Moments to remember

Do you ever have those moments, that in the moment,
you tell yourself that you want to remember this moment...
exactly how it is and how it makes you feel?

I do. I've had a lot of those with my son.
I want to remember the big moments and the small moments.
I wish I could remember them all.

When he was born and I first heard his cry. 

Oh, the joy and the tears.

When he rolled over, crawled, and took his first steps.

So exciting.

How he used to sleep on me after being nursed.

Oh, I miss napping with him. 

Singing to him before I put him into his crib.

"Rockabye baby on the tree top, when the wind blows...."

And how he lays his head on my shoulder, sometimes singing with me.

His laughter when kissing his belly

Or chasing him.

How he runs to stairs when he hears daddy come home.

So happy to see his daddy.

The feel of his head against my chest when he sat on my lap for a whole 15 minutes.

He wasn't fussy, he was just content.

That doesn't happen often enough.

The fact that he loves oreo cookies

And will go to the cabinet to get himself one.

His favorite stuffed bear

How he'll hug it and sleep with it

How he'll kiss it

How I used to have one just like it.

When I leave him for a bit...

How when I return, he smiles and reaches for me.

Bath time.
His favorite time.

So much splashing and squealing.

Being outside with him and how he just walks.

All he wants to do is walk and walk.

If you try to stop him or take him inside...he gets so upset. 

These moments and so many more... I want to remember. 

A letter to my son

Dear Braden,

I love you so much. There aren't words to tell you how much I love you; there never could be.

I've loved you since you were growing inside me and everyday that love grows. 

I'd do anything to protect you and show you that I care. 

You've taught me so much - what joy is and how to laugh. 

You're the reason I know what unconditional love is. 

There isn't a thing you could do to make me stop loving you. I hope you remember that. 

You are a gift from God and I am so thankful that He chose me to be your mama. 

I can't imagine my life without you baby boy. 

I've heard many parents say that their heart breaks as their baby is growing up and I know its true.

My heart really aches to watch you grow and learn. I wish I could keep you small forever, but I

know I can't. I'm okay with that because I know just as you've made me smile and laugh being little, 

you'll do the same growing up. You may grow up, but you'll always be my baby boy. 

Always love,

Mama

A game he plays

I love watching Braden grow and see his personality emerge. 

I love to see what he enjoys and there is a game he plays that just makes me giggle and scream with delight. 

He puts his hands over his eyes and waits for you to say, "Where's Braden? Where's Braden?" And then he pulls his hands away as to say, "Here I am!" He'll do it again and again so happy until he moves onto something else. 

I love to see him so happy and enjoying playing with mom and dad. 

He's such a joy.

Husband + son = heart swell

These are my boys. There are no two people whom I could possibly love more in this world.

When they are together... my love grows to an extent that I didn't even know existed. 

My favorite thing in the world is hearing them be together. I love when my husband goes in his room at night...when our little one is supposed to be sleeping and I hear them talking to each other. Of course, the little one doesn't talk much yet, but I hear him jabbering. I hear dada and giggles. 

Moments like those make my heart sore. Moments like those fill my heart with a joy, I didn't know, it could ever feel. 

When my husband tells me that he taught Braden how to say bear, it makes my heart happy to know that he's willing to teach our little one and that Braden wants to learn from his dada. It makes me smile when he tells me that he asked Braden if that was his bear and he patted it, as to say, "yes, this is my bear." And when he holds the bear in front of him and says, "are you going to sleep with your bear?" he grabs it and hugs it. It makes me happy that they have their own way of talking and having fun with one another.

Theres no greater joy to me, really. It makes me so happy that I could cry.

Because when I hear them talking... hear them playing...everything in my world seems so right and perfect. I couldn't ask for anything more. 

P.S. Theres an amazing giveaway going on over here featuring my new favorite etsy shop, Poor Pitiful Pearl. They have fabulous clothes that are refashioned. I am just dying over the clothes! So cute and unique! Check it out, I promise you won't be disappointed!

I am most joyful when

Earrings: Gift. Scarf: Modcloth. White tee: Gap. Under tank: Walmart. Shorts: Forever21. 

When my baby is cuddling with me.

Or just when I look at his little face.

When I am barefoot (is that cheating when it comes to the 30x30?).

When relationships are going right.

When I read a good word from God. 

When there is laughter. 

When I am outside.

When I am reading a good book.

What fills you with the most joy?