One Happy Mama

Well, here I go again.  I attempted to start a blog when Cole was a few months old, and I wrote a total of ONE post…that is right, just one.  I remember being so motivated and saying that I was going to blog every day or at least once a week.  That was two YEARS ago. It is crazy going back and reading that first post and remembering what my experience was like as a new mom.  So much has changed since I wrote it. I loved being a mom and was trying to embrace the chaos, but my life looked a lot different than it does now.  It is crazy how our transition to two babies has been exponentially easier than our transition to one…and that is only partly because Annie is the happiest baby ever born and Cole is, well Cole…

While things are far from perfect at our house (today was one of those days), I truly love staying at home with our babies.  I don’t think there is a better job in the world than being responsible for raising these tiny humans.  I cannot tell you how often I hear the phrase “that is awesome that you stay home, but I could NEVER do it.” My response is always that I cannot imagine doing anything else!  I truly believe this is what God has called me to do.

Today happened to be one of those days when I needed a little reminder.  I was forced to cut my Target run short, because of a toddler who was LOSING. HIS. MIND. over the fact that I would not purchase a third Thomas the Train for him.  Come on child, don’t you know I just need a few minutes to grab some diapers, candy corn, Fall décor and a new wardrobe while you sit quietly in the buggy with your sister? Is that too much to ask?!  I left the store flustered and embarrassed after another customer was particularly rude about the incident.  As I sat at my sweet friend’s house for a play date shortly after, venting about my morning, she pointed out the irony of what I was wearing: a sweatshirt that says “one happy mama.”  I just had to laugh.  As these strangers watched me very unhappily wrangling a crying toddler and seven month old baby, my shirt advertised that I was “one happy mama.”  Of all days to wear this shirt. 

Right then I realized it was God sending me a little reminder.  I really am one happy mama. Not every single moment is happy.  There are going to be many more moments like the one I experienced today. But I truly feel more joy in my heart than I could ever describe being able to experience these moments with my babies. I said a little prayer on the spot, "Thank you Jesus and my hardworking husband for this wonderful blessing of raising Cole and Annie. Amen."

I think what is missing today in this world of social media and perfectly painted pictures of families and motherhood is honesty. I have wrestled with the idea of blogging for a couple of years now.  I go back and forth questioning if it is worth my time and wondering if anyone would even read it. I am finally ready to get started, though, and I am excited to share some real stories about my experience as a mom.  I really hope I can encourage other moms to enjoy this incredibly crazy and exhausting but also beautiful, rewarding, priceless (and all the other good things) stage of life.  Let's be honest, I can consider it a success if I write a second post in the next two years. ;)  Thanks for reading, friends!