Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

This year marks my 4th Mother’s Day if you count the one while Jadon was in utero. For some reason, this year, I feel like I have been working hard for my “mommy stripes”. I feel like I am in full-blown “mommymode”—could it be the two crazy kids I have to keep up with on a 12-hour basis?

(Please bare with me while I go on this tangent) I am an only child and though my mother was loving, supportive, and wonderful, I did not grow up in a house as loud as the one I live in now. I didn’t see my mother, mothering anyone else but me. I didn’t have to share her attention and affection (which by the way can be both good and bad). I always knew I wanted more than one child but I had no clue what it would look like or how it would feel to love them both (I don’t know if that even makes sense). Nonetheless, for the past 10 months I’ve been doing it –being a mother of two and let me tell you, nothing could have prepared me for it. It has been an AWESOME roller coaster ride full of high peaks, sudden drops, laughs, tears –all taking place at a crazy high speed!

With that said I break my Mother’s Day weekend down to three categories: sugar, spice, and everything nice. The “sugar” part started with a wonderful annual brunch that my mom and I have been attending for probably the last 10 to 15 years. Now my mother-in-law joins us, and a very special guest – my sweet Arrielle joined us as well. It was so fun to dress her up with year.

Here are my mom and I. Over the past few years she has grown to be such a wonderful friend. Two strong personalities = butting heads when I was a teen. Now, it means passionate discussions about politics and philosophy (and by that I mean deep philosophical discussions about fashion and decorating =-)). She keeps it real with me but loves on me when I need it most. My greatest delight in the past few years has been seeing her become a grandmother. She is the best! Jadon and Arrielle adore her and it makes my day to see her face light up when she is with them.


Here Arrie is with her two grandmothers. These two women love my kiddos so much! Arrie and Jadon are truly, truly blessed to have them both in their lives!

So, for the “spice” part-- I am running a ½ marathon in July with my dear friend Alissa. On Sunday morning I awoke at 5:30 AM, nursed Arrie on one side and pumped on the other, got dressed and headed to Woodward Park for a 6 mile run! (See what I mean –full “mommymode” in effect). The run was awesome because I got to spend some quality time with a great friend who is also a new mommy of two and who understands that aforementioned roller coaster ride –but it was hard because that run HURT!!! Note to self: being 31 yrs. old and training for a ½ marathon is much harder than being 22 yrs. old and training for a full marathon!!! I had just returned from my run and found my sweet husband in the kitchen making me breakfast (sorry love, I should have taken pictures of my plate). It was wonderful and so thoughtful. And then my babies woke up and here we are trying to take a self –portrait.

They are the reason I get to celebrate this holiday! I love these two munchkins to pieces!!!!


Last, for “everything nice”, we went to my parent’s house to take pictures and then we were off to Sweet Tomatoes for a bit of lunch and family time. And, finally the afternoon ended with a nap (woo-hoo)!

Thank you to all of the women: friends, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, cousins, etc. who love me and “mother” me all year long. I especially missed spending a little time with my sweet Aunt Robbie this year. She is truly like a 2nd mother to me. I love her dearly!!