Ten.

Mama Kat's got a list out of prompts this week and I chose numero quatro: "Many of us like to poke fun at some of the things that drive us crazy as parents…let’s flip the script, what are 10 things you love about motherhood?"

1. I love to watch the kids sleep. LOVE. I love how Lillie whistles through the gap in her teeth. I like to listen to Logan giggle and kick the wall. They are both extreme opposites of one another in sleep as well as in life. Lillie sleeps like a rock and I can more than likely find her in the same position I left her should I walk in and have to wake her up in the mornings. Lo, on the other hand, is so active in his sleep that we're never surprised to hear a "thud" from his room and even less surprised that he crawls back into bed like nothing ever happened.
2. Their joy and lust for life. Granted, I am not a morning person and can be a little snippy with them before the coffee kicks in, it is still wonderful to see their squishy faces first thing in the morning.
3. It's true what they say about seeing the world anew through your children's eyes. Logan is very inquisitive with lots of why's and how come's, but not nearly as much as some other children I've had the pleasure of encountering. Lillie is opening my mind to art on a whole other level, her level. If I could get away with painting naked and free handing with chalk on the walls, I would totally do it. I bet it's freeing.
4. I love the challenge that being a Mother has brought me. Every day is a scavenger hunt that leaves me asking myself, "How on God's green Earth did this end up here?" It's a game I never knew I'd love. The OCD in me loves it. Gives me an excuse to sort all their toys and bring order to something at the end of the day month.
5. Watching them grow. It's both heart breaking and awe inspiring. Lo no longer holds any semblance of a baby in his face or body. He lost the sweet creases on his baby thighs sometime around his first birthday. His ears are already bigger than mine, which isn't really surprising seeing as mine stopped growing sometime around toddler hood. Lillie though... my baby... I look at her from across the room and I can see this little girl aching to break free of her toddler body. It literally BREAKS. MY. HEART. Her legs are getting longer and leaner, yet she's still got that soft baby chub in her thighs and cheeks. (Both sets of cheeks in case you're curious.) After her bath the other night, I held her still small feet up to my face and just rested my head on them. Tonight as she tried so hard not to drift off to sleep I held her, rocked and sang to her while because I know that she won't always be 28 pounds of sweet baby... that when I attempt to hold her Brother, who's only got 10 pounds on her, feels like I'm carrying a bag of bricks. This "growing up" business is what ruin's a Mom for good, and yet, I'm so honored to get to engage with them in different and new ways every day.
6. Lillie disciplines her babies. She doesn't spank or yell (neither of which I do often), but she puts them in time out when they've been "naughty" and talks to them about how they behaved. This alone makes my heart swell because it shows me she's listening. Now if I can only talk her out of this "potty humor" her Brother has got her into. If I hear "butt monster" one more time I'm going to quit and have myself committed.
7. Lo has a big heart and is so social, even I want to be him when I grow up. He loves everyone, cares for everyone and constantly wants to play and engage with others. He's slowly growing into his imagination and it's fun to watch him try and convince others that he's Batman, Hulk, a Jedi, or insert pretty much any of his flavors of the week here. He's constantly seeking approval through his Dad who knows EVERYTHING about superheros. Meaning Daddy is his absolute favorite person right now.
8. I love finding delight on their faces when I do something right by them. If I give in and make Macaroni and Cheese it's almost better than a parade coming through the living room. Almost.
9. Finding faith upon conception. It is THAT awe inspiring. Here are these children and they have your eyes, his feet and ears, your unfortunate hair type, his body type, your personality, his nerdiness, etc. How could there not be something, someone out there creating us as their masterpieces. What goes on in your mind while you are growing a child inside of you is something that can not be described in words other than maybe saying it's like a silent conversation with a best friend.
10. I love being a Mom. Yes it's stressful, yes it's heartbreaking, YES it is the most rewarding job I've ever had. I couldn't imagine being anyone else or ever going back to my childless days. Sometimes I think back to our life pre-children and feel like Lo should be there somewhere or Lillie should be scaling the cabinets in our old apartment in search of "the good snacks." They're there in my mind as if they've always existed just on another plane of consciousness. I still feel like we're not quite complete, like there are puzzle pieces missing... but who knows, maybe it's because we're not even halfway through our lives yet and there's still so much more living and mommying to do with the best kids I could have ever asked for.