Happy Mother's Day

Well I couldn't have asked for a nicer Mothers Day. Last year I can remember being so exhausted and that's about it. It as a blur of infant care, crying, and lack of sleep. This year I slept in until 7:30 while Juan got up and fed Callie. Then he went out and brought me back breakfast and coffee. Juan also helped Callie buy me a beautiful new topaz necklace. Topaz is the gemstone for Taurus, Callie's zodiac sign :) every time I wear it I will remember that Callie (and Juan) picked it out for me. We played in the pool on the deck, had a nice lunch at home. Callie had a long afternoon nap and I sat out in the sun, a beautiful 85 degrees and caught up on my favorite tv shows. When she woke up from her nap we went over to the Chavez house and had an amazing BBQ dinner and desert. What a wonderful day, I couldn't have asked for any more. Callie was super adorable in her fancy dress Grandma Kay bought her for her birthday, although she didn't wear it long because it was so warm she was naked in the pool in no time!

Being a mom is a pretty amazing thing. You don't actually realize when you aren't one. I can remember thinking I know what it's like, I was a nanny and my job puts me in kids lives everyday, but you really just don't know until you are there. I used to say I would never want to be a stay at home mom and now all the time I say I would love it. Spending time with Callie is the best thing in the world and I love that little girl to pieces.

 Being a mom also makes me have a much greater appreciation for the moms in my life. I don't think I ever appreciated my mom or grandmas so much. I remember all kinds of great things from my childhood and adulthood that I thought were great but didn't realize at the time how much effort and love and selflessness goes into parenting. It can be exhausting to keep up with my little one and provide all the love and support as well as creativity, fostering independence, developing social skills, and creating self confidence. My mom did an amazing job making me such a strong woman and now I look to her for guidance on how to help Callie along that same path. And on top of the amazing moms from the east coast, how lucky is Callie to have an amazing grandma just down the street who is an equally amazing mom. Without her I literally couldn't be the mom I need to be. Callie adores her Grandma Nena and I am so thankful for my family here in SD, all of them.

And also on Mothers Day I remember the 2 grandmas that are watching Callie from heaven and protecting her the best they can. I wish that she would have met them but I know they are in her heart and a part of her regardless.