Happy Mother's Day!

Before I share my exciting news, let me share a photo of my two favourite girls & the reasons why I love being a mother:



I am really really excited today because today I found out that I won a Mother's Day Contest!

Amanda of Living Proof Photography hosted the contest, and when I read about it, my heart was thumping at the thought of winning a photo session.

I have this problem I've decided to call WSOC... Wrong Side of the Camera. It is that even though I can take photos of my family, I will always be on the wrong side of the camera, so I can never take photos of our whole family, together... SAD!

So, today when I found out that I won Amanda's contest, I had to do a little happy dance with my daughter- hurray! I get family photos with me in them!! What a wonderful surprise for Mother's Day!

Since I'm on the topic of Mother's Day, I thought I'd share a little part of my entry with you:

I started to think about motherhood and how it often seems like a job without recognition. I sometimes miss the report cards of school and the recognition that came with a job. I’m a stay-at-home-mom, doing everything I can to stay home and be with my children as long as I can afford to. I don’t receive much recognition from those in the world around me, but I choose to be with my daughters if at all possible because I feel I should (and of course because I love them like crazy!!)
So as I was pondering this lack of recognition, I wrote a little poem and I realized that I have been getting recognition, just not from where it used to come:

In the time I’ve been a mother…

I’ve never made the news
Unless you count the reports my daughter gives my husband of the fun things she did with Mommy while he was at school

I’ve never received an award for my efforts
Unless you count the smile on the lit-up faces of my daughters when I show them how much I love them

I don’t get to go out to eat just for fun very often anymore
Unless you count the “pink milk” & cookies tea parties with my three year old

I don’t get to sing in groups for fun very often anymore
Unless you count the songs sung before naptime, bedtime, and just for fun

I have noticed a decline in my vocabulary
Unless you count “babytalk” (in which I am now fluent!)

I don’t have to write exams or pop quizzes anymore
Unless you count the many spontaneous questions of an inquisitive 3-year-old

I can’t perform a beautiful dance with applause from a crowd
Unless you count the undivided attention and smiles of my 5-month-old when I bust a move for her while pulling faces and making weird noises

I don’t get to the gym to lift weights and I don’t get workout time
Unless you count carrying around a very scrumptious, 17 lb 5-month-old

I don’t get to attend special performances
Unless you count my little girl in her tutu or fairy costume with ballet shoes, prancing around the living room to a CD of nutcracker music

My girls are too young to explain why I’m a good Mommy
Unless you count the little hints of explanation in the everyday moments

And those are the things that count the most

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Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there, may you have a wonderful day tomorrow!