I am sitting here, trying desperately to think of a brilliant way to add myself in to this blog. Something funny, endearing, engaging, and interesting to grab you and make you wait impatiently for the next time I visit. Where is she? When will she blog again???

But do you know what I'm really thinking about?

My life is LOUD.

With three boys, a husband, a dog, and several fish in the house, I can hardly hear myself think. Okay, to be fair, the fish don't really make much noise. But the rest of this crew makes up for the fish's* silence.

I guess when Jon and I began this journey of parenthood together, I expected that there would be some noise. What I don't think I was prepared for were the moments that can only be described as cacophony. The moments that have me remembering the old Calgon commercials. Calgon, take me away! Those bits of time were never a part of how I imagined my life with children.

But let me tell you, they happen often. Just as I was sitting here typing this, Eli managed a scream that was so loud and shrill that I'm pretty sure part of our roof blew off. And it's not just screaming. Sometimes the repeated chorus of "Mommy, mommy, mommy" from three different voices at once has me literally covering my ears until it stops. Though I think they are on to me because they have learned to stop until I uncover my ears and then begin again. Twerps.

One day, as I was working in the kitchen downstairs, the boys were thundering across the floor upstairs from one side of the house to the other. I thought to myself, recalling my mother's words when I was a child, "Whaddya know! It really DOES sound like a herd of elephants!" Yep. LOUD.

I know. It sounds like I am just complaining. And I guess I am for the most part. But I am also reflecting on the ways my life has changed since having children. My life is indeed loud. But with that comes excitement, fun, mess, and squealing giggles. It comes with knock-you-down tackle hugs, sloppy kisses, and I Love Yous. It comes with tip-toe peeks at sleeping boys.

What could be better than that?

I'm sorry, I can't hear you...


*Jon and I just had a discussion about the proper way to reflect plural possessive when referring to several fish. Thoughts anyone?