Motherhood is . . .

Moving Ella into a big girl bed and seeing her giggle and jump.

Not having to put a child into our bed at night so they won't keep each other up.

Watching Ella learn to care for a puppy, seeing her cover it in a blanket and lay down next to it, and teaching her not to pull its head, feet, or tail.

Driving cars on Alex's tummy, shoulders, and head and hearing him giggle.

Will growing past my belly button.

Watching a puppy give Will kisses.

Reprimanding Will for putting the puppy in the crib with Alex.

Telling Ella she looks beautiful in her dress up dress.

Watching Ella dance on her tip toes.

Discovering Will has a love for gymnastics.

Will's violin teacher calling me just to tell me how cute he was when he watched a video about CPR and didn't know what an In Fant was or why they put a shirt on the fake man or why his heart would need help.

Reprimanding Will for jumping out of the car too quick as another car drove by, and having it be my neighbor who does the same thing when her kids jump out of the car like that.

Walking away from a dropped jacket in the store and having kind person after kind person tell me too quickly and then realize the teaching moment and apologize.

Alex and I spitting at each other and giggling.

Not getting enough sleep and trying to make up for it during the worst possible time, like lunch time.

Being too tired to help Alex when he's crying and Will telling me how he took his pillow upstairs, climbed into the crib, put the pillow on the bed, pushed Alex's head down, covered him with a blankie, sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and scratched his back, then jumped out of the crib, turned off the light and came back downstairs... and having it work! for about 10 minutes.

Watching cute 16-month-old dances to Barbie and the Nutcracker, or Will's violin practice, or a catchy commercial.

Dancing myself and making the kids giggle.

Hearing Alex say "thank you" and "doggie" and "ga-gone" and "more" and "wake up!"

Watching Alex wave goodnight to the puppy and lean in to give it a hug with his head.

Seeing Alex play with a toy stethoscope and know exactly what to do with it.

Giving more hugs and getting less done.

Feeling most content on the least productive day.