This blog is for my children.
It’s for me too, but mostly, it’s for my boys.
It’s their baby book which in-real-life, I never got round to doing.
I want to fill it with memories, milestones, stories.
I want them to see it all – even the hard.
I’ve been writing a lot about the hard lately. I’ve had to dig deep to get through the days.
But it’s not hard because the boys are difficult.
No, it’s hard because this parenting thing? This making sure that the children are well and happy, and it’s all on my shoulders to make sure of that? The scariness of oh-my-god-I-cannot-screw-this-gig-up? The sinking feelings of not-enough-hours-in-a-day? Yes, those are the hard parts.
But the boys? My children? The pieces of my heart?
They are the easy.
Like the littlest who is 5 months old today.
Who can roll in all directions (and does, often), who stays seating up by himself for a little while, who has little teeth coming through.
Who has a ready smile and an infectious giggle. Who loves his tummy rubbed and his head stroked.
Who brightens up when he sees his brother or me. Who grabs my fingers at every opportunity.
And the toddler, who told me just the other morning, “Love you!”, both hands on my face.
Who comes up to me at random times of the day just to hug me. Who still likes to cuddle when he’s sleepy.
Who adores his baby brother and loves being with him.
Who points out colors of everything and counts them all. Who sings the Alphabet Song and Alouette all through the day.
Yes, they are the easy.
They are the reason I wake up in the morning, to do better, to be better.
They are the reason motherhood rocks.
What do you love about parenting?
Galit and I will be giving away a Signazon product of your choice in this month’s Memories Captured! Signazon offers decals, window decals, yard signs, car magnet signs, and congratulations banners, so mark your calendar for October 15th, and make one of these, yours!
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Twitter: LauraORourke
says:
Yes! YES! SO YES!!!
Love has never come easier than it does with my boys. And because of that, motherhood just comes naturally.
Laura @ Mommy Miracles ‘s last awesome post..Roar
I think it’s meant to be that way. And it’s fabulous when it all comes together.
First of all, gorgeous photos.
Second of all, I want to squeeze those chub rolls on baby.
Third of all , 5 MONTHS?!?!
And fourth, yes, the kids are mostly easy. It’s all the thinking and doing that is hard.
xoxo
Elaine A. ‘s last awesome post..Giving Gav His Credit Where Credit it is Due
Thank you – Nikon!
I squeezed the chub for ou!
And yes, FIVE MONTHS! OHEMGEE.
Yeah, all that thinking. Though I do more doing these days. Sigh.
Twitter: Lollygagblog
says:
Your boys are beautiful.
*I* love the moments that make me feel like I’m playing dress up, pretend, House, and babydolls…in those fun, sweet times, it’s kinda like I’m 9 again. (With AWESOME toys.)
Keely ‘s last awesome post..Wait, WHAT’S Been A Year?
Thank you!
Can I come over to play?
May I have just a small bite of baby’s thighs? Please? Pretty please?
tracy@sellabitmum ‘s last awesome post..Strive For The Happy
You know he’s all yours!
They sure are the reason motherhood rocks! How sweet is your toddler…and how big is the baby! Such a big boy sitting up and rolling over
Natalie ‘s last awesome post..A Snapshot of a Day in the Life
Yes, 5 months and growing up too quickly, sigh.
ohmygoodness, the rolls! Does he have a wrist crease too? I loved the wrist crease surrounded by arm rolls. The boys definitely are the easy part.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf ‘s last awesome post..Kelly vs. Dane – Quikpro France 2012
YES the boy has wrist creases!
Twitter: NinaBadzin
says:
Gorgeous pictures and I love the title. It’s nice to talk about the good stuff, too, isn’t it?
Nina ‘s last awesome post..I’ve Been Anthologized!
It absolutely is.
My Gawd. Your children are so beautiful. Look at little man sitting up! I have my vinyl stencil that I won last linkup…it has been on Mitchell’s to do list FOREVER to put on the wall for me. Once that actually happens I’ll tweet you a pic. Having said that, I wouldn’t mind winning again
Sarah @sundayspill ‘s last awesome post..Guest Post at Raising Humans
Yes, would love to see what you got from the last MC linkup!
The easy? I don’t know how they do it, but my children save my life every day.
They’re the reason I pray thanks every night, for the last 17 years … I’ll never believe they’re mine, and how lucky I am.
Alexandra ‘s last awesome post..ICYMI
And THEY are lucky to have you
Twitter: krrobi
says:
—One day when your children read your words, they will KNOW
how BLESSED they are.
Lovely. Xxx
That is my hope.
xo
Twitter: 1WheelersWorld
says:
Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely post. I’ve been too wrapped up in the hard lately, and this was exactly what I needed to read.
Aramelle {One Wheeler’s World} ‘s last awesome post..{Project Wheelerize} DIY Dry Erase Family Calendar
I’m glad reading this helped you, Aramelle. Truly.
