Mother's Day

Well, all in all I'd say I had a pretty good mother's day. My first official one, that is.

Unfortunately, this year, my Great Grandpa passed shortly before Mother's day, and last year, my Grandma passed on Mother's day. So lately the holiday has been shadowed by mourning. But this year I found joy, regardless.

We were in Payson for the weekend visiting my family. It was a lot of fun, we always have a good time in Payson. My mom made Rice pudding for the guys and cheesecake for the girls and we had a BBQ at my aunt Val and uncle Kevin's place in Nephi. Their family was present (minus Olivia and Holly's bunch), Grandpa and Grandma came, and the whole lot of us. It was fun though. That night before Greg and I left my mom brought out gifts for Heidi and myself. She had my aunt Holly who was visiting my cousing Christina in Turkey pick us each up a Cashmere "Pashmina" shawl and beautiful hand-enameled bracelets to match. Mine, of course in vivid green, (alien green, as my mom refers to it), easily my signature colour.

Earlier in the week I had received, also for Mother's day but from myself, a couple of new tops and a jacket to wear while jogging and working out. Greg was super sweet and his gift to me was a brand new jogging stroller so I can take Nile out for runs while I'm getting my cardio in. Brilliant! I really love it. I was so excited when it came early, on thursday morning. I waited all day looking at the box because Greg said I couldn't have it yet. But when he came home from work he let me open it up and we put it together. We took Nile out for a maiden voyage right after. He loves it! He really likes tooling around town in it. His ride is pretty cushy, very padded and if I put the bug screen over it, he must feel like he's in his own little rocket ship or something. Lucky dog, him riding in comfort, while I hussle-tush. Ah well, it's fun for me too. I haven't run or jogged in a very long time so it's nice to get back outside (in spite of my terrible allergies)

I had a really great first Mother's day and I'm ever so grateful to have made it into that category of women. My own mother has been nothing but a shining example of womanhood and motherhood all my life. There is no question or concern she can't field, no favor she won't help with, no textile item she couldn't sew (and in mere hours no less). She is a fantastic mother and a wonderful grandmother. Nile is very lucky to have her and I'm sure he'll grow up knowing this full well. I am so glad to have Nile in my life, it's hard to believe just how long he's been here but I can't imagine my life without him.

I am so overjoyed at the sound of his babbling, his infrequent but boisterous laughter (he guards his laughter zealously). I can't help but beam when I come into his room after a nap or in the morning to see his ear to ear grin peaking over the crib railing. I always laugh when I find myself covered in all manner of goo, slobber, food, snot, and occasionally still pee. I find enormous amounts of joy watching Nile crawl from toy to toy, pulling things from his shelves, even though I know it means I'll be cleaning up later. This could go on forever!

There is absolutely nothing in this world that compares with the joy of motherhood. Even though it snuck up on me, I couldn't be happier.