Boo Boos and Bandaids

Tonight, just a few weeks shy of his 3rd birthday, I have this conversation with my son:
Son - Whes da Wiggles go?
Me - I'm rewinding it.  (Yes, some of us still use VHS tapes.)
Son - Why?
Me - Because it was at the end.
Son - Why?
Me - Because you watched it.
Son - Why?
Me - Because you really like it.
Son - Why?
Me - I have no idea! :O)
(And so I am welcomed into the "why?" stage...lol)

Can I just say how much I adore being a mom?!  Well, good, cause I said it anyway!  I ADORE being a mom!  There is no job in the world I would rather have, no place I'd rather be, no position I'd rather hold, no amount of money I'd rather have, no possession I'd rather own, no super-human power I'd rather taunt....motherhood is the best! 

Sure, there are bad days and horrible days and tragic days and trial days.  Sure, there's poop and pee and snot and puke and sickness and tantrums and willfulness and power-struggles.  Sure, there's public-stripping, nose-picking, store-screaming, butt-wiping, meals refused, clothes refused, late nights, long nights and no nights.  Sure, there's foreign objects for doctors to pull out of crevices.  Sure, there's art-work on the walls and furniture and stickers on the tv and toilet.  Sure, there's boo boos....  Sure, there's trash and socks covering the floor of your vehicle.  Sure, there's new wardrobes to buy every few months.  Sure, there's choo-choos made from baby wipes...and Q-tips...and feminine products.  Sure, there's 9-1-1 calls.  Sure, there's toots...and laughingly announcing them (no matter who did it).  There's diapers.  There's pull-ups.  There's wet sheets.  There's biting, screaming and time-out. 

But then...oh then...there are hugs and kisses and cuddles.  There's first smiles, roll-overs, steps, words and foods.  There's funny faces, silliness, dancing, singing and finger-painting.  There's coloring new pictures for the fridge and family.  There's ABC reciting.  There's number-making with your fingers.  There's shapes and colors and new words.  There's books to read.  There's ducks to feed and animal noises to imitate.  There's motions to songs.  There's bath-time giggles.  There's hearing them say cute things while they play.  There's lego towers.  ....and bandaids.  There's watching them make friends.  There's excited squeals of "mommy!" when you pick them up from the sitter.  There's falling asleep on your shoulder.  There's whispering sweet-nothings in your ear.   There's the first tender, "i wuv wu, mommy." 

I just can't say quite enough about how my heart melts and hurts and bubbles over and boils just by being a mom.  There's nothing quite so challenging and moving, all at once.  I am thankful and blessed that God has gifted me with such a responsibility and I pray that I may live up to it!

(Mandy Lynne Photography)