Mother's Day

I saw this here this morning, and had to re-post.

Here is my version:

How to Really Love Motherhood

First, try to not marry a military man....
because you can count on doing this Motherhood thing alone,
a good majority of the time.
BUT, if you can't help it.....

Remember to breathe. Closing your eyes helps.
When your children are possessed and on a temper-tantrum rampage,
think of the way they used to smell and feel in your arms.
Everything is a phase, and things do get better, or rather more interesting.
Let the dishes pile up (I do), and go for a walk.
Laugh A LOT.
Go exploring.
Go to the Zoo.
Build forts & paint nails.
Spend rainy days coloring and movie watching;
Sunny days swimming and running through sprinklers, and sidewalk-chalking up a storm.
Sing loudly & off-key. Dance like MANIACS (we do!)!
Band-aids & snuggles cure broken hearts and scraped knees.
Tell them they can be ANYTHING.
Tell yourself you can be the Mom you want so desperately to be.
Now believe it.

Oh, and a glass of wine and a best friend to listen makes a world of difference.

This week I am working on loving Motherhood.

I love my kids with all of my being....always have, always will.
It is the Motherhood thing that can be tough.
Like cleaning up vomit in the middle of the night,
shampooing carpets and soothing a baby simultaneously,
all the while trying to not sweat or make said baby feel bad...
She always feels bad when she pukes.

It is the Motherhood thing that can be tough.

Like disciplining, and disciplining, and disciplining.
Like wanting to give them the world on a shoestring budget.
Like loving my stretch-marked body, and baggy under-eyes.
Like trying to be Me, and Mommy, and Hot-Spouse, and Friend, and, and, and.

It is a journey, and I am so glad to be on it.
But it is my journey, and I do believe that it was hand-picked for me to be on.
I have learned more in the last 5 years of my life than I ever expected to by getting unexpectedly pregnant.

Justin and I planned on being together forever,
but learning that we would be parents before we actually had a chance to say "I DO"
changed the trajectory of our life and our relationship.
No honeymoon.
Cut straight to diapers, leaky boobs, and a military life.

Next month we will celebrate 5 years of being married.
This fall marks 9 years of being together.
This journey is good because I have him by my side.
This journey is good because he is an amazing father.
This journey is good because I have incredible friends.

This journey is great because I have the best family ever.

These 2 miracle children have been entrusted in OUR care.
I can do this Motherhood thing.

With a smile on my face,
dressed in wash-and-wear clothing,
and a little concealer,
all things are possible.

Happy Mothers Day to all my HOT Mommies.
I appreciate each one of you.
xo