Thankful for today

Today, when our morning rest time was over, Isaac sat up in his bed, smiled at me, and exclaimed, "Hewo, Mommy!"

Today, as I was getting lunch ready, Isaac picked up a plate from the counter, pointed at the picture on it, and asked me, "Weez dat?" I told him it was Winnie the Pooh, and he proceeded ask what was on each of the other plates.

Today, as we were finishing lunch, Isaac looked at me and said, "Miss Stephie!" (his speech therapist). I replied, "Yes, you're going to see her at school today. And you'll see Miss Jen and ... who else are you going to see at school?" Isaac beamed and (correctly) answered, "Miss Kawen!"

Today, as I buckled in the kids for the ride to school, Isaac looked at the temporarily vacant space next to our van and asked, "Where za car?"

All things that the parents of most 3-year-olds take for granted. All things that made today a very good day ... because Isaac said them.

Today we are thankful for answered prayers!

Life is beautiful

Not gonna lie: The terrible twos have been getting me down. Sometimes it feels like, no matter what I say or do, at least one little person is going to (a) yell "no," (b) start whining, (c) scream at me, or (d) all of the above. It's enough to make a mommy want to pull out her hair—or, better yet, her ears!

But just when I think that I'm at my wits' end, that I can't take another day of it, the kids will do something to remind me how much fun they are when they're not being two. Like the other day, when all four of them decided to take turns going down the slide—with a minimum of fussing (for them) and a maximum of delight (for me):



Yes, as a friend put it to me today, my life is beautiful, indeed. Although it might be a little more beautiful once we get past the terrible twos ... and threes!

Crackin' up

Some days I feel like I could go nuts. On those days, it seems like someone is always whining, no one wants to eat what I've made, everyone acts like I'm killing them on the changing table, and nap time is unexpectedly cut short by more than an hour.

And then, out of the blue, God will send me a moment like this, a moment that makes me forget all that stuff and bask in the sheer joy that these little people bring to my life—every single day: