Mother's Day 2010

On May 9, 2010, I celebrated my very first Mother's Day with sweet Emily! Last year I was very pregnant with Emily and I guess you could argue that that was my first Mother's Day, but I didn't FEEL like a mother last year. Last year I hadn't laid eyes on my beautiful baby girl or held her in my arms or rocked her to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. This year, I can say I've been initiated into motherhood although I am just getting started. My initiation into motherhood goes something like this:

--I've been awakened by my water breaking in the middle of the night and changed pants 5x before arriving to the hospital still wet.

--I've pushed an 8lb 14 oz baby girl out of my body.

--Emily now weighs 18 lbs 10 oz. and her mommy's milk has nourished her every step of the way.

--I'm a pro at cleaning up poo, pee, and spit-up.

--I know that I can survive on very little sleep (for a short period of time!)

--We survived an all day car trip with a 6 week old for our very first family vacation.

--Cleaned up a filthy baby, diaper, and car seat while en route...

--I've witnessed the most special baby moments: smiles, laughter, coos, jabbering, blowing raspberries, rolling over, sitting up, crawling to mommy, wet kisses on the cheek, peek-a-boo, ticklish baby ribs, crazy baby hair, pulling up to stand in the crib, sitting quietly while reading a story, first teeth, first haircut, falling asleep with mouth open, falling asleep with baby bottom in the air, play time in Mommy and Daddy's bed, and the list could go on and on...

This Mother's Day was special because not only was it my first, but it was also Laura and Becca's first Mother's Day. How special it was to be able to celebrate the day with them and their little boys and get to see the baby dedications at church. During the past 9 months, my eyes have been opened to how much work and skill it really takes to be a good mother and to run a household. My mother and mother-in-law make it look easier than it is. Juggling part-time work and full-time mothering has been challenging for me. At times it seems like I have the best of both worlds and then sometimes I feel like I'm not doing my best at either job. I know that I have much to be grateful for with my family that supports Emily and me every step of the way. Jeremy didn't forget to "help" Emily pick out a gift this year. He gave me a beautiful charm bracelet and my first Pandora Charm was appropriately a sterling silver "little girl." I look forward to adding to my collection. Happy Mother's Day to my Family Circle: Mom, Nancy, Laura, Becca, and my Memommys.