Water

What a simple word. W-A-T-E-R. These two syllables define a clear liquid with no color, taste or smell. It falls from the clouds in the form of rain, and we drink it. So what? Before this week I didn't care one bit about this word, but now that my daughter has learned how to say it, I am smitten. Never has there been a prettier sound. Water! Eliana's baby diction makes it sound more like "wah-ler," but she's getting better. She knows exactly what it is, and asks for it often. Her favorite way to drink it is out of Mommy's glass with a straw. Water...... WATER!

Just another day in the life of a mom. Gone is my desire for fancy cars or expensive dinners. What really gives me joy is watching the daily accomplishments of my daughter, including but not limited to the "W" sound. Last week she successfully pulled herself up onto the couch all by herself. She already knows how to get down from the couch, so now I sit there and watch as she climbs up and down, up and down. Gaining strength to climb up even higher obstacles, I'm sure. With a growing toddler in the house, every week has a little bit of "new." Sometimes it's a new food she has learned to enjoy, or a new word or animal sound she has mastered. Each event feels like a momentous occasion, and a cause for celebration!

Do other parent's feel this way? I'm sure they must. There is something a little magical about watching someone learn and grow right in front of your eyes. And the exponential learning rate of a small child makes it all the more interesting. I bet that's why teachers find their careers so rewarding. There is nothing quite like being the person a child learns from. What an enormous amount of responsibility! Although, I'm sure it also yields a great sense of pride.

I'm proud of my little peanut, and not just for speaking or climbing. I'm honored that she lifts people's spirits and cheers up everyone's day. I love that she can make even the grumpiest of men smile, and knows how to rally the most awesome dance party. She obviously brings Zach and me incredible joy, but she doesn't stop there. Eliana is a force of love that brings happiness to everyone she meets. Forgive me if I sound like I'm bragging, but these words are not for me ... these words are for HER! I hope someday Eliana will read this and know just how blessed we are that she is who she is!

My sweet baby is currently napping beside me as I write this. When Eliana naps, I usually run around the house like a crazy person. This is prime time to shower, make lunch, clean the kitchen, straighten up the living room, do the dishes, do the laundry, pay the bills, etc. But today felt more like a "write a blog post" kind of day, don't you agree? Maybe it's the weather. The New England leaves are changing beautifully, and pumpkin flavored everything is out in full swing. Fall-my favorite time of year. Tis the season of long sleeves, puff vests, and most importantly ... SCARVES. Of course this past weekend was still 85 degrees, but there is hope for a cooler future. Hey, it's still in the 100s in Arizona, so it could be worse!

I video chatted with my Sister-in-law from AZ this morning. Even though it was a brief conversation, it was so wonderful to see her and the kids. I'm grateful Eliana is growing up in a time when far away relatives can be just a video screen away. Of course if you all REALLY loved Eliana, you would move home to Connecticut so she could see you in person! ... Am I right, Ben, Crysty, Dave, Sarah, Chris, Alie, Sue, Gus, Sarah, and Rachel??? Okay, enough of the guilt trip. Eliana is waking up so I need to go! Have a great day everyone. Enjoy life.

xoxo Liz

Eliana

We have officially been parents for an entire year and I couldn't be happier. I can honestly say being a mom is every cliché in the book and more. "It's the hardest job you'll ever have, but the most rewarding." Truth. But it's also the most fun job I've ever had. Why didn't anyone tell me parenting would be like this? I would have signed up for this gig a lot sooner had I known that. It's so much fun to raise Eliana with my husband. It's a joy to have play time and laugh time and cuddle time and bath time. It's hilarious when we trip over baby gates, or forget to buy diapers, or have nonsensical conversations with our little munchkin. Doing this whole "mom" thing with my best friend has been a riot so far, and I can't wait for each new stage of parenting to begin.

I remember the day of her birth well. And why wouldn't I? It was only a year ago. ;) I had so much anxiety and anticipation for the unknown. What would my baby be like? What would motherhood be like? What would the car ride home feel like?? (lol) :) But the moment she was born, the anticipation was finally gone. Things were happening so quickly that I had no choice but to live in the moment. Be a mom right then and there. No more planning, no more waiting, but finally acting and doing. It was liberating.

