My cup runneth over

Wow. Today I experienced something that I have literally waited for my entire life. (How often does one get to day that?)

See, when I was a little girl, if anyone had asked me the usual question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" My answer was always, without a single doubt, "A mom!" I have finally reached that goal and have two beautiful children in my life.

Alex has been saying "dadadadadadaa" for a couple of months now and we assume that he's actually speaking to/about my husband, because a lot of times he says that when he's either looking for Dan, or sees him (or a picture of him.) Secretly, I have been very envious wishing that I would hear my sweet baby boy talk about me one of these days, but I knew I needed to have patience. Well, that day finally came today, and it literally brought me to tears.

The last few days he has been saying "mumumumum" off and on, but not directly to me, but I figured, "we're getting close, right?" This morning I was taking him to school, and when I opened up the back door to get him out of his car seat, he looked directly at me and said (very loudly, I might add), "MAMA!" Oh my goodness. I started laughing and crying at the same time. I picked him up and gave him the biggest hug, and loaded him with kisses, and told him how much I loved him. Then I couldn't stop smiling. After I'd left him in his classroom with his friends and teacher, and got back to my car, that's when the emotions took over. I kept thinking, Wow. I have waited my entire life to hear someone call me mama, and it just finally happened. And it was SO much better than I ever could have dreamed.

I feel so full of love right now, that my cup literally runneth over. (To the Hope Floats fans out there, I know you know what that means.) My life is so blessed. I have such a wonderful husband and family, and I wouldn't trade one minute of this for anything in the world.

Subject changer...

So last night we went to our good friends' house to watch the Superbowl. I am in amazement to watch Alex and their little girl (who is 3 months older than Alex) interact. Those 3 months have always been such a huge difference, and now that they are getting "older", that 3 months isn't so different anymore in the developmental world. They are closer in size, and the only major difference is that Alex doesn't walk yet, although he is standing and pulling himself up on everything still. But I know it will be awesome to watch them "chase" after each other - look out!

Alex has had lots of "firsts" the last few days (besides saying "mama"!). He has tried lots of new foods - a slice of American cheese, a banana, crackers, colby jack cheese. And he loved all of it - yay! I am so looking forward to being able to give him more table food. Since he doesn't have any teeth yet (still just the top 2 front ones that just broke through a week and a half ago) I haven't given him many table foods, because he hasn't done very well at gumming/chewing food quite yet. But he did great with everything new he tried, and I'm looking forward to trying even more things!

Now I'm off to work on planning his birthday party.... at least I got the cake ordered this weekend!