Happy Mother's Day to Me

Dear Ella:
When you were three you needed to tuck your baby in under the dot blankie on the right side of the bed. Only then would you run all the way around to the other side to crawl in. You were obsessed with your baby stroller and the color pink. Sometimes you liked to be Tinkerbell with the binder-clipped wings. You ate fruit for dinner most nights and nothing else. You started to get up early and liked to workout with mommy before breakfast. You had a temper and could turn it on and off at the drop of a hat. You weighed 28 lbs and were a full inch taller than your brother. You beat me at Memory every time we played. You liked to give hugs at night and to play with our hair as we kissed you goodnight. You liked the red 'chap-ick' which we called chap stick and to be first. You were a mommy's girl. You were stubborn and refused to back down. You liked to pretend to eat the food out of magazines and books and always shared some with me. Thank you for your kindness, your strength and for reminding me daily that I am pretty (but only after I finish fixing my hair).

Dear Clayton:
When you were three you needed to tuck your baby in under the red car blankie on the right side of the bed. Only then would you run all the way around to the other side to crawl in. You were obsessed with your shopping cart and anything that could fill it. You were so observant. You started noticing things about your sister and were happy that she was different, that she had two belly buttons and ate through one of them, that she rode in a stroller but didn't walk. You identified cars on the road that were the same make and model of the ones that frequently stopped by. That looks likes Mimi's car, only Mimi's car is silver, you would say. You were always right. You loved cherries and preferred your drinks warm. You liked to be first. You were very in love with your daddy. Thank you for your innocence, for teaching me patience, and for the instant excitement that exploded over things like berries or yellow cars .

Dear Mya:
When you were three you would acknowledge my presence in your room in the morning. If I came in to remove your mask and you were awake sometimes you gave me a smile. You liked to be held with your head on my left shoulder. You loved being carried and bounced and this would occasionally make you laugh. You loved the butterflies on your iPad and all kinds of music. You weighed 24 lbs. We hung out most nights after Ella and Clayton went to bed and you snuggled in and calmed. You were so patient and tolerant and unbelievably resilient. Your curls were fabulous. You would kick and yell when you were happy, arch and stretch when you were mad and cry when you were tired. Thank you for sharing your smile and helping me recognize the itty-bitty beautiful moments that I might have otherwise missed.

This crew made me a mom.