Mother’s Day…My favorite holiday!

I think Mother’s Day has most definitely become one of my top favorite holidays!! Motherhood should most definitely be celebrated because it truly is a gift!! To have a whole day devoted to celebrating MOTHERS…it is just freaking awesome!!!




As this special day comes to a close I am almost in tears at what a happy and incredible day it has been!! Not because we did anything fancy, or because my kids made me something awesome because they can’t…but because it was FILLED with SO much LOVE and HAPPINESS from my amazing husband and two beautiful kids!!!

Zach let me sleep in after I nursed Navy (which is ALWAYS amazing and a great way to start a day since it rarely happens). Then after I woke up I walked right into Dakota’s room where he was lying in bed and snuggled up next to him and was showered with smile after smile and giggle after giggle for it seemed like FOREVER!!! He has had the happiest last few days and today was one for the books!! He was SOOO happy and every time I would tell him, “Thank you SO much Dakota for all your smiles!! That is the best gift you could EVER give me for Mother’s Day!” he would just light up and giggle more!! I truly believe it was his special way to tell me Happy Mother’s Day and I will NEVER forget it!!! He brings SO much sunshine to my soul!!

On top of all of Dakota’s happiness…for the first Mother's Day since Dakota’s accident I got to hear “Mama” repeated all day today and fill Navy’s tiny little arms wrap around my neck!! Those simple gestures mean SO much to me and fill my heart with SO much joy!! It is the simple things like these that make being a mother SOOO rewarding!!!

Motherhood is not a glamorous job. Every night when I look in the mirror it is always a little scary! I have Dakota’s spit on my shoulder or in my hair. Navy’s food somewhere on my clothes. My makeup (if I even did it for the day) is smeared and scary. My messy bun is a little bit messier or if I actually did my hair then you can’t tell anymore BUT the best part about it all…I don’t even care!!! The mess, the craziness, the tiredness and exhaustion is ALL worth it!! It means I am a MOM and have one of the coolest jobs EVER!! Before Dakota’s accident I took motherhood for granted. It never occurred in my mind that it could end in an instant until that tragic day!! That dark feeling of realizing that I might not be a “mom” anymore was one of the worst feelings I have EVER felt and I can NEVER forget!! It is sad to say that something so tragic is what made me learn how sacred being a mom really was!! For the first time I realized that our children are a literal gift from God. We don’t get to choose how long they get to stay with us on this mortal journey or what their path will look like…so we MUST cherish EVERY day like it could be our last!! Don’t be the one like me who thought…that won’t happen to ME!

Dakota has taught me and many other mother’s out there to LOVE, APPRECIATE, ENJOY, and CHERISH each new day of motherhood and all that comes with it…the good and the bad days!! I can NEVER repay him for that!!! My heart always bursts when I get a comment or hear from someone I know or a stranger I bump into in the store who has read my blog or followed Dakota’s story and tells me that he has made them appreciate their kids or appreciate being a mom more. It makes all the heartache and pain worth it ALL and gives purpose to our trials!! So thank you to all who have shared that with us!!

Happy Mother’s Day to EVERY mother out there!! May you where your spit up stained, food covered clothes and messy bun spit covered hair with pride!! And if you are out of “that” stage…enjoy those emotional rollercoaster teenage years for they will be gone in an instant!! And if your kids are grown with families of their own…remember…motherhood NEVER ends!! As I look at all mine and Zach’s mom has had to endure watching and helping us and other siblings through trials..I kind of don’t want my kids to ever grow up!! I think I will take “these” sleepless nights over those! ;) Motherhood NEVER ends!! Enjoy each new stage, and each new challenge it will bring…because as we ALL know…our children teach us more then we teach them!!

Happy Mother's Day

It's still May so I'm officially not that far behind! Happy late Mother's Day to all you mother's out there!!! Sure hope it was a good one! Here is a little shout out to all of you! My friend sent me this video and I still am laughing about it! Maybe you already saw it but if not, if you are in need of a good laugh watch it!!

