The Small Stuff.

I don't have any pictures from last night. I fought the urge to grab my camera and tell all of you to smile, because it would have taken away from the moment. Your dear old Dad fell asleep as we played around him. After getting two hours of sleep in the last 48, due to an overnight shift and all day kid duty, I really can't blame him. He made it through dinner, homework and a fashion show of the girl's Christmas dresses. You all ran upstairs and told me to wait in the living room. You had a surprise for me.
It was finally time for the big reveal and Sela escorted me up the stairs....to the closet.
We climbed in, past all of the clothes. It's an old house so the closest are really deep. Which isn't good for much except, as it turns out....surprise birthday parties. Complete with chairs, presents from the toy box, shoe pinatas tied to clothes and a jewelry box birthday cake. The three of you yelled, 'Surprise!' as I crawled to the back of the closet. You were so excited to show me all of the details you had put together. We then took turns and planned birthday parties for each other. One by one, you stood in the play area while we put together the surprise party and then celebrated.
The three of you are magic. You can turn a bedtime routine into a four person birthday bash in the blink of an eye. You have taught me the beauty in the everyday. In the small details of life that would otherwise go unnoticed. For that, I will be forever grateful.
Last night Lila slept with me. I spooned my body around hers, breathed in the smell of her strawberry conditioner, and wrapped my arms around her small, cherub body. I thought to myself, 'This is it. This is what life is all about'. Holding my precious babies, breathing them in, protecting them and loving them with more conviction than I ever dreamed possible. Listening to their strong, quiet breath, dreaming of the people they will become. How can such a small, unassuming being already have such a profound affect on another person? You made me a better person just by being born. If only we understood the magnitude of our impact throughout life. I hope that I am always able to at least portray the affect the three of you have had on me. You have permanently altered my view of the world for the better. For that, I will be forever grateful.

xoxo

Mom