So tomorrow is Mother's Day and I'm not sure if it counts as my first Mother's Day or if it doesn't count at all since Harper hasn't been born yet. I do feel like a mother already, protective and a little nervous of what my little boy will encounter once he is born. I feel this need to protect him already, it's incredible, it's that mother's instinct that so many have told me about.

Everyday I feel like my heart is just bursting with more and more love for this little guy growing inside of me. I love all the kicks, turns, and little punches I get from him. I feel reassured with every movement that he is healthy and growing. At first I had I thought he was going to be this huge baby, but now I'm starting to wonder if he's going to be of average size, since I'm not as big as I thought I was going to be. Of course, I still have 8 more weeks to go. I guess that's still enough time to pack on the pounds if I'm not careful!

I think about Harper all day long and what he's going to look like, how his personality will develop, and what his likes and dislikes may be as he gets older. This little guy consumes my thoughts and it makes my heart so happy that Dan and I created something so beautiful together. I love my little family more everyday and can't wait until I get to welcome our little one into this crazy wonderful world. It makes me all teary eyed, happy tears though. I feel so blessed in my life to have such a great husband who loves me so much and two incredibly wonderful families (his and mine) that love us and support us like they do. We may not have all the material things we'd like or the money to buy it all, which is sometimes a concern, but when I look at the big picture I'd rather have all this love in my life. My heart is so happy and I feel so blessed. And yes, I realize I'm so mushy, but I can't help myself right now.

I got a little off track, so back to Mother's Day, I want to thank my Mom for always being there for me and being the best mom one could ask for. She is the constant in my life and is always there for me no matter what. I look back now and realize she has supported me through everything, even all the dumb decisions I have made that she didn't agree with (and there were quite a few). Now that I'm going to be a mother and have this need to protect, I understand how making some of these choices in my life were probably hard and hurtful for her to watch, because she knew I would get hurt, but she also understood I had to experience it to understand it on my own. I love you mom for letting me grow up and experience life and become the person I am today and loving me the whole way through it. You are my mother, but my best friend too. You have stood by me through everything and will even be there when I welcome my own child/your first grandchild into this world. You are so beautiful mom and I love you so much!

In the last year I have also been blessed with a Mother In Law, who I think is pretty wonderful. So I'm lucky enough to have two mom's now. I am starting to wonder where my luck is going to run out?? Dan's mother has been incredible and has always made me feel comfortable and welcome in their family. She is always so thoughtful and doing such great things for Dan and I. Whether it is be sending us home with food, planning our wedding (I can't thank her enough for this one as it became way too stressful), birthday celebrations, and having us for dinner or taking us out to dinner. She is really an amazing woman and I also hope some of her "tough mom" attitude rubs off on me since I'm having a little boy who is bound to get himself into trouble when he gets a little older (especially with Dan as his daddy-I've started to hear the stories from all his friends). Susie, I love you and consider myself lucky to have you in my life.

Happy Mother's Day!