Happy Mother's Day!!

I feel so incredibly blessed to be a new mom and I can't stop thinking about how much more of an appreciation I have for my mom on this special day.  You read so much to prepare yourself for motherhood and you talk to every woman out there who is a mother to get their take on motherhood.  But to be honest, nothing can prepare you for this amazing new role except to experience it for yourself.  I appreciate all of those women who have given me advice and their tried and true versions of what's "right" or what worked for them, but the best advice I think any new mom should receive is this: it's the hardest job in the world and yet the best and most amazing thing in the world to experience, so take the sleep deprivation in stride, enjoy every second, and heed any and all motherly advice because anything goes!  

I have reflected a lot on myself as a new mother and my husband and I as new parents, and I always go back to my own childhood and my mom, and it got me thinking about what made and makes my mom so great.  It wasn't her cooking, it wasn't her need to give equal attention to us triplets and our little sister, and it wasn't about her trying to get us to like her.  What made my mom a great mom was her ability to love us each unconditionally, in the most unbiased way.  She made sure to teach us and love us and to just enjoy each of us fully despite our faults and shortcomings and our different interests and personalities.  She loved all four of us no matter what and that's all that mattered.

Mom and I have shared a lot over the years and she is my go to person for everything.  Mom has always been there for me - through everything - she always makes me feel better when I am down and she always lends a listening ear and encourages me to strive to be the best.  She is the rock in our family and without her, I don't know what we would do.   

It's crazy to think that just a short year ago, Dave and I were trying for a baby, and now, a year on and 10 weeks in, we are the parents to the most amazing little girl in the entire world.  I have never felt such a love for someone and such joy and amazement in my life.  I cannot imagine my life being more full and so full of love now that I am a mom. I now know what my parents felt and what their parents felt and I honestly can't think of a greater joy.

As a new mom, I hope to uphold this new role and title, to the best of my ability and I am honored and grateful to now join the class of women who are lucky enough and blessed to be called "Mom." Mom - I hope you know that you are loved and appreciated more than words can say, and more than you could ever know.  I love you today, and every day and I hope one day, I can be at least half the woman, mother and friend you have been to me.  Happy Mothers Day to the best mom a daughter could ever hope for!  I love you Mom!