Mother's Day

As J cries himself to sleep and Z chatters away as she plays with her MagnaDoodle, I sit here blogging. The daily Quiet Time. A needed time of rest for all three of us. Often something I look forward to, even count down the hours in anticipation of it. 

I complain about my children, my "job", the demands of life with little ones - a lot. More than I should. More than I care to admit. More than I want others to remember me for. The truth is that I don't think there's a heavier, more draining responsibility than mothering a child. Fathers are important too and I'm incredibly grateful for the father that my children have, but being a mother is a different story. We worry more, we know more about our children, we ache with and for them in a way that papas can't. It doesn't mean that moms are the greater parent of the two, its just that we're wired differently and because of that, I feel like this role is super rough. 

Know what else it is? Super awe-some! As in awe-inspiring, leaving your jaw open with wonder, thankfulness, joy and amazement. When I was younger and I dreamt of these days, my life with a husband and a home and small children calling me Mama, I had no idea what I was in for. There's no way to adequately describe what it its like to be given the beautiful gift of being a mother and for me, I've gotten to mother three children now. Only two of them are getting to know me in the day to day life, but all three of them have been nurtured, loved, cared for and valued by me. Children are a gift. Biggest understatement of the decade. For sure. 

Today has been a good day, a simple and normal day, really. Matt's in Bowling Green working on odds and ends at the house so its in prime condition to SELL and the kiddos and I are here at home. Central Vineyard this morning and nice enough weather to walk there and back. I coordinated Zachari and Jonathan's outfits just a little and they looked springtime-adorable. A simple lunch of last night's leftovers and this evening Matt should be home in time to grill up some delicious Whole Foods burgers. We'll have baked beans and a big salad and if I can get to Aldi before it closes, I'm thinking their $1.99 two slices of cheesecake will be a nice dessert. 

Its a gift for this May day to stand out as something more than just the eleventh. I am thankful and proud of the small humans I'm raising. They make my days interesting, my nights a little less restful and all the moments in between create a life that is so rich and full. 

And of course, some pictures...

Before leaving for Central, I asked Z to cooperate for photos... or else! She did, in her true diva style!

And then in her silly style.

Yes, I coordinated their lavendar outfits. Ahh - they're just too much! 

After service there was some monkeying around on the super-fun wheelchair ramp outside the building. Z's sporting the Mother's Day necklace/purse she made for me in her class. 

John McCollum snapped a few photos of the three of us and though this one isn't amazing because Jonathan's uninterested, it was the best of the lot. Go figure!

A selfie on the lawn before our walk home. Little did I know this morning, but J had a bit of a fever. I guess that'd explain his unenthused expression and very rosy cheeks. Mom of the Year, folks. Mom of the Year.