Happy Mother's Day... to me :)

So, last Sunday was Mother's Day! I know I am not official yet, BUT I do think that I should get SOME recognition for the fact that I am carrying around a little human being in my tummy. So, since they do not yet have a "Human Incubator Day," I gladly relished in the numerous wishes I received last week to "have a happy mother's day!!" For the first time, I got "Mother's Day" gifts. One from my mother in law (a beautiful diamond heart necklace and some yummy, very clean smelling soap and lotion, which is really nice since I still can't really wear my old perfume... I think it is too strong or too closely associated with morning sickness memories for me or something!!!) Anyway, I also got a rose bush from my mom that we can plant in order to commemorate Pip's life. It is neat to think that when Pip turns one, it should be producing a beautiful pink rose called "the Mother's Rose." It will look like this:

In any event, I thought it was a VERY sweet gift and I hope beyond hope that I don't manage to kill it (as I suspect I may already have!! If there is one thing I did not inherit from my mother, it is her green thumb!) I also got a card from Pip (via Will) urging me to go to Glen Ivy... twist my arm :) They do offer Maternity Massages there... I am so excited!! We also got my first official "Mother's Day" picture take at church (Will took all of the photos this year... this is a "not so official" one that makes me laugh!

All in all, Mother's Day was pretty great (the presents are fun!) but it is also a good time for me to really process the fact that I am going to be someone's MOM!!! It is almost as though that has NOT sunk in with me quite yet. For the rest of my life, I may not even be known as Jessica anymore but more so as "Pip's Mom." It is nutty! It makes me think a lot about my own mom. WARNING-This is about to get a bit setimental and mushy so, if you are not the type, please feel free to stop reading here :)

I guess I am beginning to realize how much I want to be like my mom with Pip. Sure, there are some things I will do differently but, on the whole, I think I was so lucky to grow up with the parents that I had. I got to see my mom this weekend in Sacramento for my sister-in-law's shower (another post, I am sure!) and it was so nice to just chat with her. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was sitting in the airport waiting to leave and just talking with my mom as we stared out over the tarmac and drank our starbucks together. I asked lots of questions... mostly about childbirth. What it was like for her, etc. I also asked questions about who SHE thought I was more like, her or dad. Although I am DEFINITELY my father's daughter, there are some traits of my mom's that I have inherited. I know there are times when I say something (especially like when I yell at the TV during a sports game or the way I talk to the kids at church) when I stop and think to myself, "I AM my mother!!" It is odd! I also think I got some of her creativity and love of order (all things that seem to have kicked in later in life). Like my mom, I really enjoy being around kids and feel like serving them is part of who I am.

There are some things about my mom I have NOT inherited, however. Many are things I would like to work on or really want to emulate better.... For example, I am not as gracious as my mom. I don't have the patience she does with people that clearly annoy me. My mom seems to be one of the most forgiving women that I know. Also, I don't think you can beat her hospitality. I know plenty of people that open up their home to others, but nobody does it like my mom! It isn't a show or a chance to show the world how close she is to Martha Stewart (which, she is!! We have been eating cornish game hens since I was in jr. high and we have always had one of the nicest yards around... that is my mom!!) but rather just a chance to invite someone into our world. Even holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving are not exclusive to the Young family... my mom will invite over nearly anyone who needs a place to go. She is also really good and getting gifts and cards into the mail, ON TIME! Something I am pitiful at accomplishing!!

Another thing I love about my mom... HER love of the holidays (another trait thatI have inherited). She goes after the holidays with gusto. Our house is always decorated from floor to ceiling but never overdone. She values tradition and the spirit of the day. She manages to take in the holidays and forget the commercial hype. I love that about her.

She is always put together. I don't think she EVER goes out of the house without makeup (which I admire about her!) She makes my friends feel comfortable and her family feel loved. She gives and probably sacrifices for us more than I will ever completely know or understand. She taught us early on how to love Jesus not just by TELLING us about Him but showing us how to be more like Him. She loves and cares about people. She sticks up for the people she cares about but isn't afraid to tell you when she thinks YOU might be in the wrong (a quality I HATED in high school but have now come to appreciate). She seeks harmony and peace in her home and with her friends. She is and has been a great mother. In so many ways, I want to be more like her.

So often, I think Pip is a girl... and it scares the daylights out of me! It will be fun at first, frilly dresses and tea parties. But then I think about 15 years from now and I am PARALYZED with fear. Today, however, I let my imagination drift past 15 years, onto 20 or even 30 years from now and I had to smile. I figure if I can be a mom like mine has been and my daughter is someday asking ME questions about life and childbirth as she anticipates starting a family of her own, as we stare out over the tarmac drinking coffee together, I cannot imagine any other kind of success in my life greater than that. And maybe, just maybe, she will reflect back and think to herself that she wants to be a lot like me (and like her grandma!) too as she starts her family. And then I think that having a little girl might not be so bad afterall.