Being a Mother Is.... fun, scary, the best thing in the world, awesome!!!!

Being a mother is......

• enjoying every first! Cooing, feeding, yawns, smiles, laughter, crawling, walking, talking....each new word makes you full of excitement! 
• watching your child dance for the first time (bending at the knees and bouncing) and when your child, if a girl, twirls like a ballerina for the first time. Admire them.
• watching your daughter priss around in your dress and heels and being surprised at how well she can walk in 3-5 inch heels. 
• enjoying every sweet kiss and hug.
• the funny things they say even the embarrassing things. 
• the first haircut and the tear you shed.
• the joy they get from a new toy, a fun game they play, rides they are finally big enough for.
• cuddle time.
• the bedtime stories you read and all the questions you get with it.
• the songs you make up for them to make them laugh or soothe them.
• dancing like an idiot to make them happy.
• playing Barbies or army men with them because it's what THEY like. 
• watching Barney for the millionth time because it's their favorite. 
• comforting them when they cry and knowing when to not do it because you've just punished them for doing wrong. 
• teaching them to be tough when they really aren't hurt. 
• knowing what each cry means whether it be as a baby...hunger, sleepy, just wanting to be held to an older child knowing when they are REALLY hurt or really sad compared to just crying to get attention. 
• knowing that it's your child that says 'MOMMY!' in a crowd of 20 children. You just KNOW. 
• leaving your child for the first time with someone else. Watching them cry as you leave. That's the worst feeling! 
• knowing your child is sick but there's not much you can do to help them. 
• punishing your child when it's needed. Not easy but has to be done. 
• not being able to eat a warm meal....EVER! 
• hearing MOMMY 50 million times a day. Yes, it's a beautiful sound but it can run you ragged too. 
• washing the same clothes over and over because somehow they manage to make their way out of the dresser or closet, onto the floor and you don't remember if it was actually worn or not. 
• knowing what your child's 'poo' looks like and when it's just not normal! 
• being extra cautious with your first child because you don't know what to expect or how to do anything. Even though you've always been around babies, it's different and more intimidating when it's your own. 
• knowing when to take other people's advice or when to just listen and still do your own thing. Your child will let you know what works. 
• learning the hard way how to do things. 
• hearing your child say they hate you because you are being 'mean'. 
• having play dates just so you can get out of the house and the kid(s) can be entertained and you can get your sanity back. :) 
• knowing every freckle, scar, bump, bruise, and scrape on your child's body. 
• panicking when your child just ran into the corner of the table, dresser or anything else they hit and you just KNOW they are hurt. You just wonder how bad. ER trip? Hope not. 
• the first time your child needs stitches. For me it was around 9 months old. Talk about freaking out!!! I was so scared, my neighbor had to drive me to the ER and she drove 40 miles an hour. Really! Did she not see the panic!? :) Luckily they did the glue stitches (Dermabond) but that wasn't fun at all and it wasn't fun when everyone kept asking me what happened. Looked like I beat my child. It was right on her eyebrow. 
• the moment when you don't know what to say because you are that shocked/amused/embarrassed by what your child just said or asked. 
• the moment when you realize how smart your child is....beyond her age.
• coming to the realization that your child is growing up way to fast and you don't know how she isn't still a baby. 
• the moment when you have tried every form of punishment you can think of and your child still hasn't learned. 
• when you cry because you've had it up to 'here' (picture your hand above my head) and you just need to lock yourself in your room and cry it out...breathe and start over. 
• when you feel guilty because you need 'me' time. Trust me, you need it to be a better mother/wife. If you are rested and happy, your child will sense it. 

There are so many more of these. I'm sorry it was all over the place but that's life as a mommy anyway. You think in randomness - I do anyway - and your thoughts are scattered. Somehow you manage to get things done and survive the day as do your children! I love being a mommy. The good, the bad, and the ugly all matter in life. We learn from all of them. Enjoy the good, get past the bad and the ugly. Enjoy your kids! They grow up way to fast! 

One day old May 10, 2008

Almost 5 yrs old. Boy how she's changed!

John 16:21

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.