How I spent my Mother's Day & Celebrating my Mother

I love my children.  More than anything.  But I have been hitting a wall lately and this mama needed a break.  Badly.  So this year for Mother's Day, I told my husband that all I wanted to do was lay in my bed completely alone.  I didn't want to talk to anyone, change anyone, feed anyone, for a good couple of hours.  He totally came through.

My day started as it normally does, with the baby waking up around 4am.  I got him to go back to sleep but only until 5:50 or so, then my husband gave me my first gift of the day, he got Bennett while I slept for another 45 minutes.

And I got to pull the sheets all the way up to my chin

Then I put on a non-nursing-friendly dress and had breakfast with a couple of my friends.  Eating with two hands is divine.  :)

Look how high-cut!

Heavenly

After that, it was time for my favorite gift of the day.  My husband took the boys for 4 1/2 hours.  YES.  I had that entire time in my house completely to myself.  I wanted to set an agenda, then quickly dismissed everything and did absolutely nothing for (most) of the time.

A sample of my "nothing"

I did give myself a little spa treatment and followed it up with a half hour-long shower.  In peace.

Yogurt-honey mask.  Delicious and soothing.

The boys had a blast.  They met up with Mom Mom and Pop Pop and took the train to 2Toots, one of the Cub's absolute favorite places.  Bennett did incredibly well with the small amount of milk that I was able to pump, and when they returned, he came right back into my welcoming arms for some snuggles.

It really was the perfect Mother's Day gift.  I've been burning myself out with the boys lately and having some time to myself was a great way to recharge.  The one drawback to the day was not getting to see my own mother, though we have plans this weekend to celebrate.

Speaking of my mother, I would be remiss if I didn't mention her and all that she has done for me.  My Mom and I have an interesting relationship.  At times, she drives me completely batty, but despite that, I am always super excited to see her and talk to her.  I haven't always been the warmest, most affectionate daughter, but that never stops my mom from being the warmest, most affectionate mother.

She truly cares about everyone around her with so much of her heart that she sometimes neglects her own feelings.  She stays up all night when she is worried about someone she loves, and if you ask for a crumb, she will bring you a feast.  I was rummaging around yesterday looking for a photo to post of her and myself as a baby, and I came across three scrapbooks full of graduation cards and clippings from junior high and high school.  I totally forgot she had made these and given them to me.  At first I admit that I rolled my eyes in my head, but then I realized that I have a box full of all of Jacob's birthday cards and have made scrapbooks of his first three years.  Maybe he'll roll his eyes at me one day as I pass these books on to him.

My brother, my mom, and me as a peanut

Anyone who has met my mother will tell you that she is one of the friendliest people they've ever met.  She really wants to make everyone else happy as much as she can.  A quality I have that as I get older I realize more and more is an inheritance from her is that she wears her heart on her sleeve.  It's pretty easy to predict what her reaction will be to certain things, and 99% of the time it's tears.  She has been a wonderful grandmother to our boys, and I am so happy that they get to grow up knowing her and her big heart.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you fantastic mothers out there, and especially to my mother.  I do not say this as often as I should, but I love you and cherish you dearly.