I get it now

I will admit, I am really behind on my posts and have so much to update over the past month, including our fantastic beach trip, the Heithold family reunion, our visit with the Jacksons (where EJ met her soul-sister), and many more.  But as I sit watching "Duets" on ABC (yeah, that's right, don't judge), what I want to take a minute to reflect back on is something that Robin Thicke (remember what I said about not judging?) just said about his son: that nothing is more important, not his career/fame/music/the show than his son is.

I used to hear people say this all the time, and I would roll my eyes.  Of course it is the party line: Nothing is more important than my kids! but I was certain that I would have a better balance and swore that my husband, my animals, my career, my LIFE would be, if not more, then JUST AS important.

Silly me.

I get it now. And I can roll my eyes at myself as I say everything that all the moms & dads before me said, but damn if it isn't the truth: these short people that monopolize your days and bring you to the edge of frustration again and again and prevent you from having anything recognizable to your previous self as a social life....they really and truly are the bomb-diggity.  Every belly laugh, every running hug, every standing ovation they give at the end of a terrible song you have created solely for their entertainment, every MAMA yelled at the top of their lungs as they search lovingly/desperately for you.....it really IS all worth it.  And truly nothing else is as important.

Of course, that doesn't mean that I would trade in my girls nights or naptimes or trips with the hubby: let's be clear, those things keep me sane.  But I want to give a shout-out to all who have learned this lesson before I did: I get it now.  You were right.  There is nothing greater than this.  (as long as I have a bottle of Pinot Grigio chilling in the fridge....kidding, kidding!)

All my love and kisses and smothering to the most amazing short person I have ever known. I love you, EJ.  Thanks for making it all worth it.

- Mom