El Dia de los Madres

{Note: Since I took enough Spanish classes in college to be fluent in the language, I feel justified in entitling this post in said language. Mind you, the only reason I passed these classes (not only passed but received top marks) is thanks to my Uruguayan teacher's assistant who just happened to teach all my classes and who also just happened to take a liking to me; thus, in all my oral exams she asked me the exact same questions (all about mi esposo). Thanks to her, I didn't learn much Spanish but I did gain a love for Shakira and let's be honest--how much Spanish do I use in my every day life? Nada. But how much Skakira do I use? Muchos. That's right, "The Hips Don't Lie" is a vital part of my daily life}.

On this day of the mothers, I try not to get overly sentimental. Instead of focusing too much on all the "what ifs" (what if I were a better mother, what if I could just get pregnant again, what if I NEVER get pregnant again, etc., etc.), I choose to focus on the important stuff: breakfast in bed, fresh flowers, long afternoon naps, and homemade dinner. That said, don't think for a second that I'm not grateful that I get to spend every day with this rugrat:

Don't think that I don't love every hug given, every laugh bellowed, every nose kiss received, every song sang, every "wuv you, mamas" offered. I daily recognize that I'm living the good life, spending every day doing what I love most. And while it could be easy to focus too much on all the "what ifs", I choose to focus on the "what I've got". Because what I've got is good. Really good. Will and his mama; Mother's Day 2010

Here he's giving me "eye kisses" (butterfly kisses).

And here he's giving me "no'e kisses" (Eskimo kisses).

Palmyra Pilgrimage

Every year, in the spring, we trek to Palmyra, to revisit the place where it all began--in a grove of trees. Every year, we visit the temple, walk through the grove, see the hill. And every year, I remember why, why I go, why I believe, why I do what I do. Because a boy prayed, in a grove of trees, early one morning in the spring.

This year our pilgrimage wasn't quite as magical as in years past. Will wouldn't sleep in the porta crib {or anywhere else}, I didn't sleep when he didn't, the humidity was rampant, the BUGS were out, Will was a tad crabby from the lack of sleep, I was a tad crabby from the lack of sleep and our favorite sandwich shop was closed. Even still, we met Jane there. We went to the temple. We walked through the grove. And my testimony was fortified.

Did you hear that Palmyra adds ten pounds? I guess so. I'm figurin' it's time to do some bicep curls.
Wouldn't it be fun to be as beautiful as Jane? {Don't worry, I'm not jealous.}
That cute Will.
I love this shot of him. What a ham!