Being a Mom

Anyone who knows me well, knows that when Kris and I were married about 18 years ago, there was no way I was going to have children.  Being the oldest of 5 children with my three younger brothers 10, 15 and 16 years younger than me and watching them quite a bit while they were growing up, I felt like I had already raised children and didn't feel a need to have any of my own.  I had my two Black Labs, Buddy and Shadow, and they were like kids to me and I was a school librarian.  I had a hundreds of students who saw me weekly and I liked going home to just my hubby and my two dogs.  Nothing was going to change my mind.  I was content with just me and Kris and our dogs.

Well, that all changed when my sister had her first child.  I saw all the joy that a baby could bring into the lives of many people and I told Kris that maybe I was ready to try starting a family of our own.  He was elated as he always wanted kids, but he knew how I felt about the topic and he didn't want to push me on it. It took us awhile, but in a couple years, we were expecting a little boy of our own.

Brock Allen arrived on Halloween 2006 and we felt so blessed to have a healthy baby.  Our midwife, Mary Ellen, told us shortly after Brock was born to watch out as that first baby would "trick us" into having a second one and she was right!  Jake Edward arrived in May 2008, three weeks before our scheduled c-section.  Two little boys in diapers and our family was complete!

 

Brock snuggling with Mommy

Holding Jake for the first time

To say that my boys have totally changed my life is an understatement!  I never knew what it was like to see first time experiences through the eyes of children until having them.  Watching them catch their first fish, seeing them overcome obstacles, listening to them read their first books, watching them grow up and become more independent...it has all been a joy.  Have there been trials?  Heck, yes!  Being a mom is not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination.  I remember seeing a plaque once that said, "Motherhood: the toughest job you'll ever love" and that is so true.  Brock and Jake have tried my patience more than once, that's for sure, but would I trade it for the world?  Absolutely not!

We love taking the boys on all sorts of adventures and those will continue as we find more places to explore and things to do together as a family.  Brock and Jake, I promise I will try and be the best mom you could have.  I'll always love you no matter how old you are and you'll always be my babies.  I love you both and thank you for blessing me with you and making Mother's Day a truly special one for me!