I'm reminded of those feelings now as my family prepares to travel to Texas next week for my dear brother's wedding.  So much anticipation surrounding this trip. So many plans made, and altered, and changed again. So much researching, collaborating, reserving and confirming. So many checklists checked and then double checked. So much packing to do, so much traveling to do. But soon we will be there, living in the moment, enjoying a beautiful celebration of new beginnings. What joy!

Sometimes too much planning can be a bad thing. What if everything changes? What if things go wrong? What if nothing happens the way you planned? If Eliana has taught me one thing (and I'm still learning) it would be to roll with the punches. I plan and anticipate, make lists and prepare because it's fun for me and I'm good at it. But there's a side of me now that doesn't stress over things being perfect anymore. Eliana's birth was not perfect, but here she is one year later as wonderful as can be, making her parents feel happy and blessed. This trip to Texas won't be perfect, but in the end a bride will marry a groom, and that's all that matters.

Happy, happy birthday to my sweet baby girl. You have no idea how you rocked the world I thought couldn't get any better. Your beautiful, loving presence in our home is more fantastic than I ever imagined possible. How does someone so small make everything feel so wonderful? What a blessing you are to us, Eliana. WE LOVE YOU!

xoxo Liz

Mothers

It's been nine months since I held my baby for the first time. Officially a mother, bragging rights and all. I didn't go through natural childbirth (Eliana was a c-section), but I had my share of contractions and hospital horror stories to receive my badge of honor. I was just talking to my sister the other day about the labors of her two children. Each one hard in different ways. Unique, but similar; terrifying, but inspiring. I always used to think the worse you had it at the hospital, ("40 hours of active labor!") the more of a mom you were. It's only now I realize that every crazy birthing story yields the same result. One day you don't have a kid, the next day you do. Bam. A mother.

There are no degrees of labor that can change your motherhood. No "I pushed harder" or "my labor lasted longer" or "my recovery was worse." That's just the beginning. An important piece of the puzzle, but by no means the whole story. Still, I love listening to people talk about birth. It's like watching a suspense movie. You're at the edge of your seat, hoping everyone survives! And still, the best is yet to come.

Eliana has been on this earth for 9 months and has not gone a single day without making me laugh. Her favorite thing to do is stare at me, clench her entire body, and scream at the top of her lungs. Then I laugh at her, and she laughs at me. It's a fantastic little exchange. I just hope my neighbors don't mind. ;) Life with my baby isn't always puppies and rainbows, (some days she cries if I leave the room, and doesn't stop ... ever ... until I return) but I am grateful for the mommy/baby time working from home gives us. Eliana is loving and sensitive just like her mommy, but she is also crazy and funny just like her dad. Her personality is really starting to show, and I love the little lady she is turning out to be!

Today I thought about my mother, and how she raised 5 kids. Each one a ball of energy and crazier than the next. Each one under the age of 6 when the last one came around. How. Did. She. Do. It? I still have no clue. Eliana is a full time job. A FULL time job and she's just one! I can't imagine 2 kids let alone 5! But here we go again. I am no less of a mother than my mother was. Sure ... she's like a superhero mom, but I'm a mom just the same. And what about those moms who adopt or foster? No birthing story for them, but they are moms through and through!

These many scenarios have been fascinating me as I think about Mother's Day. My husband mentioned getting me a gift, and I didn't know for what occasion. I'm a sucker for Hallmark holidays, but Mother's Day wasn't even on my radar. When he reminded me, I immediately started comparing myself to my mom, and my sisters, and even friends my age who are having babies. I didn't know how I could be considered in the same group as these warrior women. How could a newbie like me be celebrated? I guess I have to remind myself how uniting motherhood can be. Each family unique, but similar. Being a mom is terrifying, but inspiring.

Eliana is my badge of honor. Everywhere I take her, or when we cozy up at home, I find myself looking at her in disbelief. I can't quite understand how she's mine, or how her father and I made this little being. What a blessing she is. What a miracle. She's growing up strong and changing our lives and I only have our Lord to thank. Here's to the faithful mothers, young and old. To the ones with 1 or the ones with 10. To the labor horror stories and the adoption paperwork nightmares. Here's to you, Moms. :) Happy Mother's Day.

xoxo Liz