Mother's Day

I remember when I was little, we spent most mother's day holiday's getting dressed up and going to my Gramma & Grampa's house. I remember my mom always wore a bright flowered dress (complete with poofy sleeves -- hey, it was the 80's), and curled her hair perfectly. We'd get to Gramma & Grampa's house and take pictures on the old wooden bench in front of their house. Matt and I would anxiously fiddle with our dress clothes, waiting to run around the front yard like a couple of banshees, trying to get out all of our energy. Sometimes we would go to the officer's club for mother's day dinner...other times we ate at Gramma & Grampa's. Matt would play with the computer games, and I would haul out all of the doll furniture and barbies from Gramma's stash, spread them all around the living room, and then get bored and leave the room to find oreos or pre-dinner snacks. Somehow we could always convince Gramma and Aunt Lauri to play Lincoln logs, kitchen, Clue, or Sorry! with us. But other than that, I don't think I truly understood what mother's day meant.

Now here I sit on mother's day as an adult, with my own home, a loving husband, a sweet dog, and now a beautiful baby boy, and I feel like I finally "get" mother's day. And more so, I feel the need to tell my mom what I'm sure she knew, but rarely heard on all of those mother's days when we were growing up: Thank You.

Thank you, mom, for all of the sleepless nights. For the poopy diapers you celebrated, and for all of the fevers you brought down. For all of the middle of the night head stroking, when we didn't even know you were there. For rubbing my back as I drifted off to sleep, even though you were sleep deprived yourself. For kissing my skinned knees, and making sure I ate my veggies. For all the times I fought you on something and you responded with "one day when you're a mom, you'll understand". Now I understand. And for all the grief I gave you, or all of your affection that I didn't want in public because it wasn't "cool"...now I realize that it wasn't you who was lucky to have us...but it was us who were lucky to have you. YOU are our true gift from God...because He decided to make you not just a mother...but OUR mother. And now I see you pouring your love on to Nicholas, and I can't help but feel so blessed that you love him as much as you love all of us. You are an amazing Gramma, and an amazing Mom. For all you've done and all you continue to do...and most of all, for all of the love you have to give, and continue to give unconditionally...Thank you.

I love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day, 2011!

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On a similar note, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank my husband for giving me the greatest gift of all -- Nicholas Matthew. I know that being a daddy wasn't necessarily in your "5 year plan" when we started dating 4 years ago, but the way you bust out in smiles when Nick talks to you, it's obvious that your plans have changed, and you wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Thank you for giving me this beautiful little life. And thank you to our sweet baby boy for giving me the best job of all -- mommy-hood! I love my boys! :)