Happy Mother's Day!

So today was my wife's third mother's day, and I think probably the most important and significant for us. Having Jacob in our lives has been wonderful but also quite challenging for Jen, and I've really come to appreciate all that she does as a mom now more than ever. I remember before we had kids, joking with Jen that she was going to have it made once we did start having kids because she would get to stay home and be a mom and it was going to be like being on summer vacation everyday. I honestly think that we both thought that was what it was going to be like. But we now know that is so far from the truth. I feel pretty confident in saying it is the hardest job in the world and I know I couldn't do it. I remember Jen asking me once, before Jacob came along, if I thought I could do what she does. And I remember saying that yes, I did think I'd be able to. Well, I can now say without a shadow of a doubt that no, there's no way I could do it. Jen has the patience and understanding and giving nature that I and almost everyone else I know lacks.

I am very proud of our kids, well, mostly Stella because Jake is a bit too young to do anything significant yet. Stella is a wonderful little girl. She always stops before she steps into the street and puts up her hand and waits for one of us to take it. She says thank you and please (most of the time anyway). She sings songs. She loves to pick out her own clothes. She loves to giggle and laugh and she has recently discovered the joy of making others laugh. She has quite a vivid imagination (we'll save the story about her new imaginary friend, "Toe", for another day). All of that is because of Jen. Since I'm at work most of the day I only get to spend 2 hours/day with her at most, so Jen is the one who gets the credit for helping our amazing little girl grow up as wonderful as she has. She is destined for great things, and when she gets there, I hope she'll realize that her mom is the one who helped her become the person she is.

We had a nice Mother's Day weekend, although it was a bit challenging at times as Jacob has entered the grunting/growling phase (is this a boy thing? I don't remember this with Stella). Anyway, here are some pictures from today. Happy Mother's Day honey, we love you and we're so lucky to have you! Thank you for everything that you do!!!


Excuse the drool on this one, dude can be a bit messy!