Motherhood

Before I had Emmy, I'll admit, I didn't think a whole lot about Mother's Day or even understand the great importance it has. Before having a kid yourself, you don't truly know what your mother has been through to get you there. Before even meeting the precious babe, you have to carry it in your belly for 9 very. long. months. Some have horrible morning (all day) sickness like my mom and I, some have body aches, all have a total change take over their bodies, and some end up having a major surgery in their stomach at 34 weeks and think they are going to die (ok maybe only me). As if we haven't endured enough pain, then comes birth. I had an easy delivery (FAVORITE part about the whole thing---and I didn't feel any of it!) but some have it rough, and then there is the whole healing process, which is especially traumatic in my opinion. These are all things you don't fully understand until you do them. I mean, they sure don't tell you most of it going in! Then your babe starts to grow up, starts to do things they shouldn't, and you have to reprimand but love them regardless (for example- if Emmy pulls one more thing off a table or counter top she is gonna get a little swat!). Now I love Mother's Day! And think it should be a whole month! Because hey, we put up with a lot of "crap".

I have been lucky enough to live with my mom the past year while Emmy was going through things completely new to me. I have learned many things about being a mother from her. #1- This is most definitely a 2 man job. Single moms my props go out to ya! I am scared to death about moving back out to Idaho and figuring this all out on my own, but I know that I have learned from the best, and I know she will come visit lots n lots. :)

Speaking of learning things from our moms, Emmy has learned SO MUCH from her Mimi.

1. How to wave. I will never forget the day I saw Emmy wave and I was thinking, wait a minute, how does she know that! Sure enough, Mimi had been working with her.

2. How to blow kisses. Mimi would blow her kisses before bedtime every night, and one time she figured it out!

3. To lean her head back in the bath tub so we can rinse her hair. Because of my achy breaky back and my mom's tall bath tub, I have a rough time leaning over it, so a lot of times my mom will take over bath time. One night when I was doing it, I told Emmy to lean her head back, and she DID! Once again I was in shock. I yelled for my mom who said, yep, they had been working on that!

4. How to blow her nose, and like it. Emmy had a pretty nasty cold recently and needed her nose wiped a lot. Well, Mimi taught her to "blow". Whether she is blowing out or sucking in I'm not sure, but it's a noise, and she lets us wipe her nose, or even sometimes finds a tissue and does it herself, which is nice.

5. To love lip gloss. I imagine Mimi is pretty proud of herself for this one because she has been working on me ever since I can remember, I'm just not one for anything other than chapstick on my lips. But Emmy! Oh she loves it, and Mimi just had to get that started! So now Emmy will rummage through my makeup bag (AKA throw every thing out) and find lipgloss to put on. And if she sees you with something for her lips? You better let her have some.

6. To be a southern girl. Mimi gave her her first fried okra. And she loved them!


While my mom is teaching my high strung, solid little girl how to be a dainty southern girlie girl, she has taught me how to be a mom. I could not have done the past year without her. Without her holding Emmy all night long when she was just a newborn and was fussy. Without her waking up all hours of the night because Emmy was sick and I didn't know what to do. Without her watching her in the evenings so I could do school work (and got my associates a year ago woohoo!). Without her playing with her for a little because I just needed a moment to myself. Without her love, support, and guidance through this new chapter in my life. I am truly grateful for my mom.

Mother's Day 2013