As a child growing up, I always thought that college was going to be the biggest change in my life.  It meant leaving my parent’s house and taking on more responsibilities on my own.  As I was finishing up college, I knew that the next step of finding a real job was going to be another turning point in life.  It was the end of school and it was time to really start making my own money and pay my own bills.  For me, it also meant leaving the state where I grew up (Michigan) and moving to Missouri.  I was truly going to be on my own as my parents wouldn’t just be a 15 minute drive away anymore.  As I moved to Missouri and started my first real job, I knew the next stage in my life would be to find a life partner, and that was a big deal.  I met Marvin when I was 21 years old in our company’s cafeteria.  We met through a mutual friend and hung out a lot over the next few years.  Three and a half years later and he was down on one knee proposing to me.  And half a year later we were married.  After so many years of learning to be independent, marriage is about compromise, compassion, and consulting one another about decisions.  We worked to make our marriage strong before the next stage in life, kids.

Pregnancy and the birth of Austin was truly a breeze for me.  I never once got sick, I ate well, Austin was a very active baby in utero, and labor pretty much happened just like I hoped it would.  But as everyone says and I believe is the truest statement ever “A baby changes everything”.  And it does.  Going through months of recovery for an after labor body, sleep deprivation, trying to figure out cries, poopy diapers, breastfeeding, and hours of rocking and shushing can take a toll on you but I wouldn’t change it for the world.  Becoming a mother is by far the biggest change and reward that life has to offer.  I am so lucky to be the one to bring precious little Austin, a big smiler, a belly laugher, a real talker, and an active kicker, into this world.  I look forward to holding his hand through life’s many changes as he grows up.

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom who has always been there for me and is even here for me now to help take care of Austin while we’re at work.  Happy Mother’s day to my mother-in-law who has raised an amazing father for Austin and who will be back soon to help raise Austin as well.  And Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there who are simply amazing.