Happy Mother's Day!

No, I am not in labor.
No, I am not happy about it.

At this point, waiting to meet the baby, and find out the gender, and count his/her toes, and kiss his/her cheeks, is like TORTURE. Two things that I know for certain that I am not good at are: 1. sitting and 2. waiting. Doing both simultaneously this week has not brought out the best in me. Yesterday, I literally ran out of things to do. What are you supposed to do when your to-do list is clear, your house is clean, your laundry is done, your child is sleeping, you're supposed to "take it easy" and you can't stray far from home? I'll tell you what I did. I went a little insane. Then I went shopping. But with strict orders from the man of the house not to spend any money (wah-whuh), even that got old after I'd oogled over the fourth thing I wanted to buy. So, I came home to clean out the freezer, organize under the kitchen sink, and better organize an already organized cabinet. Today I washed the dog, which is always an adventure in and of itself.

But I digress. Today is Mother's Day, one of my favorite days of the year. It's a day that since I have become a mother myself, I have always considered to be more about my children than about me. I certainly have a lot to be thankful for, and definitely at the very tippy, tippy top of that list is the gift of being a mother. It truly is an honor. And it's all thanks to my 1 and 9.75/10 children that I get to celebrate this day. Being a mother is the reason I get to thank God every night for making us a family; no matter how many times Marin has tested my patience, or baby 2.0 refuses to budge from my apparently comfortable womb. To me, Mother's Day is a celebration of the miracle that is our family. And for it, I am forever grateful.

Add to this that I have my extraordinary mother and grandmother to celebrate today, that the sun is shining, that Marin randomly said to me today, "I love you, Mommy! I have a kiss?", and that I started my day with my sister-in-law Katy's to-die-for-homemade-takes-four-hours-to-make cinnamon rolls, and my happy pretty much is running over.

Happy Mother's Day to all you fabulous moms out there! I truly hope that your day is your own version of cinnamon rolls and baby kisses, and that it's an excellent day with your families.

Now if I can just have this baby...

Is There Anything Better....

... than listening to your husband give your baby a bath?

... than a sleepy child snuggled on your lap reading a book?

... than your child running into your arms at the end of the day?

... than sleeping in just 15 minutes later than normal?

... than the look on your child's face that tells you they think you are fascinating?

... than planting flowers and watching your child smell them?

... than watching your child discover... and remember?

... than seeing the world through your child's eyes for the first time?

... than baby hugs and kisses?

... than knowing your baby has a great dad?

... than your baby snuggled into the crook of your neck?

... than your child's laugh?
... than being called, "Mommy"?

... than sitting at the same table with your grandma, mom and little girl?

... than your family?

Happy Mother's Day! May today be a day full of moments that can't get any better.

My First Mother's Day...

Mother's Day as a mother is really something special. It was really strange to be celebrating me yesterday, in addition to my mom and grandmas. I am so grateful. At the end of the day I told Marin how much I love being her mommy and how lucky I am that she is my daughter. I am so proud of her, and feel so blessed to be a mother. It is the best gift in the world. And it's all because of Marin. What an honor.

Marin decided to kick off our celebration at 5:30am yesterday by uncharacteristically demanding to eat at that early hour. She is a party girl. :) Luckily she ate herself back to sleep until 8:15. Then it was off to church with my mom and dad and back to their house where we spent the day playing bags, chatting with family and of course, eating.

I feel especially lucky to have such a great mom to whom I am so close, and two very special grandmas. I hope that I am even half as good at mothering as they are. A special thank you to all of the dads in our lives, too, for doting on us. It was a wonderful day and another first in a year full of them. I know I will never forget my first Mother's Day.