week forty four. best friends.

 

 

 

 

  

 

These two. The other morning Sam was feeding the kids breakfast and I was upstairs picking out clothes, making beds and organizing everybody for the day. I heard loud and energetic voices and lots of laughter so of course I had to come down and see what my happy little kids were up to. I found them hamming it up over waffles and eggs and had to take a few photos. Please excuse the messy Maple syrup faces!

I'm so proud of how well they get along. Without being forced, they are actually best friends. Other than their wicked senses of humor, they have completely different personalities. I think they compliment each other nicely. They'll play for hours on end and are constantly making one another laugh. Most importantly they look out for one another in every situation. Whether it be on the playground or in trouble with Mama, they've got each others backs. 

I just love them so much!

 

 

week eighteen - mothers day

 

Tomorrow is Mothers Day and it just so happens for this weeks portraits I ended up in front of the camera with my babies, which rarely happens and I'm always grateful for. I get very sentimental about these days and how quickly they seem to be flying by. Years from now I know I will hold simple moments like these, at the duck park with my little family, close to my heart.

Tomorrow I'm spending the day with just myself and 2 very special babies while Sam works most of the day. I'm excited to see the homemade cards they made for me and I'm guessing they'll want pancakes for breakfast.

Happy Mothers day!

And we're climbing...

It's official, I probably need to be medicated. 

  

Up until now I've had the "content on the ground and reading a book" baby. This week, Mabel discovered she is capable of getting up and down on couches, chairs, cribs, beds, whatever. Just as when she started walking and I wanted to buy her a helmet (I kid you not), I am a basket case waiting for those inevitable disasters to happen. We've already had one mishap, she decided to throw a pillow on the ground then dive head first over the arm of the chair to pick it up. Didn't work out so well and she as the bruises to show it. 

Last night I vented to Sam all the "what-ifs" that run through my mind and possible solutions like "lets just get rid of all the chairs and couches for awhile?" I was serious at the moment and he did what he usually does which is humor me. Today writing about it makes me first- laugh at my crazy self,  second- appreciate how great Sam is, and lastly- breathe a little sigh of relief knowing we can deal with this. She will fall, she will get hurt and I will be there to comfort her and make her feel better. I've always been the kind of person that freaks out before the storm and when chaos actually begins, I become as cool as a cucumber. 

Speaking of cool cucumbers, check her out.

 

 And she got up there all by herself.

A Picnic in the Park, Little Buddies, and a Picture with Mama.

Last Monday while trying to come up with lunch we decided to pack it all up and head to the park for a picnic. The weather has been beautiful here lately, not too hot, not too cold. Sam obviously didn't get the memo, stripes were required that day...

 

 

Mabel ran around and played some soccer with Daddy while Gus dozed off with me under the tree.

 

 

Gus and Mabel are really forming a bond and my heart is melting watching it happen.

 

I had a wonderful Mother's Day, we celebrated it a day early because Sam worked. He asked where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do and was surprised when I said nothing. I just wanted to stay home and hang out as a Family. Of course I was specific about wanting to grill hot dogs for lunch and wedge salads for dinner, but other than that I just wanted to relax with my Family.

We took a walk up the street where we found, wait for it....Grass!! I swear when you are a mid-westerner and you live in the dessert for so long, seeing grass is like seeing gold. It really is like heaven to take off your shoes and feel the cold moist grass on your feet. I miss it a lot!

Anyway, we got some pictures of me and my two babies and I was one happy Mama.

Happy Mothers Day and My Motherly Inspiration

For me, becoming a mother has been the best thing that has happened in my life. It has also been the most fulfilling accomplishment for me personally. I was born to be a Mom, I feel it in the depths of my soul. Nothing I have ever done has felt so right.

I work really hard to do the best job for my 2 babies because being a Mother takes work. We look for inspiration everywhere and are influenced by so many different things. Books, television, internet, social media, magazines, other parents and doctors just to name a few. For me the most important influence has been my own Mother. I like to believe that long ago when I was a baby I was learning to be the Mother I would one day become. I have a wonderful Mother. I have many memories of her being just that, wonderful. I don't remember every moment of my childhood but the moments that I was too young to remember are relived by watching my Mom with my babies.  

 About a year and a half ago, when Mabel was born my Mom was there. It was the most exciting time of my life yet I was terrified. As a new Mom you second guess yourself constantly especially in those first moments. Is she eating enough? Is she too hot or cold? Why is she crying like that? My Mom stayed with us for 4 days helping to calm my nerves and reassure me I was doing OK. The day she left I broke down into tears. While crying I said to her in complete sincerity, "I'm scared" and she calmly replied, "you will be fine" and she meant it. And I was fine. It wasn't because of the books I read or the classes they say you are supposed to take, it was because of her. My Mom also had an awesome Mother who probably had a lot to do with her being so great.

My Grandma Rosemary and I. Another amazing Mother that inspires me.

I dreamed of becoming a Mom my entire life. Being an older sister was so wonderful for me. I have many memories of playing with my baby sisters. I loved dressing them up and doing there hair. They were like life size dolls.

Mother in training. Ali, Ivy and I almost 16 years ago.

I already see a little Mama in Mabel. She loves to feed and burp her baby doll and rock her to sleep. She is such a sweet big sister to Gus and loves to help me take care of him. I know she is emulating what she sees in me and that makes me proud.

 Happy Mothers Day to anyone who has ever loved a baby or a Mother. And especially to my Mom, thanks for inspiring me every day.