The end of maternity leave...

So, after a 3 month hiatus, I am back to work.  Actually last week was my first shift.  I cried all my tears, and this week I am better (well, a little better).  This morning, when I got Eli out of bed, he saw me wearing scrubs, and said, "Mama, you a doctor?"  I said, "Yes, Mama is a doctor."  He said, "No, you no doctor. You a mama."  That's right, Eli.  I am a mama.  I am a mama first and foremost, and always will be.  Actually, it is my favorite thing to be.  But, today I am also a doctor. There is no way to describe the feeling that sinks in your heart, as you pull out of the driveway and leave your littles behind, especially when your baby is only 2 months old.  But, somehow, at work, I find that I do have a role here that is important to me, important to the nurses I work with, and important to the patients that I help.

The past 3 months have been incredible.  Here are some of my favorite parts of this wonderful thing they call maternity leave!

1.  My last few days with Eli as my only child.  -
 This kid melts me in every way possible. I was getting a little antsy waiting for Anna to arrive.  Ben kept telling me to enjoy the time I had to spend with Eli.  So, that is what I did.  We lived at the park, Costco, Chuck E Cheese, the neighborhood lake, Target, and the carousel at the mall.  I love having this little sidekick.

2.  Anna's birth (of course) - 

People always say that the best days in their whole life are the days that their kids are born.  There is something precious about the spirit that fills a room and fills a family when a darling child comes to the world.  No words can describe.

3.  Time with family - 

I love my family.  I love Ben's family.  We really lucked out getting put with these people to ride this journey of life.  Thanks goodness we get them for forever.

4.  Watching Eli become a big brother -
He loves his new role.  And, by loves it, I mean loves it enough to hug & kiss sweet Annie over and over again (with his sticky face and dirty hands).  And, I love that he adores her so much.

5.  Anna's blessing -
How wonderful it was to be surrounded by family to celebrate a beautiful daughter of God.  So many family members were able to come for this special day, which shows us just how special she is to them.  This little peach is special, and having gone through my teenage years, I fear that there is one day that she might look in the mirror and forget that.  I hope not.  But, I will remind her again and again.  She is special, she is beautiful, she is loved.  She is a daughter of Heavenly Father.

I am glad that I had 3 months to make these memories.  And, I am glad that I have such fantastic people to share them with.  And, most of all, I am glad that I have an eternity with them to make more!  Life is good.  No, life is great.  And, it just keeps getting better.

4/9

Today is Eli's day.

Eli, there are so many things that I love about you.  But, some of my favorite things are the silly things you say.

I love how you put an extra "a" syllable onto almost every verb...like, "mama, help-a me".  I love it when you say, "Oh, baby nana so cute (or tute)".  And, of course, when you say, "What the what?"  I like it how you turn words into two repetitive syllables,  like band-aid is "ban-ban", and Aunt Beca is "bec-bec". I love when you tell me "one more time", but you really mean many more times!  Everytime we go to get you from your crib after a long nap or night's sleep, you say, "Mom (or Dad), you're back!"  But, most of all, I love how you say, "Mom?" or "Dad?", and then, when you get our attention, you say, "4-9."  None of us know what it means, but you say it all the time.  When the lady at Sea World asked you if you had any questions about dolphins, you said, "yep, 4-9?".  And, last night when dad got you milk in the middle of the night like you asked him to, you said "Thank you, dad.  4-9 lots."  Even this morning, in the bathtub, you were talking to the alligator mat, and telling him, "4-9".

So, since today is April 9, aka 4/9, it was all about you.

We started with a visit to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Park with Grandma, Aunt Janae, Aubrey & Cohen.

Then, on the way home from Austin, our car broke down in the middle of nowhere.  Actually, it couldn't have broken down in a better place.  While we waited for Grandma & Grandpa & the tow truck to rescue us, we visited with a horse, played with your favorite scooter, took a stroll during the sunset, and watched 3 trains go by us.  You were in heaven & I hope we never forget this day. 

Eli, I love you for a million reasons.  And, I love 4-9.  One day, I imagine, out of the blue, you are going to stop saying 4-9.  I think that I might cry that day.  Stay cute, my little