cherish the "little joys."

Today was hard. Honestly, I haven't had days yet where I just thought, "wow, this mom thing is really really tough." But today, being a mom was hard. Maybe it's because I'm sick...maybe it's because we were super busy...or maybe it's because I'm completely and utterly exhausted...between a rough c-section, birthdays, weddings, baby showers, Easter, Mother's Day, t-ball, dance, art, and gymnastics, I'm more than worn out. 

But in the midst of all of the chaos...in the middle of a day where nothing has gone right...God gives us special moments. I had a friend in high school who called them "little joys." Like when you look in your rear view mirror to see your daughter dramatically singing Frozen songs with hand motions and all...or when you're nursing your baby and he looks at you with the biggest milk grin and coos at you...or when your oldest grabs your hand and says, "I really love you, mama." 

Childhood is fleeting, but when you notice a "little joy", even on the craziest of days, time seems to stand still. Soak it up. Notice every detail. Because those are the things we remember. They are imprinted in our hearts and will live with us forever...so when your daughter is getting married, you still have that memory of her singing princess songs at the top of her lungs. You'll even remember the way her curls hang in her face. Or when your son goes off to college, you can still feel him grabbing your hand and saying I love you as a toothless 6 year-old little boy. 

They grow up fast. And no mom can keep her babies little any longer than the next mom. So learn focus on those "little joys"...even during the times when life gets crazy, busy, hectic, and disorganized. Those moments are blessings. They fill our hearts with happiness and remind us of our greater purpose. 

It's comforting to a mama, especially on hard days, to go sleep at night and know that there was at least one special moment that you savored and will remember. Because little ones grow up, but "little joys" last a lifetime. 

#thankyouJesusformybabies

Little Joys

Dad to Kass about dating in college: "So you're going to be a player?"
Reid: "I'm gonna be a player!

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Reid and LilliAnn laying in my bed together, LilliAnn scooting towards Reid and reaching for him...
Reid: "No sissy! I'm tryin' to take a nap!"
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Reid: "Let's go to the mall and buy a cowboy hat!"
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Reid reaches over and touches my hair. "I wike your hair mommy."
Me: "I like your hair too Reid."
Reid: "I wub you mommy!"
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Reid: "Inna draw R.D. Nana!" (what he says when he wants to write because you spell his name R.e.i.d.)
Mom hands him a pink highlighter.
Reid: "No Nana! That's for girls!

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-- Kell
Posted from my iPhone

little joys

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In high school one of my friends and I had a "little joys" notebook. I thought about that tonight as I was laying down with Reid and decided that I need to start writing down all the "little joys" in my life - little moments that are just everyday special memories that I can look back on one day. I don't have any idea where that "little joy" notebook from high school went, but now I'm starting a new list of "little joys." I want to periodically post these on my blog even if it's just a brief sentence or two under the heading "little joys."

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Reid was laying in bed tonight with Jeb and we were trying to get him to sleep - just like every other night. He usually falls asleep in our bed watching "wow wow wubbzy" or a "Wee Sing" video, or sometimes we'll read a book or sing songs. After he's asleep we put him in his "bed" (a pallet on the floor of the bedroom). After laying in bed tonight for almost an hour Reid still wasn't asleep. I thought he would fall right to sleep because he had only had a short nap today and at 8:45 he had come to me and said, "I wanna go to bed mommy," and "let's go night night." He must have been very tired because this was unusual for Reid. He never wants to go "night night." We finally turned off the TV and I told him a story about a horse he named "horse" and about going fishing and then we started singing songs. At one point he started singing "Happy Birthday to You" and after we would finish singing it he would say, "blow the candles out" and act like he was blowing candles, then he would clap and say, "good job." His language of love is definitely word of affirmation! He loves to hear, "good job Reid" or "what a big boy!" After trying to wash his hair by himself last night he stood up, clapped, and said "good job Reid," and tonight after using the potty he came in the bedroom to tell me about it and said, "high five mommy!" then stuck out his hand. 

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The last few nights he's wanted to hold Jeb and I's hands as he's going to sleep. So were were all holding hands and I finally was starting to doze off when Reid scooted really close to me and said, "I love you mommy," and kissed me right on the mouth. Next he started singing the Barney theme song, in my ear really softly in the sweetest little voice..."I love you, you love me, we're a happy family, with a great big kiss (and then he kissed me again)" and I finished the song with him. Such a precious moment that I never want to forget. 

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He's just at such a fun age right now - I feel like I'm starting to really get to know him now that he can really talk to me - what he likes and doesn't like, what he wants to do, what he wants to eat. He's always asking me, "Why?" and then he'll answer himself with "acause?" instead of because. As we were getting ready to leave the lake house today he reached up on the counter and got his flip-flops and put them on himself - of course on the wrong feet, grabbed his backpack and wanted me to put it on him, then went and found his hat and said, "I wanna wear this hat mommy." He was just adorable. The cutest little boy ever...thank you, Lord, for giving me Reid.

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