Tagged-5 Wonderful Things About Motherhood

Exploring a tidepool

I was tagged by Lucas's mommy for a meme: 5 things that make me love motherhood. I wish I were clever enough to put together an acrostic, but Matthew doesn't have 5 letters and I can't leave him out of the fun!

1. Exploration: I had forgotten that dandelions were so much fun to blow. That maple seeds not only make great helicopters, but also stick to your nose when you peel them apart. I had stopped taking notice of twinkling stars, crawling ants, and upside-down images in raindrops. Now that I'm a mother, my children constantly explore and bring back that sense of awe over things adults consider mundane.
2. Insanity: Not for my own state of mind (though that might be more appropriate at times), but for the craziness that is innate to toddlers and preschoolers. Case in point: riding half-naked down the driveway on his tricycle (Matt did remember his sunglasses, at least), Nolan running in circles and laughing so hard he snorts, and taking their trucks for a walk with the two cat leashes we own. The kids provide so much entertainment value that we often wonder what we did before we had kids.
3. Nighttime: After all the craziness of the day, that final snuggle in bed with a book and whispered questions and prayers bring a sense of calm and security like no other. And while I hope he sleeps through the night soon, I secretly love the fact that Nolan still wakes up in the middle of the night and climbs into our bed. He sighs and snuggles as close to me as he can get- a sort of "power cuddle."
4. Mornings: I have never had a greeting so filled with enthusiasm as the one I get from my children in the morning. I am greeted with running feet, open arms, and cheers of joy. Sure, they're really only happy because they are getting a banana and cereal. But their glee at seeing my eyes open makes me feel like a rock star.
5. Connectivity: The boys share traits from so many family members- some still with us, and some who have passed on. Matt's irreverent streak reminds me of my beloved Grandad. Who isn't with us anymore. He left a little twinkle of himself in that gorgeous boy of mine, though. Both boys are a little stubborn- they get this from their father. I get to see a little bit of what my husband might have been like as a little boy. Nolan is sensitive and gentle- I see my mom in him. Matt loves tractors. I think a part of my husband's grandfather left its mark there. And every time my boys take things apart (which is often), I see hints of their grandpa and uncle- who are both engineers. The boys bring our larger, extended family together in wonderful ways.

I'm supposed to tag 5 moms to complete this. I always feel guilty about doing that, so don't do it if you don't want to! I'm tagging Herding Grasshoppers, Live Laugh Love Family, Orange, No Small Thing, and OllieandErickaPlus3. Mostly because I think they may not hate me for tagging them!