What I know for sure...

I've been collecting a few thoughts over the last few months, that I wanted to document and share here...

Being a mom of two girls, what I know for sure is...

♥ My heart now lives and breathes as two separate hearts outside of my body.

♥ Sleep sure is precious.

♥ Time flies, like, seriously, time just goes by way too fast!

♥ As much as I try and savour the little moments, they pass in the blink of an eye.

♥ It's such a rollercoaster ride - emotions going from feeling so much love to so much agitation in the short space of a minute.

♥ Messy play is fun.  Don't think about the mess.  Just play.

♥ Just sitting on the couch, holding them close to me, breathing them in... it's a glimpse of heaven!

♥ Kids don't always want to eat the food you cook for them. Give them a banana.

♥ Supper prep is difficult with an almost-two-year-old on your hip.  Bribing with Cheese Curls works.

♥ A coffee by myself is pure bliss.

♥ Listening to them sleep.  It's a glimpse of heaven.

♥ A trip to the grocery store by myself - bliss.

♥ Colouring in with my girlies is the best thing ever.

♥ Tea parties also.  Don't mind the mess.

♥ Give them sand and water to play with - you'll have a couple of minutes to yourself - like, at least 5 minutes!

♥ They don't always sleep when and where you want them to sleep.

♥ They learn the bad words first. Trying to teach a 20-month old to change "oh shit" to "oh shucks" isn't easy...

♥ Oh but when they put their arms around your neck and press their little faces close to yours... a glimpse of heaven for sure...

♥ Chocolate is wonderful

♥ Wine also. For me, not for them!

♥ My heart skips a beat in moments when I see their long legs, their long fingers, the knowing look in their eyes, and I wonder, "when did you get this big?"

♥ They just love to play with your cellphone

♥ Hearing the words "Mama" makes everything right in the world

♥ Kids love unexpected surprises, like a surprise "yes" to a question that usually gets a "not today, sweetie" answer - I really like surprising them like this!  Off we go to the dairy farm, or for an icecream, or to bake cupcakes, or to play in the mud.

♥ Morning snuggles are wonderful

♥ Seeing them bond with their daddy, their grandparents, their aunts and uncles and cousins makes my heart so happy

♥ All the parenting books, websites and experts don't necessarily know what's best for you. Just do what feels right. Go with your heart.

♥ They love it when you stop what you're doing, put down what you're busy with, and give them your full attention

♥ Playdough is fun!

♥ Being silly and laughing together is fun!

♥ Celebrating special events and having family traditions is awesome

♥ It's not all moonshine and roses and people don't like to talk about those moments when it's thorny and dark

♥ It's all just phases and stages and just as you've mastered the stage they move into the next phase...

♥ Being a mom is wonderful, difficult, overwhelming, special, heartbreaking, challenging, pure bliss and frustrating all at the same time.

♥ I wouldn't have it any other way. This is me.  They're mine.

xx