Mother's Day

Mother's Day. Two words that convey so much meaning, especially for me this year.  This was the first year that I got to celebrate the amazing woman that is my mother and also be thankful for the wonderful blessing of being a mother myself.  This year, when I thanked my mom for what she does and has done for me, I did so with new understanding of just what it means to actually BE a mother.  I know that I only have 8 weeks (plus the 9 months before that) of being a mom, but I have learned a few things about what being a mom is...
Being a mom means doing all that you can to ensure that your child makes it safely into this world. It means kisses, hugs and sweet cuddles with your little one.  It means that even if you can't physically be with your child, they are still constantly on your mind and in your heart.  It means being selfless and putting the needs of your child before your own needs.  It means wanting to hold your baby tightly in your arms to protect them, while knowing that you have to step back and allow them to be their own person.  It's being so happy and proud when your child grows and does something new, while also feeling a little sad that it is all happening so fast.  It is accepting that you will make mistakes, while still trying to be the best person, the best role model, the best parent that you can be. 
I am learning new things everyday about what it means to be a mother, but there is one thing that I know for certain - being a mother is not easy.  I'm lucky to have my awesome mom to give me guidance.  Things may not have always been easy and our mother-daughter relationship may have had some rocky moments, but we are very close and she's taught me so many things.  She has supported her kids, even when she's disagreed with the decisions that we've made.  She shown her children that nothing that we could do or say will ever make her stop loving us. She's sacrificed her own happiness so that her children could be happy.  She's been our cook, maid, teacher, nurse and chauffeur.  She's shown us how to be thoughtful and caring, and to think of others before ourselves.  She's shown me what it means to be a mom and I hope to be as good a mother to Evelyn as my mom is to me.

I got to spend this Mother's Day weekend with my family in KY and I'm so grateful for that.  Evie got spoiled rotten as usual - everyone wanted to hold her!  I also got to have night out with my husband - the first time since Evelyn was born. It was such a treat to get to have dinner in a restaurant and to not have to eat my food as fast as possible just in case the baby started screaming.  I was very grateful that Evie's Great-Aunt Carolyn and G.G. Mitchell volunteered to babysit.  I missed Evelyn, but Pat & I really needed a few hours for us.  Mother's Day was wonderful.  My dad, Shannon and Adam cooked brunch and we all sat down to eat together as a family.  I also got to see my grandma and most importantly, I got tons of snuggles from my baby girl.  It was a wonderful weekend - I am blessed!