So I’m significantly behind on some storytelling.  Try as I might I’m sure I will not remember all the golden, and not so golden, moments I have wanted to write about since Maisy was born.  This one is pretty unforgettable though.

I photographed my first wedding 9 days after Maisy was born.  My poor little newborn had a mommy running around a wedding scene… no boob on demand that day that’s for sure!  She came with for the experience under the excellent care of Grandma Calhoun.  She was a sport throughout the whole day.  It was the next day I paid for it.  Even by 11am I could tell things were a little off.  My munchkin seemed desperate during nursing and like she simply wasn’t handling her intake well.  But I stubbornly got us to church because Citizen Way was playing for service at New Life Christian Church in Janesville and I simply couldn’t miss it.

Maisy was a champ, not complaining at all, but then she gushed a fountain of spit up like I’ve never seen before.  It was like a creamy geyser took off in the middle of the service.  No noise accompanied the overflow so it was only my seat neighbor that knew of the mess being spewed all down my front side.  She jumped up and away from me.  As Maisy upchucked all over me all I could do was watch her and catch the flow so it only ended up on me and not all over the seat, floor, or neighbors around me.  I just watched her vomit. I mean, what can you do really?  Especially when bolting out of my seat as she hurled would only trail the mess.

The minute she was done I fled the scene.  In the bathroom I discovered puke in my hair and covering the whole left side of my body.  I wiped Maisy down, changed her diaper, and changed her clothes.  My friend Laura was all hands on deck during the process.  Bless her. When Maisy was tended to I whipped off my shirt, yes in the middle of a church’s public bathroom, and handed it to Laura.  She rinsed it out and dried it under the hand dryers.  That thing looked brand, spankin’ new.  Meanwhile I was bent over in the sink rinsing out my hair and wiping off my skirt.

I was a mess and slightly concerned about my daughter’s health but I was not at all frustrated or embarrassed by my experience.  It was so neat having my friend jump to my aid and hear all the moms sympathize with my plight as they walked into the bathroom and saw this new mom shirtless and sopping.  Truth is, I guess we’ve all been there.

I am enjoying motherhood, even the quirky moments like this one, and I especially love discovering how supportive the mothering community is.  I guess I expected a bunch of bossy know-it-alls telling me how to take care of my kid but I’ve found quite the opposite.  I’ve only come across comrades in arms and willing helpers. Fellow moms, you rock!