"My Mommy" Moments

Happy Mother's Day to one and all. I'm blogging while my husband is in the kitchen...I like this day a lot :) I hope everyone's husband is in the kitchen too!

I just thought it would be nice for me to remember some great moments that involve my mom (LaCinda) and my mom-in-law (Stephanie) as a thank you to them for all of their love through the years.


It was Mother's Day three years ago that my mom flew in to Oakland to visit her brand new grandbaby Ella. As a first time mom, I had done my homework and had spent hours reading about babies...I still don't believe it really prepares you for the real thing, but it gave me a sense that I was on the right track. Anyway, I had decided (based on the resesarch) that I wouldn't use a binkie for my baby (nipple confusion sounded like the worst thing in the world to me at the time). Well, after only 24 hours at home, I was exhausted and Ella just screamed and screamed. Stephen picked my mom up from the airport and told her about the state of things. My mom, (on a Sunday--only an emergency would lead her to shop on Sunday) made him stop at Target to buy several different kinds of binkies. When I tried to resist her, she informed me that "only stupid babies get nipple confusion and your baby isn't stupid." Needless to say, I got a lot of extra sleep that first week because my mom would stay awake with me at night and then lay Ella down in bed. I cried for an hour when she left. (I think I was a little emotional after the whole experience.) That moment has always stayed in my mind as a reminder of the experience, confidence, wisdom and sacrifice you gain as a mother. For the advice and love she gives to me, I will always be indebted to my wonderful mother.

Sometimes being a mom is all about the details. The bow in the hair, the shoes tied, the thank you card sent--all those little things add up to create one very thoughtful person and that is Stephanie. Not a holiday goes by that a package doesn't arrive at the door full of goodies. (And not just for the kids...great stuff for me too!) She is incredibly considerate of other people--their needs, desires, etc. And she's observant too. I remember that she once found the perfect pair of earrings for me ( I love them) and she casually mentioned that she had been watching the things I wear to try to get a sense of the things I liked. So sweet. One of my favorite mom moments with Stephanie happened just after Kayla was born when she came for a visit at Thanksgiving time to meet our newest family member. (Can you tell I'm at my most vulnerable after the kids are born!!) I was feeling tired and yucky and a little stressed about this big meal where I was supposedly playing hostess. Thankfully, Stephanie came to the rescue with dozens of excellent recipes, years of Thanksgiving dinner experience, and did nearly everything in our tiny apartment, but without making me feel like a bum at all. For that, I will be eternally grateful. I hope to follow in her footsteps and gain a few ounces of her consideration and sensitivity to others.