Bow c/o Her Joyful Studio Dress c/o Angora Boutique
In the past few months, I've been having these "aha" moments as Mia is teaching me the simple way of life. Or teaching me that "it's the little things". She constantly reminds me how blessed I am. Our hearts are over flowing with love for her each and every day! One day I let Mia run around WalMart in her pjs and I kept thinking to myself "Ugh, gross! Germs, dirt! I'm the worst mom ever!" Then I really looked at Mia's face (pure JOY!) and realized- I'm the best mom ever in her eyes! As soon as we got home I peeled off her dirty pjs and threw them in the wash. Such a simple clean up for me to let Mia enjoy such a simple pleasure!
When Eric got laid off I was so upset that we weren't going to be able to get Mia the items that we had picked out for her birthday/Christmas! Then it hit me like a ton of bricks that Mia could care less about "stuff"! She would be perfectly happy with a book that cost no more than $1.
Eric was offered a job just a week and a half later so we still bought her everything on our list, but we never even gave it all to her! Simplify. Mia is teaching us to simplify- and be happy with what we do have! (Although she does ask for a bike every chance she gets, ha ha! Someday, baby girl. Someday.)
When I take Mia on runs I always let her take a snack to keep her happy. I usually pack grapes, a banana or raisins/craisins. The other morning I was strapping Mia into the stroller when she asked for her "nana?!" I was so dang proud! Then I rewarded her with a sucker instead because sometimes, it's okay to let her have junk!
The first few years that Eric and I were married, we often talked about what a relief it was that we didn't have kids. "Thank goodness we don't have kids to add to our bills." You know, stuff like that. Now that we have Mia, we find ourselves saying "Thank goodness we have Mia" on the daily! The most surprising time (to me) that our gratitude for Mia grew in leaps and bounds was when Eric did lose his job a few months ago. I thought we would be stressed to the max because we have a child, but it was just the opposite. Mia is the one that grounded us almost hourly the day we found out the news. Just when I would get so angry and overwhelmed with stress, Mia would walk in the room, flash a huge smile at me and all my worries and stress would melt away. Thank goodness for Mia!! It's obvious that she is just what we need in this season of our life.
22 comments:
What a sweet and lovely post, friend. SImply, such a good word. too many people are worried about things and they aren't what makes life important. Love, faith, joy and family are what life's all about!
I'm thankful for Mia because your pictures of her make me smile. She looks like such a joyful lil girl. Just like her mama. xoxo
I love your thoughts here about the simple things that make children happy - it's so true! Also, good job on always having snacks - I am for some reason the WORST at remembering snacks even after 7 years of motherhood! :)
aww this is THE sweetest post! You have the best heart & such a good mom!
What a sweet post, and all so true! And Lyla actually has me spending way less money on myself now haha. I hardly ever buy myself clothes or spend all the $$$ out drinking with friends. I swear I spend far less now!
I love your take on things--there are always going to be things to worry about, but there will also be tons of things that make those worries somehow less.
So many people don't want to have kids because they don't think they're ready, but I think your point of view is so sweet and true...kids do enhance our lives and make every day better :)
I love this post and your point of view on the little things that matter! Very well said. :)
We've run into the same thing when it comes to gifts. We (& our family) just want to spoil him but he gets SO much stuff for holidays that we end up putting some toys away in his closet and pulling them out again later on. He doesn't even realize what a gift is yet - he isn't even 1. But man, they're just so sweet all you want to do is see a smile on their face an it makes the whole word better. :-)
Sweet post lady. I can also picture Mia running around Walmart smiling. :-)
Love this post. I am so the 'oh no germs mom' and sometimes you just have to sit back and relax!!
You have no idea how much I love this post. It really is about simplifying and enjoying those moments that bring so much joy.
Love this post. Thanks :) I hear ya on the dirt thing...but yes, you're right, it brings them such joy and they'll remember all those times that I let them just get muddy instead of saying No. Frequentely when I want to say "no" I remind myself, be a "yes" mom.
...and now my eyes are watering. I love how much you appreciate the little moments with your girl. It's also really nice to hear that you and Eric didn't really feel ready for child early in your marriage. I desperately want a kid, but I can ALWAYS talk myself out of it because I can't imagine the extra stress, expenses, etc. It seems obvious, but it's so nice to hear that all of that is worth it when he or she finally comes around! :)
Kids are such an amazing comfort! Really amazing. Also, I recommend getting her a strider bike asap. It's a bike without pedals and teaches kids balance, therefore making the transition to a two wheeler a piece of cake. Levi literally flies on his strider! So fast.
Isn't it just crazy what even little ones can teach us big kids? :)
Mandie ~ http://badbrewpack.blogspot.com/
I've given up on germs because sometimes, it's going those type of things that truly seem to be the most fun for them!
Love!!! You are so cute!!!!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
This is such a fantastic post from a FANTASTIC MAMA!! Look at that smile - you're doing it right. :)
aw, this was the sweetest!! Mia is lucky to have you as a mama :)
This is the sweetest! I just love the way she asks for her "nana" :) Mia is so lucky to have you as a mama!
So sweet. I feel the same way about having a child now, they do make things better, their sweetness and hugs and kisses melt away any stress!
The way a child can make you appreciate the small things in life is amazing. The things that we see as trivial can be the most exciting thing to a child. They really do teach you to live laugh through simplicity, laughter, and letting loose. They appreciate freedom like running around Walmart. We often take it for granted. A simple sucker is fun and exciting. Remember when getting a sucker was that awesome? It makes you remember what it was like to really get happy over something that we wouldn't think twice about as adults. Having a child is like getting to relive your life and being able to appreciate it.
I will admit that I have thought that several times where "I'm so glad we don't have kids..." comes into my head. Chase and I have been so blessed to be able to travel and spend a lot of time together before we do have kids. I know our relationship has grown so much. It will be such a joy when we do finally get to see a smiling face when we are having a down day or going through a hard time (for now our dogs do that for us).
Running With Infertility
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