9. Enjoy the little things.
I feel like this is something I've always been pretty good at, but Henry definitely helped me become better. I've always enjoyed little things...a really good cup of coffee, sunshine in the morning, a random hug from a child...but so often I'd let the big things, or even other little things, cloud that enjoyment. Perhaps I had a really good cup of coffee, but I was at work and I didn't want to be. Or the sun was shining, but it was in my eyes and I didn't have my sunglasses. Or the random hug came from a child who had just done something naughty. It's so easy to get caught up in the negative little things that it makes it hard to truly enjoy life.
Once Henry came along, the little things had new meaning. The first 24 hours or so of his life, I relished every single breath he took. Even when he was sleeping (which, of course, was most of that time!) I would put my head near his face or his chest, and listen for those breaths. When Henry was born, he looked like a bigger version of Brady, so I'd catch myself panicking slightly, and that's why I watched him breathe so much in his first day or two. After that, I relished every snuggle, every gurgle, coo, smile, and giggle. I even found myself laughing when Henry would throw up on me, or have a diaper blow out. There were nights Henry, like any infant, would wake me up at 3 in the morning. (These usually being nights when I was extra tired, or had to get up early in the morning.) And as I would rock him back to sleep, I honestly felt blessed...blessed that I had the opportunity to wake up with my baby and that I had those quiet moments with him. For the same reason, weekend mornings were my favorite time with Henry. He'd wake up, and we'd sneak out to the living room where Henry had his breakfast and then we would play while waiting for Daddy to wake up. I loved that quiet time, just Henry and me.
In order to continue this lesson of Henry's, I've started a gratitude journal. Each day, I find something that I'm thankful for. This can be something as seemingly insignificant as the calm, crisp cold of a winter's night. Instead of complaining that it was cold when I took the dogs out, I took in the peaceful night air. Or it can be something silly, like The Bachelor...which makes me feel like I'm not so crazy after all. This journal helps me to continue to look for the little things, to enjoy the little things, and to not let life just slip by. Although I tend to think of myself as a bit of a negative person, Henry taught me to find the positive in life, and that is another one of his lessons that I am grateful for.
8. Every child I interact with is someone's "Henry."
7. To be a mother is to watch your heart walk around outside your body.
6. There truly are angels on earth.
5. Everyone is fighting some sort of battle we know nothing about.
4. Time is a gift.
3. Death is not the end of a relationship.
2. You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.
1. Motherhood is the best job I could ever hope for.
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