You are such a positive person and mom. I read this earlier and I nodded. It is the overwhelming responsibility of growing men that will one day shape this world, that’s hard. The kids, they are our joy for sure
Thank you Stasha. I try to be positive, or I’ll sink in the negatives
i love all about parenting. I have to agree with you that PARENTING in itself is indeed difficult but once your kids comes to you give you that hug, say words that make you laugh, you instantly forget the difficulties of the PARENTING… nice post… I like it…
Ma. Teresa Grech Quiatchon Racal ‘s last awesome post..Amaya’s Girls
Thank you, glad you did!
You captured it perfectly. The look between brothers is what melts my heart each and every time. It makes the chaos of two so worth it!
Barbara ‘s last awesome post..Friday
I’m so lucky my boys love each other
omg. im sitting with all these memories in my head and i really cant pick just one. i guess when you some it up it’s for two reasons. the unconditional love they give me and the fact that when they’re teens they’ll take out the garbage and wash dishes.
for money of course. still cheaper than a cleaning lady.
Vanita ‘s last awesome post..Mystic Tarot Reading Giveaway
Ah, chores! I can’t wait to get them to do chores!
warning…chores come at a cost. not 15 minutes ago i asked damian to put his cup in the sink and he says “got a quarter” little creeps i tell you. i’m sure he picked that up from one of the teens.
vanita ‘s last awesome post..Empower Network: Where You Learn Nothing
Twitter: BrittanyVandy
says:
Okay I loved this post so much! I had a LOT more I was going to say but now I am trying to get the kids ready for school.
I just wanted to tell you that so far it only happens when I am logged into Facebook but on both my Mac and PC. I will figure it out! I will dig deep.
Brittany ‘s last awesome post..I Chose to Put My Phone Down
Thank you Brittany! I hope that whatever issue you encountered while trying to comment has gone away.
Twitter: fromtracie
says:
Yes!
I love those moments that come at me unaware – like when I’m standing in the hallway, and my daughter almost knocks me over with a hug, yelling, “SNEAK ATTACK HUG! I love you!!”
Tracie ‘s last awesome post..Half A Thanksgiving
Aw, that’s adorable!
Beautiful boys! I love how it has softened me. I feel like I have a better sense of what is really important in life now.
KeAnne ‘s last awesome post..Lazy Fall Weekend
Yes, I feel that way too!
I can’t list it all. The smiles and the hugs and the relaxing in a bed with all of us reading a book
angela ‘s last awesome post..Love Comes Later – A Book Tour
Motherhood is so awesome, isn’t it?
Twitter: lemondroppie
says:
So, so sweet! I love that my girls still want to snuggle even though they are not babies any more. Hopefully they won’t grow out of that for a long time!
Ginny Marie ‘s last awesome post..Caught Speeding
Oh I love the snuggles!
Twitter: frockfiles
says:
Your boys are so beautiful! My nephew just turned 8 and I can’t believe how quickly time has whizzed by. You’re so right that it’s important to appreciate them at every moment. I’m not a parent, but as an auntie I can appreciate, on many levels, what you’ve written here.
I love the joy I see on my kids faces when they are happy.
I also love seeing them drive off with grandma for a weekend.
Jessica ‘s last awesome post..Pink Your Sink To Raise Awareness
What gorgeous kids – someone got the genes right!
Lady Jennie ‘s last awesome post..Crockpot Boeuf Bourgignon
They are both lovely, and they both have fantastic hair.
I’m not sure my biggest boy is the easy for me, but it’s the really nice stuff in the midst of the hard – like the hugs and kisses and watching all the amazing stuff he can do – that brings the mama smiles.
Robin | Farewell, Stranger ‘s last awesome post..It Matters
Oh they are just so cute. What I love about parenting is the way my toddlers hand wraps around my finger and how the words, “love you” sound like “wuv vu” when he says it.
Julia ‘s last awesome post..Great Expectations
Twitter: copilotmom
says:
So very true, Alison. For me, the easy is the hugs and the conversations and the laughter and the tossing balls and reading stories and family walks. They are some of the joys that brighten all my days.
Kim@Co-Pilot Mom ‘s last awesome post..10 Compliments About My Sons
Oh, look at that precious baby and his fuzzy little baby bird head! So cute.
What do I love about parenting? All the hilarious things that pop out of my daughter’s mouth on any given day. She’s got quite the imagination and sense of humor, that one. And I love it.
Kristin @ What She Said ‘s last awesome post..Friday Tapas: The Green Cheese Edition
Twitter: lilahbility
says:
Adore this, Alison, and I couldn’t agree more!
Amanda ‘s last awesome post..Moments.
Yup, all that special stuff is why being a mom rocks. I knew I wanted to be a mom my whole life. I had no idea about the hard parts, just the cute stuff. Luckily, the good outweighs the bad.
just JENNIFER ‘s last awesome post..September #FMSphotoaday Recap
Aw, I love the baby’s fuzzy little hair, it’s so cute!! And your toddler is looking so much like a grown-up boy *sigh*
Your reason for blogging is the same as mine. I don’t do baby books
Runnermom-jen ‘s last awesome post..Celebrating the Good…
Twitter: fiercedivablog
says:
Oh, I love this analogy. the kids really are the easy!
