Brax, Brody and Everleigh

Below is a picture of me with my sweet boys before church this morning. In the background is my Mother's Day present! They got me a new print for the (very large and empty) wall in my breakfast room! I love it!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the amazing mothers in my life! Wow, have I been blessed with some incredible examples! I was talking to a friend the other day about how much life changes when you have children. What have I experienced and learned in the past two years, eight months and five days that I didn't know before?? How has this journey changed me?? I can't begin to do it justice with mere words. But, to put it simply, I've learned that...

-Hearing my children's first cries filled my heart with such emotion that the tears streaming down my face seemed somehow inadequate

-If there is something to climb on, jump off of, or hang from, my son will find it and do just that
-Watching my children become friends has been a greater gift than I ever imagined

-My children's laughter can bring tears to my eyes- both from laughing with them and from being overwhelmed with thankfulness

-My husband is an even better daddy than I imagined (and I imagined that he would be incredible :)

-You can (and do) love your second child every bit as much as your first

-It's an honor that my kiss can heal a boo-boo!

-There is absolutely no point in wearing white. Anytime. Anywhere.

-I cannot be all things, do all things or please all people all of the time. However, I'll get up each day and try anyway.

-The laundry, dirty dishes, dusty tables and other chores will always be there- my children will not wait to grow up while I do these things.

-A two year old can be funnier than any adult comedian

-Spit-up is an accessory
-I can be so excited over my children's little accomplishments (rolling over, sitting up, pee-peeing in the potty, learning to pedal a tricycle, giving up a paci... etc etc) that I will literally shout out praise and consider calling every person I know !

-I had no idea how much my own mother loved me until I had my own children

-I could not do this without my mommy friends

-I am a much better mother when I spend time with God and allow him to mold me into the mommy that He has called me to be

-It's okay to tell my children that I'm sorry- they need to know that I'm not perfect and accept responsibility when I do things wrong

- A good night's sleep is over-rated

-Everything is a phase- both the good and the bad. It all passes quickly. Soak it all in each day because these little beings will only be this age once!
-Rocking a sleeping child can make me get a lump in my throat

-When cleaning windows, there will always be one more set of handprints... Just quit trying :)
-Being a parent requires some difficult decisions- it's a lot harder than it looks, and I've only just begun :)

-All children are different. God made them that way. Embrace their strengths and help them improve their weaknesses. Try not to compare them to one another.

-Homemade gifts are priceless.

-My heart can, indeed, live outside of my body

-God gave me the most wonderful children in all of the world and I am so blessed to be Brax and Brody's mommy!