Different. Free...

I couldn't sleep last night. I was sitting in bed, my mind wandering, and I began to think about how different MY life is these days. It's so much less stressful and WAY more enjoyable.

(L to R)

Libby, Molly, Ally, Russ

When our kids were babies everything took serious planning. I couldn't go to the grocery store without a play by play stuffed in my pocket. It took 2 hours of packing up, just to leave the house. Even then shopping took an excessive amount of time as we cruised through the isles in our eye catching stroller. At the time, I just accepted the fact - this was MY life, and it would probably always be that way. I didn't know there was a light at the end of that tunnel.

Over the years I've learned to be patient, in a way I never expected possible. I learned how a positive attitude can take you far and that being "normal" is in the eye of the beholder. I've learned that being a mother doesn't mean I've lost myself or my independence- it just means I need to be more creative. I've learned we are ALL stronger than we give ourselves credit for. Nothing is impossible.

Now that our kids are 4, so much has changed. We ditched the stroller last year when they learned to hold hands and LISTEN well. They have become independent little boogers and life is very different. Grocery trips no longer take half the day. They can dress themselves, feed themselves, reason, and wipe their own booties. They can tell me what they need and if they don't feel well. They play together and look after one and other. They even understand the importance of "stranger danger," and THAT gives us a FREEDOM we never had before. Spontaneity is back in my vocabulary.

We can do fun things on the spur of the moment, things, the logistics of, STRESSED ME OUT about in the past. Like, hit the movies, just the 5 of us. Stop in for a treat at Jamba Juice. Run into the pharmacy. SWIM (without hauling 8TONS of floatation devices)!! Meet my mom for lunch (in a restaurant) and practice our manners. Use a public restroom-without climbing the walls and making my inner germaphobe FREAK OUT! You name it, the list goes on and on. It may seem simple/trite to most.. but to me... it's like the heavens have opened up and a beam of light has illuminated our little world. Life is SO DIFFERENT, in ways I didn't even realize were possible.

So, what's the point of this rambling little post?

Just when you think you've got it all figured out, that you've accepted things that are out of your control, life can still surprise you. The kids and I are having the best summer we've ever had. I'm enjoying motherhood NOW more than ever before. We've passed through the light and I love the FREEEEEEEEDOM on the other side. I feel like, for the fist time in 4 years, I can breathe. I KNOW there will be many challenges along the way. Don't even mention the teen years.. HOLY LORD! But right now, I'm enjoying being out of the baby stage and LOVING THIS MOMENT.

Just stopping in for some ice cream...

Russell Man

Ally Boo Boo

Miss Molly

Little Libs

I hope your all having a great week!