It is I who makes it complicated.
You truly have a way with words. xo
ilene ‘s last awesome post..Cheer Mom Part 2: Cheer Angst
Beautifully written. The hardest part is the patience. It’s so easy to forget how little they are and how little they know and understand about the world around them.
Leslie ‘s last awesome post..{Mama Monday} Gettin’ Corny
I know about the easy and its so great.
Especially when 4 year old girl lays next to me in bed and says “momma I like you”.
And when my 11 year old boy says “mom you rock” for no real reason. The easy is all about the gooey warm center of that nugget of the day that makes me melt.
You are so blessed and I know its not always easy but you make it look good.
Alma ‘s last awesome post..Cabiknit
Twitter: mommy_rodeo
says:
Well said. And congrats on at least getting online pseudo-baby book done at least. I didn’t even manage that. My sister, on the other hand, has every line, every page filled out in the baby books FOR ALL THREE KIDS. I digress – love the pictures, the rolls and the love
Amy ‘s last awesome post..My month sans Facebook…
We definitely make motherhood harder(by putting too much on our plate) than our children intend it to be.
Your boys are so adorable.
Heather ‘s last awesome post..Bring It On
Twitter: CourtneyKirklnd
says:
I couldn’t agree more. Children are easy. Parenting is what’s so friggin hard. Parenting is frustrating and exhausting and emotional and down right annoying some days. If parenting were as peaceful and easy as our children…then, we’d have nothing to write about.
Hoping the days get easier for you!
Courtney Kirkland ‘s last awesome post..33 Week Bumpdate
They are adorable! By the way, I can see your photo shooting skills as well;)
Gigi ‘s last awesome post..A fogbeültetés története: fogpótlás régen és ma
Nothing can compare to a child hugging you and saying that they love you.
Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes ‘s last awesome post..A not so very relaxing weekend
Twitter: ashleytaylor76
says:
The giggles. The moments when my girls say yes to whatever I ask with no hesitation. The things that they say. Watching them learn and love. All of it is the easy.
You captured so well the struggle with the hard. Well done.
thedoseofreality ‘s last awesome post..WOULD I PAY MONEY FOR THIS: Candy That Is UNREAL
Those are some cute boys! And yes, those are the easy things about parenting. But so much pressure! I am sorry you have been having a hard time. I wish all days were ice creams and rainbows. No one told me life could be so rewarding and yet so difficult at the same time! And this is a wonderful thing to leave for your boys!
Alexa ‘s last awesome post..TTTS Tuesday – Kiera and Charlie’s Story
Twitter: mrs_KarenC
says:
yes… love the last line… they are the reason motherhood rocks…ain’t that the truth. Despite the times we are tired and they won’t sleep. Despite the times they don’t listen and have tempertantrums, Motherhood DOES ROCK!
karen ‘s last awesome post..Chicken and Potato Lentil Soup
Yes! This is exactly it. My boys are my reason for everything.
What I love? The smiles, the hugs, the kisses, and I lub eww’s. what I don’t love? When they repeat the language they’ve heard from me. Ahem.
Kimberly ‘s last awesome post..If You Wear a Wedding Ring…
I cannot believe he is FIVE months old. Gorgeous pictures of both your gorgeous boys. And what I love about parenting is how it has humbled me, how it has made me real, how it has grounded me all in effort to honor the gift they are.
Jessica ‘s last awesome post..Notebooking: Our First Try
Twitter: mommymonologues
says:
He’s so cute!
And yes, this was something I needed to read today. Because it’s my kids that make it all worth it!
Great post!
Kate ‘s last awesome post..Quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep….
I love them. They are adorable. And so is your book for them! (That’s what my blog is too.)
Natalie @MamaTrack ‘s last awesome post..A Day at Disneyworld
Yes yes yes. They truly are.
Those moments when your toddler squeezes you without having to ask them are the best form of validation that you’re doing a wonderful job. xo
Kimberly ‘s last awesome post..Eating Turkey Like A Boss
I love the hugs and kisses and the “I love yous”. I love the giggles and the smiles. This parenting is so hard that sometimes those moments get lost. Thanks for making me think about them.
AnnMarie ‘s last awesome post..Mom Pass-Mom Fail
Twitter: KalleyC
says:
The best part about parenting that just LOVE so far, is to look at things from a child’s point of view. To hear their thoughts, and how the process something. Their explanations about anything, and most of all, seeing the all the love you pour into them, reflected through them.
KalleyC ‘s last awesome post..Midweek Catch-Up & Swinging On A Star
I love so many things. This gig is tough and brutal. But, there is also the easy love we have for them. 5 months? How did that happen? I know, you’re thinking the exact same thing, right…
Open mouth, insert foot!
Oh, my goodness… Your boys are so handsome, Alison!
You are a wonderful momma for recognizing the good in others and wanting only the best for everyone in your life, your sweet family included. Sometimes we just have to surround ourselves with little ones to realize that there is good and innocent and so much beauty in this world.
Charlotte ‘s last awesome post..why I almost wore an eye patch on a 1st date and how I found my leprechaun in a haystack