Mommy Meltdown + pictures from Grandma Rose's visit

Being a mom is really hard. Did anybody ever tell me that? Seriously I don't think anyone ever adequately explained that to me. Maya is 2. And she is having unexplained tantrums. Anything will set her off. And I am so patient, so patient, for the first 10 min. And then I can't handle the screaming. And I become a bear. And then I feel so guilty.

Today is a hard day. And there have been a lot of hard days lately. Three kids, it is tough. I wouldn't ever trade what I am doing for anything else, I love being at home with my kids. But this is reality. It's no piece of cake.

I read an excerpt from one of those articles floating around facebook:
How was my day? Today has been a lifetime. It was the best of times and the worst of times. There were moments when my heart was so full I thought I might explode, and there were other moments when my senses were under such intense assault that I was CERTAIN I'd explode. I was both lonely and absolutely desperate to be alone. I was saturated -- just BOMBARDED with touch and then the second I put down this baby Iyearned to smell her sweet skin again. I was simultaneously bored out of my skull and completely overwhelmed with so much to do. Today was too much and not enough. It was loud and silent. It was brutal and beautiful. I was at my very best today and then, just a moment later, at my very worst. At 3:30 today I decided that we should adopt four more children, and then at 3:35 I decided that we should give up the kids we already have for adoption. When your day is completely and totally dependent upon the moods and needs and schedules of tiny, messy, beautiful rug rats your day is ALL OF THE THINGS and NONE OF THE THINGS, sometimes within the same three minute period. But I'm not complaining. I wouldn't have my day Any.Other.Way. I'm just saying -- it's a hell of a hard thing to explain -- an entire day with lots of babies.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/the-questions-that-will-save-your-relationships_b_4618254.html

That pretty much sums it up.

I do have pictures to share! Of fun times. Be very glad I don't have pictures of the hard times. It would include Maya on the floor screaming, Amelia running up to her room declaring "I'm going to my room. I'm going to go to sleep. And that's it!" (Why doesn't she ever really go to sleep?!) And me, hiding in my room with Oscar, with any type of brownie, cookie, ice cream that I can find.

 We had a visit from Rose, Juan's mom! It was really so great to see her with the kids. She is so good with them. She plays with the girls and loves to snuggle them.

 We went to Torchy's and Rose sat and played with Amelia and her toys Woody and Jessie while we were waiting for our food. What a sweet memory. And she carried my bags and really is just so mindful of the handful our little family makes up right now.

 Oscar loves Grandma Rose! He smiled at her and they shared some really sweet moments together.

 We mostly stayed at home. But Juan did take Rose and the girls to Zilker park to fly kites one afternoon, and a small tour of downtown Austin, not forgetting Gourdough's. 

 It was a memorable visit.

Maya- middle of a meltdown.

 I can't get enough of these pictures of Oscar being so strong. He can hold his head like this for a minute or two before he starts bobbing slowly slowly down, and then gives up entirely. How cute is a baby head bob?

 And now I'm officially cheered up.