Mother's Day 2009

Today was a great day....made that way by my wonderful hubby & son! Daddy & Eli started the day with buying me Starbucks and donuts (yummy!) and I got to open my fun cards & gift. Eli's card said "Mom, one thing I've learned from you is that 'When the going gets tough...the tough call Mom! Thanks for always being there!" and it played NKOTB "Hangin' Tough" play as you open it. This was kinda a joke as I was obsessed with NKOTB in high school. My gift was along the same "joke" lines as I got this:

No, not a costume from "Star Wars", a "Slanket" (close cousin of the "Snugglie")!! Ever since I saw this lovely invention, I have been hinting around that I wanted one. I have ALWAYS hated not being able to sit on the couch and be on the computer or read a book without having my arms cold. Eric has heard me say numerous times "This would be the perfect time to have a Snugglie!" so he thought this would be a great Mother's Day gift. He said he looked online and found that the "Slanket" is actually better made and larger so he ordered mine from QVC. Yay! My wish has been granted!

Later today we had my mom, aunt & uncle, Eric's parents, and Eric's brother Blake over for a cook out. It was a good time with yummy food and endless entertainment from Eli. He loved getting "chip" from Uncle Blake, "juice" from Great-Aunt Char, and laughing like a crazy kid with Grandma Clarkson. He really is starting to be quite the ham when a lot of people are around and TOTALLY knows when he is the center of attention. It's too funny. Here's a pic of the "moms" (& Eli):

What else can I say about Mother's Day? Last Mother's Day I posted a poem about being a mother that I re-read today and it is still such a great description of what what it means to be a mother. Here it is again for those who missed it last year:

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or memorized the words to a lullaby
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a child sleep.
Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping child just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry child.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

I am so blessed to have a son like Eli who everyday warms my heart with his smiles, laughter, kisses, hugs and overall tenderness. All my stress from "grown up" matters at work melt away when I am greeted at the top of the stairs with a huge smile and a "MAMA!!" followed by an immediate hug, kiss and run to the couch with a "milk?" for our re-connecting time. So many things have changed since last Mother's Day (I'm working, he's mobile, he's talking, etc.), but my love for our little guy continues to grow & grow each day (how is that possible??!) and each stage is more fun (& challenging in it's own way!) than the last. I'm excited to see the next Mother's Day and where we are as a family then (maybe #2 on the way???). How did I get so lucky!! I love you Eli for being my son and I love you, Eric, for making me a mommy!

Mother's Day 2009

P.S. Come back later this week for our regular weekly post!