Blessings: Slobbery kisses and Little Hugs

Okay, so I was reading my sister inlaws blog that she most recently posted and I couldn't stop crying. Jon Mark had to ask me what was wrong and I couldn't even communicate with him to tell him why I was so upset. Finally, I was able to get out the words, "Michelle's blog... miss Gavin... sad..." and I sounded like a complete moron. I tried to read a passage of scripture because that's what we do right before bed, and I couldn't make it out. Finally, I just decided that I needed to go to bed. Two things I learned from that experience: 1. Don't read things that will make you cry right before bed or if you are pregnant, and 2. Think about all of the little things that I love about Joshua so I don't take them for granted.

Michelle's blog post talked about all of the things she missed about her little boy. Some were so small and simple that it caused me to realize that some of life's blessings that are most precious come in the smallest and simplest of ways. For instance, Michelle said that the memory she holds most dear is when Gavin kissed her for the first time without her having to ask him to do so. She also talked about how he'd "help" her sweep and mop the floor, and even though it took her twice as long to do it whenever he'd "help", she cherished those moments to be side by side. She said she misses the way his chubby hands tried to communicate with her using the signs he had been taught. She missed hearing the way he'd pronounce the words he had learned. His smile. His laugh. All of this caused me to really sit down and think about how wonderful it is to be a mother and to have the opportunity to stay home with Joshua and experience his growth first hand. And, it caused me to really ponder over the smallest of blessings that Heavenly Father has so freely and lovingly given me. So here are some of my most favorite things in this world that come from being a mom...

1. Yesterday, I came home from a baby shower at about 8:30 p.m. Jon Mark wasn't in the front room, so I tiptoed down the hall and listened outside of Joshua's bedroom door. That's when I heard one of my favorite sounds. I could hear Joshua's heavy breathing and Jon Mark's calming voice singing him to sleep. Another favorite sound of mine is Joshua's out of control laughter when he plays with Jon Mark. And although I probably worry too much about the neighbors below us, I LOVE hearing two of my favorite people playing.

2. I love the way Joshua stomps around in his red cowboy boots. He thinks he is pretty awesome whenever I put them on him. He likes the way they click on the sidewalk. So, he goosesteps (kicking both legs straight out in front of him when he walks so that his feet come down really heavy) and says "bop, bop" with each step. It's way cute.

3. I love Joshua's hugs. These are perhaps my most favorite things he does. He holds onto my legs and says, "up" and I pick him up. Then, he puts his chubby little hands on both of my ears and pulls my head into his neck. He makes a cute little sound when he does it, kind of like a sigh, and nuzzles my neck. I truely feel so loved. These moments make up for all of the sleepless nights that we still occassionly have, and all of the little tantrums he has been known to throw.

4. I love his open mouthed kisses. It's only been recently that he's learned the proper way of giving kisses, but his open mouthed kisses truely are adorable. It's just hard sometimes to dodge the snotty nose.

Those are just a few of the things I love most about motherhood. I'm so grateful for the small and simple things.






This video is also a favorite of mine, though it's not of Joshua. Bekah is my neice and anytime I need a good laugh, I ask her to say shoes. You can't tell in the video but she makes a growling sound and thinks she's saying "shoes". She does it everytime.