I want to remember these little hands

Usually, the Sunday before Mother's Day, I panic. WHAT AM I GOING TO SEND MY MOM AND GRANDMAS???? But this year, people kept asking me, "Are you doing anything fun for Mother's Day gifts?" I started thinking early! I knew I wanted to incorporate hand prints, but I knew that Nora was not ready to participate in a bunch of paint hand prints. I was sure I'd MAYBE get one good one and the rest would not resemble a hand print at all.

I want to remember their little hands. I wash them daily. They hold my fingers and touch my face. They reach for me to pick them up. They clap when they are excited. The do the motions to their Bible verses. They help me pick up toys. I spend a lot of time looking at these little hands.

I decided to stitch their hand prints on tea towels. I know that these hands won't stay little forever. And I wanted the moms in our lives to have a way to remember those little fingers.

I purchased red striped tea towels at Walmart (2 pack for $1.97). I traced the kid's hands on paper and cut out the shapes. After tracing the hand onto the towel, I stitched around the outline with embroidery thread.

If I was super focused, each towel only took about 30 minutes to complete. I added the year at the bottom of the towel, and I designated who's hand was who's with their initial.

Hudson helped me color the cards for each of the mom's in our lives. I signed each note "Love, Nana's Helping Hands - Hudson and Nora" or "Love, "Grammy's Helping Hands - Hudson and Nora." It was a memorable but inexpensive way to capture the memory of my kid's hand prints and let these ladies know how much they mean to us!

Since Hudson was born, I've taken pictures with him on the deck every Mother's Day. I decided to try to have Jeremiah take our pictures before church this morning. Despite the bright sun light, I hoped to have a few images to remember this day. And I thought we might not all be dressed in the same outfits after church.  Spills happen a lot at this stage in our life.

I am so thankful for these two little blessings that the Lord has given me to raise.

Although some days (and nights) are super long, I still think being their mom is the best job in the world.

I am so thankful that my husband works so hard, allowing me to stay home with our babies. Each moment with them is a gift, and I appreciate his sacrifice.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a mom. I know I had the best mom ever - and I always dreamed of having the opportunity to love and nurture kids of my own. She taught me so much by her words and example. I pray I am able to influence my children they way she influences me.

So whether it's wiping fingers or picking up cheerios...I have decided that these are some of the best days of my life.

And some of the sweetest words I heard all day came from Hudson... "Happy Mudder's Day, Mom...I wuv you!"

I am so thankful that the Lord picked me to be Hudson and Nora Lynn's mommy.