The Good Stuff

I keep my niece, Ellie, on the days my sister works.  That typically means two days a week I have her. 

It's so much fun!  Ellie's no stranger to HappyascanB, and she will be two on Thanksgiving Day.  Full of personality, spunk, and love, Ellie has a zest for life that her aunt envies. 

She's also a wee bit mischevious.  Recently she got into my jewelry and came bounding down the hall with bracelets stacked all the way up her arm!  She was holding the necklace in her hand and couldn't wait for me to put it around her neck! 

Once I stopped giggling, I captured a few pictures for memory's sake. 

Oh how I love that precious little girl!  And I'm certainly not the only one who loves our days together.  Molly absolutely lights up when she sees Ellie!  Watching the two of them look at each other and giggle just makes my heart want to explode with love! 

Molly is really digging her exercauser these days.  She looks so big in it to me! 

It's these days, full of hugs, slobbery kisses, dirty diapers, spit ups and snacks that I find myself overwhelmed with pure gratitude that this is the life God's given me.  I often send Tim texts as simple as "thank you for working so hard so I can be home with MM every day!"  It's just better than I ever imagined!  Bless him for working so very hard to provide for our family of three!  I thank God for him always!

This afternoon held one of those precious moments that came out of nowhere but held feelings so special I never want to forget it.  Ellie was napping, and Molly had just woken up from a nap.  While changing Molly's diaper, I accidentally tickled the bottom of her foot.  She giggled a belly giggle that was one of the most precious sounds I've ever heard!  Wondering if it was an accident, I tickled her foot again and got the same precious reaction! 

And then, while on a high from my baby girl's precious little giggles, she proceeded to pass gas in a way that would make anyone in the room blush.  It was unreal! 

As I was laughing about that, she began laughing at me.  My heart absolutely melted, and as I picked her up, I was absolutely overcome with pure joy.  Unreserved gratitude.  Unbelievable love. 

There we stood, my 5-month-old blessing and me, in the middle of her nursery.  For just a moment the world stopped as I held her closely, swayed back and forth and praised my Heavenly Father for giving me the incredible honor of being her mother.  Tears streamed down my face during that amazing moment.  I never want to forget it.  Ever.

And all of this, every single bit of it, is the good stuff.