Mine was very special because MY mother was in town and I got to spend it with her! She lives in AZ so that really never happens. She had come up to watch Dakota for us while Zach and I went to Vegas (i promise update on that will come when life ever slows down) so we got to keep her for the weekend!

I know I'm a little partial but I have to say I have the BEST 2 mothers in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD! Both Zach and I are blessed to be born to some amazing woman! Maybe Heavenly Father knew how crappy our life would get so he let us have it easy growing up by giving us 2 amazing woman who would teach us, strengthen us, and love us unconditionally to prepare us for the H#@$ he was gonna throw at us. Also He knew we would need some MAJOR help and support to get through what we were given so he gave us these 2 beautiful woman!!!

They are both very different from each other but I love that! They have both taught me things in different ways and have been amazing examples to me as woman, as mothers, as daughters of God, and as friends!

It's easy to say all of those kind words about your own mother but not everyone loves their mother in laws. But I truly was one of the lucky ones to be married into an amazing family and be BLESSED with a second mom who I adore! Getting married and living in UT where I knew NOBODY was not even a hard adjustment because of Vicki! She has loved me as her own and has treated me with nothing but love and kindness. I really feel like she is just as much my mom as Zach's! Most people that see us together think that she is my mom over Zach's anyways! ;)

Happy Mother's Day MOMs!! Sure do love you and am SOOO grateful to have you in our lives!!!

Me and my mom

 

Vicki and Dakota were twinners!

 

Spending my mother's day the way I love best...with my 2 favorite boys!!

 

So blessed to be a mom!!!!!!!!!!

 

My mother's day present!

And picture! ;)

 

 

Jesus Wants ME for a Sunbeam

My little baby became on official sunbeam in primary today! (It was the first time we have been to our home ward this month) No longer a little tyke in Nursery...a big boy in Primary! Quite awhile ago they assigned my sweet dear friend Andrea (Sister Fife to Dakota) to be his very own teacher. To be devoted to helping him enjoy church with all the kids so that Zach and I could attend classes. They couldn't have picked a more perfect person. She was Dakota's nursery teacher before the accident and my visiting teaching companion for a few years. Dakota loved her so much and she has loved him so dearly and sincerely that it touches my heart deeply. Zach is such a worry wart with Dakota but even he gave his ok to trust Andrea to be his teacher and to leave Dakota for a couple of hours. (of course he made sure I went over every detail and scenario possible SEVERAL times...he is a cute dad who loves his boy ;) ) He has 2 great teachers too who I know will take great care to include him in all they do!

I wasn't sure how he would like the whole sharing time and class time. It is definitely an adjustment from nursery where he could watch the kids play with toys and be entertained. But they said he did so well and laughed during singing time when Andrea sang off tune or the wrong words. :) When I walked in to pick him up from class he all the sudden just started laughing hysterically. I love his sweet laugh and it lasted for SO long I couldn't believe it. When he laughs so hard he has a hard time breathing in so he would let out a couple big laughs...gasp for breath...make a more  serious look til he gets a good breath and start again. I swear he kept going almost longer then I had ever seen him before and I just LOVED it. My heart is happy today and I am SO grateful to not just be a mom but to be HIS mom!!!

THANKS FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME DAKOTA AND FOR CONTINUALLY TEACHING ME WHAT MATTERS MOST!!!

Keep it up buddy and I'll give you all the Pez candy you want...you don't even have to use the big boy potty!

P.S. My sweet cousin just sent me an email with a link to this amazing mother and her blog. She just lost her little 2 year old after a long and hard fight of EB (which I had never heard of before til now). Check it out and keep her in your prayers please! It will definitely make you count your blessings and especially the health of your children. Every day I am in awe and amazement at how many children are born healthy and strong when there is SO much out there that can go wrong. When Dakota was in Primary Children's with his heart defect when he was born, we saw and met so many babies and families that were there for unimaginable and indescribable things. Childbirth is truly a miracle. Never take the health of your children and families for granted!

http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/