Things I want to remember....

I love that I have time to reflect on the day. Almost like slow motion kicks in and I can see and hear things and KNOW they are important. Things I don't want to forget. I remember my wedding day, I planned 6 months in advance to have the exact wedding we wanted. I repeated to myself over and over - enjoy the moments watch everyone having fun and enjoying the day and don't forget to hold hands and dance and kiss Ben...It lasted 6 hours, start to finish. I was in labor longer then that! The moments fade, the memories I have are only the pictures...I loved the day, the flowers, the family and friends, the dress, cake, everything! But after almost 6 years I can't remember the details.

I think raising kids is like that. I spent almost 20 years thinking and planning about how I was going to parent. My mom and dad would do things to me and I would think I would NEVER do those same things to my kids. I would see strangers parenting and their children being monsters and I would think my children will NEVER do that. I planned much like a wedding, the perfect nursery, the perfect paint color, clothing, diapers, the perfect name, I knew that my girls would always have bows in their hair and clean clothes and faces. They would always have manners, and never fuss or throw fits. After all , I knew everything I wanted my kids to be. I had planned on it - much like I planned my wedding.

Much like wedding planning not much time is spent on marriage planning. We didn't designate who would take put the trash or who would pay the bills or handle the DMV business. We didn't think ahead to think what we would think about vacation planning or retirement planning. We DID think we would be or wouldn't be like so and so, an we assumed things would just turn out perfectly. Isn't it the same when preparing for kids....you never really plan for the day to day...

Here are the things I don't want to forget, even though life is no where like I planned it - I LOVE these things for what they are...

1. I delivered both kids by C-Section hating every minute of it and wanting to labor and push for eternity...

2. My babies have always been amazing sleepers!

3. Natalie used to hit and bonk and otherwise torment every kid in her path...now she is sweet and kind and I am so proud of her!

4. Allison has absolutely NO hair style, I don't want to cut it because then she won't be my baby anymore and she rips out ANYTHING I attempt to put in her hair...

5. Parenting is harder then I ever thought, harder then any book makes it out to be, nothing is at it seems and I love it more then anything I have ever done - and even on my toughest days I know I'll miss it!

6. Natalie asks/repeats questions NON Stop and they are senseless, meaningless things to me and I have to remind myself everyday that they are of the upmost importance to HER and therefore must answer accordingly.

7. I don't remember to brush my kids teeth everyday and the sticker chart incentive is really for me.

8. Even though my kids take a bath everyday, sometimes twice a day they still seem to be dirty.

9. My kids get to take more showers and baths then I do - NOT fair!

10. My house is messy because I love my kids, one day again soon my house will be an extension of me instead of the 3 other people who live here - YES I am blaming them!

11. I am so happy when I see other 4 year old girls scratch their bottom, pick their nose, lick a window, etc...

12. How amazed I am at moms that go at this single, I can barely keep it together, they are amazingly strong and deserve assistance and compliments whenever possible.

13. That I can birth two completely different girls yet be exactly the same in some ways.

14. Ally cuddles every chance she gets.

15. My kids miss daddy so much when he isn't here...

16. That staying home is a privilege and I don't mean to complain.

17. How excited I am when Natalie remembers to wipe, flush AND wash!

18. How Ally names her family members repeatedly - Daddy, Mommy, Thissy, "Aw-ee"

19. How Natalie hops, skips and frolics around the shopping cart at VONS.

20. How Natalie always seems to sing too loud - and how Ally tries to sing along...

21. At 4 and 21 months going outside is the highlight of the day.

22. Renting a movie is up there with going to Disneyland:)

23. The princess are REAL and do LIVE at Disneyland...

24. My kids have fuller closets then I do.

25. That all the things I thought would matter - DON'T!

25. Watching the sister bond at this age is awe inspiring and an amazing gift I never expected!

I challenge you to come up with 25 things you don't want to forget...

To be continued...