When I grew up...

All I wanted to be was a mommy.

Me with my birthday baby (age 5)

From a very young age all I wanted to do was play with dolls. Growing up with two sisters made this easy. We always had an elaborate game going on with our babies or our barbies. I began baby-sitting as soon as I was allowed and I played with kids every where I went before that. When I was too old to baby sit I began working in small retails stores. I missed being with kids so I always had a nanny job on the side. During my college years I nannied for a baseball player for the SF Giants. It was a lot of fun. I also taught preschool during my summers.

I knew a lot about taking care of kids. So naturally motherhood seemed like it would be easy or at least something I knew how to do. I figured I would be really good at it too.

My first Mother's Day was spent bring Lindsey home from the hospital. Here I was holding my newborn and feeling completely terrified. She was wearing a hospital onesie that was so tight I could not get it off. I remember calling my mother in tears telling her to come sleep over. It was then I learned what I know now:
Nothing of being a mother is written out.
Most of my experiences are trial and error.
What works one time won't work the next and I never feel like I know what I am doing.
Sometimes I am good at it and sometimes I am not so good too.
I am not perfect. Mom's make mistakes all the time. It's okay.
I have now learned that it all does not matter because I have love like I never knew before...

Things I love about being the mommy...
♥The amazing feeling of meeting your baby (or babies) for the first time ♥The mother child relationship. ♥Christmas morning wouldn’t be the same. ♥I always have someone to get a treat with. ♥Shopping for kids clothing and dressing them. ♥photography and scrapbooking material ♥hair do's ♥ Enjoying my favorite childhood memories again ♥I always get something special on Mother’s Day. ♥Sharing my kids with my mom and Grandma ♥ Kisses and hugs anytime I want them. ♥There’s always something to laugh at. ♥ Being the one to see my children learn how to do something new.♥Picking baby names and baby items ♥I always have someone to say “I love you” to. ♥The smell of sunscreen and sunkissed beautiful children. ♥ Going to Disneyland and experiencing it all over again. ♥I’ve always got crayons in the house. ♥I have someone to bake cookies for. ♥I get lots of hugs. ♥My Saturdays are never dull during soccer season. ♥I am constantly being humbled. ♥I get to smell baby shampoo. ♥I get to buy some pretty exciting toys. ♥I am never lonely. ♥I’ve learned to be a bit more patient. ♥I see a lot of smiles. ♥I still sing songs and no one cares that I can't sing. ♥I get to be called “Mommy.”♥ I always have a drawing or craft project to hang up. ♥I have someone to go to the park with. ♥Watching Alan be their daddy. ♥Being a family ♥ Having them to make me smile on a bad day or just keep me distracted. ♥Experiencing miracles every single day.

I am so blessed. I had a wonderful Mother's Day. I hope you did too. Homemade gifts, breakfast in bed, dishes done. Small and simple acts of kindness. Visiting mom's and my Grandma and remembering our wonderful mother's. Thank you Alan. This post marks post 300! Stay tuned for my contest and game :)