My name is Cristyl and I write over at Chill Thoughts. I write about my life and pretty much anything that comes to mind; I currently have a composition notebook I'm filling up with anecdotes and ideas for my future posts! I'm excited to be chosen as the guest blogger to celebrate W3G's 10,000th page view! I've known Ginger since we were just wee 12-year-olds; I enjoy reading about her adult life, her family, their adventures and I thoroughly appreciate her wicked sense of humor!
The Best Job on Earth
Nineteen months ago, I began the best job on Earth, again. I became a
mother for the third time! This motherhood adventure I'm now on with
my son, Buddy (aka Little Man), is one of the hardest and most rewarding
adventures I've ever taken!
Ready for adventure when he was only minutes old!
There are a lot of moms out here in the blogoshpere writing about our lives
as mothers and each of our stories are important and each of our stories are
unique. Each of our voices and how we choose to share our story is
valid; whether it's through humor and sarcasm or by sharing silly little
stories about our kids on a regular basis. Personally, I try to keep
my blog posts HONEST; so if I'm in a crappy mood, it's going to bleed
through. Same goes for if I'm in a silly mood. I've read a lot
of moms' stories on their blogs who make motherhood sound like it's the
worst job in the world. Like raising children and keeping a household
functioning is not only the most thankless, but the most hectic,
food-covered, body-function-covered, never-ending, unpredictable scream and
tear filled job around! And some days it is! But some days it's
the best job on Earth, too!
When the first hand you this little person, the one you spent the last nine+
months toting around in the body that previously belonged to only you and
maybe your husband, all the pain and sacrifice instantly seems worth
it. I was fortunate enough to be able to nurse all three of my babies,
though some mommies can't and I honor and recognize that all moms do their
best to give their baby the best they can, I loved being able to nurse my
Buddy. When he'd snuggle in crying and latch on and was instantly
soothed and happy, I felt like Wonder Woman! It's just one of many
magic moments that sometime get overshadowed by the poopy diapers,
constantly messy house, teething and sleepless nights.
When Little Buddy would crane his neck to see me, or to turn toward his
Daddy's voice - that's a magic moment!
The first smiles, when you're not certain if he's really smiling at you or
just has gas - magic moment!
Coming in from a long, thankless day at work exhausted and ready to be done
with the world and his little face lights up - magic moment!
Holding back the tears when he gets shots at the doctor's office and then
scooping him up to snuggle as soon as they're done - magic moment!
Watching his face as he discovers his first taste of food - magic
moment!
Watching him try and try and try and try and try to reach a toy on his own
and finally succeed - magic moment!
The joy on his face the first time he manages to sit up without you holding
him - magic moment!
Discovering little bumps on his gums that will soon become teeth, singing
lullabies, dancing like you've escaped from the loony bin just to make him
laugh, baths in the kitchen sink, pulling him in a wagon, watching him
discover the world, watching him grow, watching him learn, watching him
become more and more and more independent - ALL magic moments! 
All the hard, pull your hair out stuff is totally real and valid, too.
But they are all cushioned in magic moments. And many of us, myself
included, forget to see the magic moments when we're so caught up in the
thick of potty training and "terrible two's" attitudes in the body of a
one-and-a-half-year-old! So sometimes I need a reminder to slow down
and cherish the magic - to stop and see it on a Monday afternoon when my
house is an absolute wreck and my child is eating more crayon than he's
getting on the paper!
All the hard, pull your hair out stuff is totally real and valid, too.
But they are all cushioned in magic moments. And many of us, myself
included, forget to see the magic moments when we're so caught up in the
thick of potty training and "terrible two's" attitudes in the body of a
one-and-a-half-year-old! So sometimes I need a reminder to slow down
and cherish the magic - to stop and see it on a Monday afternoon when my
house is an absolute wreck and my child is eating more crayon than he's
getting on the paper!
The magic is all around us! Do you see it too?
Image by FontMeme
