this week's adventures in motherhood: first mother's day

I know everyone else is done posting about their Mother's Day extravaganzas and escapades, but since I reserve Thursdays for my weekly motherhood posts I'll just have to be the caboose to the mom train this week, I guess.

I was surprised by how emotional I felt for my first Mother's Day, actually. I had never felt that way on the other end of things -- sure, I appreciate my mom like crazy and always tried to make her a card or buy a little something sweet for her -- but now, suddenly, it seemed like a much more important holiday than I had ever realized.

afternoon outing to the park on Mother's Day -- so happy we had beautiful weather!

I think part of it is the anticipation of L's birthday next week and thinking back to where I was a year ago, so eager and excited and nervous and clueless about impending motherhood. I went on maternity leave on May 6th, 2011 and spend the last weeks of my pregnancy cleaning and organizing the house (wish I had done more!), cooking and freezing dinners for those first crazy few weeks, reading, logging hours on the elliptical at the gym, and trying to enjoy a "summer vacation" one last time. Thinking back about all of that makes me feel sad and happy all at once -- like I wish I could go back there and hug that old version of myself really, really tight.

Mother's Day weekend 2011 -- photo by my good friend Beth

My husband went all out this year on our daughter's behalf: french toast for breakfast, flowers, a lovely set of soap and bubble bath (which I'll actually be able to use in our brand new bathtub very soon -- more on that later!), and a framed set of L's handprints which were the result of many hours of failed attempts to cast them in clay and then scrubbing up the disaster left behind (luckily, I was out of the house at rehearsals so much last week that he could do it in secret!). Plus, with my in-laws in town, we were able to go out: there's not much better than eating ice cream and holding hands on a warm spring evening to celebrate a year (almost) of parenthood.

And speaking of celebrating -- that's just what I'm going to be doing next week! In honor of my daughter's birthday, I'll be posting about her birth story, the most important things I've learned during this first year, and a few surprises too (including a big one on Monday: stay tuned!). Hope you'll be here to celebrate with us!