Becoming Mama

Hi friends.

Remember when you were little and your moms had all the answers? Seriously, they knew what to make for dinner, what you should do when you're bored, and where to find all of your lost things. All questions could be answered, and no answers were wrong. Well, at least until we hit 13.

Here's the thing that I've learned about motherhood...

I HAVE NO ANSWERS!

I am completely out of my depth. I have no idea what I am doing. The fact that I am entrusted with two tiny lives to mold into productive adults is absolutely baffling.

So I read everything I can get my hands on. I listen to the "experts", and a get frustrated by the Mommy Wars. Every day I worry that I'm doing something wrong. That somehow I am ruining their childhood. I should have been playing instead of cleaning the kitchen. No! If they live in a messy house they will never learn to pick up after themselves! But there's always time for a story! But there's so much laundry to fold!

I keep thinking that someday, someday I will become the mama I want to be for them.

But here's the truth:

I don't have to become Mama. I already am Mama.

From the moment these two amazing, exhausting, perfectly imperfect little beings entered the world, I was Mama. Nothing in my power could ever fully prepare me for it. On my own, I am not capable of the love that they require.

But God is.

All my life He has been walking beside me, loving me with the most perfect love imaginable. It is because of His perfect love that I am able to give my children even a fraction of the love they deserve. Mama isn't something I can become. It is something He made me. He chose these two for me, and me for them.

I don't have to become Mama. He made me Mama.

And I am so glad He did.

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Are you here for the Ultimate Baby Blog Hop? Welcome! I'm so glad you're here! We have an amazing lineup for you this week, and you don't want to miss it.

First of all, there is an incredible list of bloggers behind this thing! I'm honored to even be a part of it. This team of women has been working their tails off to bring you the best of the best!

How can you make sure to get all of this goodness for the next 10 days? Here's how:

1. Check out the main landing page HERE at Lemon Lime Adventures (She's the mastermind behind this thing, and she's pretty much amazing. Go show her some love!) All the bloggers on this team, and how to find and follow them will be over there!

2. Follow us on Pinterest! Everyone will be linking their posts to this board, so don't miss all the goodies.

Follow Dayna :: Lemon Lime Adventures's board Everything Baby on Pinterest.

Oh, and did I mention the giveaways?

Look at these giveaways!

I mean COME. ON! Have you every seen anything so great? All throughout the week there will be chances to win prize bundles, as well as flash giveaways. If you are a new mom, know a new mom, or think you might ever be a new mom, you want in on this!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to read what some of the rest of this fantastic group has to say about celebrating motherhood? Check them out!

Celebrating Motherhood | Real Stories from Real Moms ~ Lemon Lime Adventures

Sweet tooth: from mother to children ~ La Cité des Vents

Happy Mother’s Day {Free Printable} ~ Bare Feet on the Dashboard

The Day I Became a Mom ~ The Jenny Evolution

Being a Mom of Growing Readers  ~ Growing Book by Book

How We Ordered a Baby ~ Let the Journey Begin

I Always Said I’m Not A Baby Person ~ Pink Oatmeal

Celebrate Motherhood: They Call Me Momma ~ The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide

Mom to Three: Two Here, One in My Heart ~ Still Playing School

Time After Time ~ True Aim Education

A Hand Made Family ~ Hand Made Kids Art

Four generations ~ Wildflower Ramblings

Ten Things I Learned From Motherhood ~ Conceving Piper

3 Poems Celebrating Motherhood ~ BPhotoArt

#ItWasMom ~ Trust Me, I'm a Mom

5 things to love about multiples ~ Bambini Travel

A Letter To Myself (As a New Mom) ~ Peace but Not Quiet

Celebrating Mothers Day from the Couch ~ ALLterNATIVElearning

Happy Mother's Day from a First Time Mom ~ The Realistic Mama

I'm Not Super Mom, Just Mom to 3 Super Little Boys ~ Makeovers & Motherhood

Becoming Mama ~ It's A Long Story

Celebrating Grandmotherhood, the World's Best Job ~ Living Montessori Now

“If You Feed Them They Grow” and Other Funny Mother’s Day Quotes from Lalymom

Simply Mom ~ Plain Vanilla Mom

The Ultimate Baby Series and Giveaway ~ Natural Beach Living

Alright, friends, have fun! I'll be back later in the week with some fun baby stuff!

Be blessed,

Heather

Mother's Day Cards & Blessing Packs

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

Hi friends!

Did you have a nice Easter? We couldn't have asked for a better day! We had an amazing worship service, had lunch with all of our local family, and spent the day playing outside! It was perfect.

It's crazy to think about, but we're already rapidly approaching the next holiday, and it's a good one. Mother's Day!

I'm lucky enough to have 3 mothers to celebrate on Mother's Day. One mom, one mother-in-law, and one stepmother-in-law. If you've seen my goals lately, you know that we're trying really hard to pay off our consumer debt this year. I love to give gifts, but we have a pretty tight budget for a while. As much as I would love to shower the mother's in my life with jewelry and flowers, it's just not in the cards this year.

Now cards, however...those I can do! (see what I did there? Ha!)

I am a firm believer in the idea that a small, thoughtful gift can be just as meaningful, if not more so, than a huge, fancy gift. Something with a sweet note, and a treat you know they will love. Hallmark to the rescue! At Walmart they have so many beautiful Mother's Day cards. 

There is something for every mom. Sweet ones, sparkly ones, ones that will make her laugh, and ones that might make her cry.

 Once I had picked out cards for everyone, I headed over to the candy aisle. I was on a mission to find the perfect little treat for each of my mothers.

Cadbury for my Mother-in-law who grew up in England.

Classic milk chocolate for my Stepmother-in-law. She's a classic!

And dark chocolate with sea salt for my Momma. It's her favorite!

I get to deliver my mom's gift in person, but my mother-in-law and stepmother-in-law live out of town. They'll have to get their gifts by mail. One more simple way to dress up this gift? Washi tape!

Add a little to the card envelope...

Then add some to a padded shipping envelope. Who doesn't love getting pretty mail?

Seal it all up and pop it in the mail! Simple blessings for the mothers in your life!

Want even more great ideas and goodies? Make sure you check out connectionsfromhallmark.com to sign up for Hallmark Rewards, and to see great content from other bloggers. Join in the #MothersDayCards conversation on Twitter with #collectivebias!  For every 5 Hallmark cards you buy you'll earn a reward. Sweet deal!

What are your favorite simple gifts?

Any plans for Mother's Day?

Be blessed!

Heather