Recently...

Recently, parenthood is...

...looking frantically for my baton before church, bending over to check under furniture, sorting through piles of music, and very nearly being late. Going to church, and conducting without a baton. Coming home from church, taking off James' shoes and coat, then going into the kitchen to turn on water for coffee. Watching James stroll into the kitchen singing to himself and waving the baton.

...chasing James all over the church, keeping him out of the stacks of canned goods that are being donated to charity, and rescuing him twice from stealing dum-dums from the senior pastor's office. Then holding him in my left arm through sixty minutes of rehearsal, because once the choir arrived, he insisted on being picked up and wouldn't be put down without screams and tears.

...begging for Life cereal in the kitchen, making big please signs and pathetic groans. Once given a handful of cereal, eating none of it, but crumbling it into cereal dust and pouring it down the front of his sweater and onto the floor.

...throwing any book he can reach off of the downstairs bookshelves and onto the floor, often while yelling at the top of his voice and especially when angry about not getting something he wants. But not being able to leave his room without indignant pointing and yelling if any of his books aren't put back on the shelf next to his crib.

...hearing the furnace kick on to its highest setting because James has snuck into the laundry room and turned up the dial to the hot-water reserve all the way.

...impassioned entreaties to get into the drawer with crayons. Getting out the crayons and coloring books and sitting on the couch, only to have James methodically push each crayon into the cracks of the couch-cushions, one by one.

...getting out New Steven while Old Steven is being bathed, and finding New Steven in the garbage can. Several times. But then needing both Stevens to sleep in the crib at night.