Mother’s Day!

May 9th, 2011

these girls…

Hi there! How was your weekend?

I got up earlier than usual this morning and made myself a cup of coffee, sat down and caught up on my favorite blogs. Then I looked over these photos from the weekend.

Ant deemed Saturday as my Mother’s Day and I was showered with lots of love and surprises all day. I only changed one diaper that whole day, and that was per the request of Miss Ella. (And was it a doozy!) I didn’t wash a single dish. I didn’t cook a thing. Last night I rounded up all the cups we brought home from restaurants and it was appalling (but in a satisfying way?)

Letters from vintage shop signs!!

Ant’s Revita-Mommy kit was back this year! This one was “extra strength.” The side of the package reads “Good for: long days, tempers, teething, long nights, short naps”. And inside were treats to make those things seem not so hard. Pretty things for me, awesome art for the house, and a book to share with the girls. He amazes me every time with how thoughtful and intentional his gifts are. He is so attentive, and that’s reflected in the way he gives. Those things are always the best part of any gift. Of course he could have just held my hand all day and I would have been a happy girl.

Sunday morning we had brunch with my parents and grandma, then brought our full bellies home for naps all around. The weather here was so lovely yesterday afternoon! We had to get out and enjoy it. We went out back, threw a blanket down, and took some family photos. I think they’re the first set of family photos we’ve taken since becoming a foursome. I’m so happy with how they came out! I’m excited to get them on these bare walls!

The holiday was wonderful. I’m pretty sure all my favorite meals, places, and activities were there in that sweet bundle of a weekend. And all enjoyed with the best Mother’s Day gifts of all, my loves.

I hope you had a fun Mother’s Day!

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I thought this was a party...LET’S DANCE!

I am a Mother

May 7th, 2011

It has always been a part of my dreams to be a mother. For a long time, it was the only thing I was sure I wanted to devote my life to. From now and forever on, hand in hand with a healthy marriage, being the best mother I can be for our children is the most important thing…

When I was small, I would pull out my Cabbage Patch dolls and proudly dress them in my old baby clothes.
When I became a teen, I started an ever-growing list of names I would love to give my future sons and daughters.
When I began dating Anthony eight years ago, my mother asked me one afternoon if he was “the one”. I bashfully, almost tearfully, nodded yes.
When I found myself a woman, standing next to my husband on my wedding day, my heart was full of hope for little he and I’s running around the home we’d build together.
My dream became ours.
When we bought and remodeled this, our very first house, we painted the room beside ours a calm, bright blue shade. It was the perfect color for a tiny girl or boy…
It was just waiting for a baby.
One day in late Winter, we knew…

One late summer day, my belly full of our first child, I painted a tall dandelion on a wall in that light blue room. Beside it I painted a smaller dandelion. And across the wall I scrawled “…you are my first wish.”
She was, and still is, forever more.

As we watched this little child grow and thrive, we began hoping for a second to keep her company and grow alongside.
One Spring morning, we knew again…

Every day I realize these amazing blessings we’ve been entrusted with. Every day, I am grateful.

There are many things I love about motherhood. The way a single look can send them into giggles, the way my finger fits just right inside her tiny hand. And later the way she wants to hold my hand just to walk around the house. The way she wants to share everything exciting with me, the way they adore their father. They way their eyes twinkle. How when Ant comes home from work, I get to recall all of the funny and cute things she says and does every day. How I get to share in the magic of their childhoods. How I am witness to all of their amazing growth and development. How they teach me things about myself I never knew were within me. How my heart swells as I realize what strong, beautiful little beings they are.

But my favorite things about motherhood are those that make me a mother. Ella Faye and Poppy Lucille Grace. And Anthony, of course.

When you decide to start a family, you do so because you feel grown up enough to handle it. You fancy yourself mature, wise, caring, and prepared.

And then that little one joins your life. She moves into the space in your arms that seems like it was perfectly made for her. She fills your heart not only like you expected, but so much more.

You find out that the maturity thing is two-fold. Your children teach you that it’s okay to act as a child again.
You realize you weren’t as wise as you imagined. With this brand new baby, you are just beginning your journey of learning. You have just created the best teacher you could ask for.
You find that you have so much more capacity to care for another person.
And you realize that you could never be fully prepared for this new life.

My daughters have been my greatest teachers. No matter how many books or articles I digested while they grew safely in my belly, nothing could prepare me better than these two little girls. They have given me tenderness, kindness, patience, grace, and strength, along with so much more.

I know that there are difficult times, confusing times, and exhausting times. But I’ve learned that every good, happy, funny, and sweet moment add up to so much more than the hard ones. I’ve learned that motherhood is the most powerful calling of life. What an amazing thing to be able to raise a person or two. What a privilege. What a blessing. I am honored that I get to learn so much through their presence in my life and company in my heart. They transform me, make me grow, endlessly. Every day I become a better person with them by my side.

To you beautiful mothers and your mothers alike, Happy Mother’s Day.

To my wonderful mom,
You are an inspiration. Thank you for everything you’ve always given me. I understand so much more now. I love you.

And to my sweet mom-in-law,
Thank you for raising an amazing son. I see so much of you in him everyday and that is a wonderful thing. I love you.

XoXo – Katy

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