Good Morning, Mommy!

This is how Bella greeted me this morning as I was getting ready for work.

It's the sweetest thing when babies wake up and they're not crying. This has happened a few times recently with Bella, typically when she's sleeping in our bed. She'll just wake up randomly and hang out happily, like the little splash of sunshine she is.

This morning, she was still sleeping when I got up. But the next time I came into the room, I saw these little arms stretched above the blanket holding a little green paci. And there she was... wide-eyed and fiddling with her pacifier. Now usually, when she sees me (oh fine, let's be honest - EVERYTIME she sees me... :P ) she lights up like fireworks on New Year's Eve in the Philippines. (We're best friends, what can I say? I light up just the same when I see her!) And depending on her mood, if she sees me and then I leave.... she cries. And a crying baby at 6am is not ideal, especially for Dada Joe, who's slept most of the night on a hard toddler bed with Jonah. 

So at first I just watched her fiddle around. And then she looked to her side where Daddy was sound asleep next to her. I thought she might have tried to roll over and wake him up, but she didn't. 

She was still as happy as a clam.

So I couldn't resist. I had to look over and catch her gaze... and there it was... 

the big beautiful smile that I come home to after each work day.

The smile that will melt hearts for the rest of her life.

What a way to start the day. Good Morning, Bella my little lovebug... Mommy loves you.

Intro to the Heart of a Mommy.

Receiving the title of "Mommy" --- or "Maaaaaaaammy" as my youngest son, Jonah (21 months), refers to me --- is one of the sweetest blessings and greatest challenges of my life. It is a title relinquished by none, sadly regretted by some and overused by many (under the age of 7... because that's all i can attest to from personal experience). 

Motherhood is not just a part of me... it defines my entire being. 

It permeates every aspect of my life. 

And I prefer it that way.

My kids... are the reason I haven't slept in in years.

My kids... are the reason I wake up in the morning. 

        (someone's always hungry, or bored, or needs their diaper changed...)

My kids... are the reason my heart breaks a little each time I walk out the door to go to work.

My kids... make me smile when they smile... make me laugh when they laugh...  

My kids... are the most important people in my life under five feet tall.

        (for the record, the hubby is over five feet tall.)

My kids... bring more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined.

My kids... could never be a mistake... only a blessed surprise.

My kids... will never be loved by anyone the same way.

My kids... are my inspiration and motivation to be the best Mommy and Lady I can be.

My kids... are God's precious gifts to me.

and nothing will ever change that.

So here's my little blog, devoted to a peek into the heart of this Mommy.

Follow along if you wish... there will be tears and laughter, I assure you. 

And I hope you will be blessed.