It is important to remember the journey thus far, and oh it has been a wonderful one in those five years!
Five years ago I had no idea if I could be a mom, wife and employee - it was a HARD adjustment but there is so much to learn when you push yourself to do the things you never think you can. There were many days were we headed off to work with no sleep but yet made it through, came home and held babies, got just a little more sleep than the night before and did it all again the next day. There were days when I was not sure I had on an outfit that made sense or shoes that matched and there was always spit up on my shirt. We learned how to sleep sitting up when holding Caden because he did not and still does not like to be in his bed by himself. We learned that you do not need to pack the house when you leave. We learned we can actually travel and enjoy the trip with these amazing little creatures which we created. We have learned that we have to take care of ourselves too to be at our best for them and that yes we are getting older. We have learned that our schedule was always going to change because these two little people were running the house and Matthew and I were just needed help at times.
We have learned so much from them: they teach you how to see people differently, you grow patience it may never be enough but I promise you it does grow, you learn what it is like to learn everything brand new and to see the world as a new and exciting adventure, you learn what it means to love someone than you ever knew you could love so much so that it hurts, you learn to forgive because remember a lot of what they are doing is learning and you learn that you are not a perfect parent but as long as you do your best they will turn into fine little people.
We hope: that we are doing things at least partly right in raising them all, that we are spending enough one on one time with them all, that we are teaching them what it means to be responsible for your actions, that they will understand that you get what you want when you work hard for it, that failure is okay - you will always learn something from failure, that you love your family because no matter what they are there for you and you will need them some day and most of all that they are just happy, healthy little kids and yes I even hope some days that they will stop growing and that I could freeze time but I cannot so we keep going.
We push ourselves to do more, we learn more as we go and we continue to hope for the best.
It is what we do as parents and it is still more than I ever imagined myself doing so it gives me happy tears with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.
On this Valentine's Day I could not ask for a better present than my family - all 6 of us - and I could not imagine my life any other way shared with anyone else.
If you are a part of our journey I greatly appreciate you, thank you and love you all because this is one heck of a journey we are on and it is not one for the weak of heart, or who cannot handle a messy house!
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| My life now |
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| My life 5 years ago today |
