked just as hard to pry them open, digging and begging her to let me have it. I was on the verge of tears (dramatic, I know) when I finally rescued the bug and saved my child from having to say she'd once eaten a bug. She was none to happy about it, but one day after I have my blog printed and bound for us to look back on, she's going to thank me that I didn't let her be a bug eater.

I scooped her up and put her in the kitchen with me, in her walker and gave her some cheerios to snack on.

As I finished cooking dinner, my head hung low and my "Wife/Mother of the Year" nomination stripped from me, all I could think was: "Pride goeth before the fall."

The next thing I could hear was DW when he'd got home and I told him that I'd let his sweet precious daughter chew on a bug. Then I was glad I'd cooked his favorite for dinner...

I heard him pull up in the driveway and I poured him a big glass of sweet tea and met him at the door with a smile and a hug. He grabbed up Annabelle and put her in her high chair and we sat down for dinner. He took the lid off the pot and said, "CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS?!?!? MMMM, I've been wanting some of these!" I let him take a few bites and relish in their goodness (there I go again, with that pride thing) and then I asked Annabelle if she was going to tell Daddy what SHE did today or should we just let him read about it on my blog. She didn't answer. I wasn't surprised since the only thing she says is "Da-Da"--- so I told him the story. He couldn't believe his baby girl was trying to be a bug eater. He also told her that "if she was trying to save us money by eating bugs, instead of needing baby food, that it was real sweet, but she didn't need to eat bugs." Ha...

And this little miss decided she'd give up eating bugs, but wanted to try some peas... and boy did she love them... she had 4 "Belle-sized" helpings of them!



I'm going to work on the pride thing. I'm know it'll be a lifelong battle for me. Just when I think I've gotten it all together and got the wife/mother thing down pat, I am quickly reminded that we all fail in one way or another---no one's perfect---and there's no set "right" way of doing things---we're all different and as long as we're doing the best we can, that's all that matters... I'm not sure if this is prideful or not, but I just hope my best isn't letting my kid eat bugs!

~annie~

16 comments:

The Marino Family said...

That is too funny. Michael attempts to eat carpet fiber knowing that I'm watching him. No matter how much I vacuum that new carpet I always suck up a ton of fiber.

Lyndsay said...

Now I want some Chicken & Dumplins! Don't throw away your "Mom of the Year" award yet. You saved her from eating it, that is what's important:)

Julianne Hendrickson said...

HA!! I wouldn't worry with it! Unless it was a cockroach...yuck. My kitty loves bugs...

Lemonade Makin' Mama said...

Oh man... that pride thing just gets me every time too! I experience it when I have the house all tidy and all machines are running... you know, the dishwasher, the clothes washer, etc. I feel like June Cleaver.

I want to know how you made that cast iron skillet corn bread...

a.love said...

I just found you from Lemonade Makin' Mama's blog :) I love your blog title and all you share! :) I'll be back!

Carrie said...

That is hilarious! Don't toss the mother/wife of the year award just yet! At least you didn't try to kill your husband over dinner. Devin should be grateful. I cooked a big ol pot of chili last night (prompted by the cool weather) and somehow used a tbsp. of red pepper rather than chili powder. Woops! If only Allie would have chewed on a bug to lighten the mood around our dinner table as I fixed pb& j's.

Life of a Savannah Wife said...

You are too funny! I chewed on a grasshopper when my parents were house hunting. I was about 2 and my mom still reminds me of it to this day. haha!

Marianne said...

One time I ate rat poisoning. I think I was 1.5-2 years old. I had to go to the hospital.. My mom apparently was more upset by this then I was at the time. Anyways, like someone else said, at least she didn't eat a bug :)

One time, my brother Jason took a big bite of my dad's ice cream, and Dad saw something in his mouth, dug it out, and it was a green tree frog. Now that is gross :)

Tania said...

I am right there with you on the pride thing. That is something that I ask God to help me with all the time.
The supper you made looked so good. Thinking I'm gonna have to pull some of our acre peas out for us to eat this weekend. Love the pictures of Belle eating her peas. Such a cutie!

Surrounded-By-Boys said...

Pride? Who has pride? not me. hee-hee-hee......Love the post!
Oh--you've been awarded an Honest Scrap award/tag from me.....see my blog for details!!!!!

Ashley McWhorter said...

This makes me laugh. Today, my 10 month old little man, had a leaf in his mouth when I went to nurse him. I have no idea how long it had been there!!

Aunt B said...

Hey look on the bright side of it, if you lived in Africa you would be mom of you year for letting her eat such a delicacy. Supper looked great. To be like Peggy would be blessedness

Heather said...

oh girl we are in the same boat with pride issue, I get to cleaning on the house and doing good and thinking I am rocking it and lo and behold Mollie has gotten into something and I feel terrible!! If it makes you feel any better, Mollie Kate tried to eat a lightning bug once. She picked it up out of my hand, squooshed it and put it in her mouth. I was totally disgusted!! At least Belle loved her peas!! And you meal does indeed look fabulous!!

Heather Bug said...

Wow, my husband would be thrilled if I made a meal like that and I'm sure if I did, I would be real proud of myself!! :) I remember doing the Seeking Him Bible study written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I didn't think I had that big of a problem with pride until I read the chapter on pride...whoa, do I ever have a pride issue! I didn't realize all the small ways pride gets in. I think it's something I'll always have to battle. Your baby is just precious! I hope you've had an awesome weekend!!!

Holly said...

Hahaha oh dear! A bug does not sound like a tasty thing to eat. Ergh. Oh well, at least it's a good story! :P

Whitney said...

So funny! I FINALLY added your blog to my list! I don't know why I didn't have it on there! Thanks for your sweet comment!