Saturday, May 12, 2012

Happy Mother's Day


If you like the Arrows Sent Forth facebook page, then perhaps you've been reading the week-long series that I've been sharing at The Mother of All Trips which celebrates her 10-year anniversary as a traveling mom. She has offered lots of tips, heartfelt stories, and adorable memories, and other bloggers have joined in the fun.

The week wraps up (just in time for Mother's Day) with travel blogging moms sharing their favorite photo. Since I'm typically behind the camera during our travels, most of my favorite photos are shots of the Arrows or my husband enjoying the various destinations we've visited. But my husband snapped this picture recently at WonderLab, a children's museum in Bloomington, Indiana that I wrote about last week.


There's a few reasons I love it. Mostly, it sums up life for me these days. One hand keeping tabs on Big Arrow, while the rest of me holds, cuddles, and transports Little Arrow (thank you, Ergo,* for making that a little easier!)

And do I look a little exhausted? Of course. Because I am, most of the time.

But I'm also smiling. Life with these two little guys is so, so sweet (and sometimes so, so hard). And I really feel like I'm the best mom I can be when we're out and about, seeing the world. At home, I'm often distracted by everything that needs to get done. And yet I know the years with young kids is fleeting. Adventures force us to stop and savor these moments, to take it all in.

Like splashing around in the water table at a children's museum. In 10 years, I'm confident we'll no longer be doing that. And that's ok... there are always bigger adventures on the horizon. But I'm glad I'm making the most of these baby/toddler/preschool years while I have them.

Note to self: Read this post tomorrow when the day starts at 4 a.m., you're grumpy, contemplating remaining in your pajamas all day, and already guzzling a Diet Coke.


If you'd like to see other favorite photos from traveling moms, stop by The Mother of All Trips.


*Amazon affiliate link.

8 comments:

  1. It's a great photo, Nicole and you don't look tired - you look like a beautiful mom! Have a wonderful Mother's Day with your boys!

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  2. I love your note to self because sometimes we do need the reminder! Speaking of Diet Coke, that is what my children surprised me with this morning...a fountain Diet Coke from Sonic...I am truly loved around here! ;-)

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  3. I'm right there with you guzzling a Diet Coke first thing in the morning - and my kids are teenagers!

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  4. Such a wonderful photo! Have a great Mother's Day on your first one as a mom of two. Love the note to self, we all need it no matter what age they are.

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  5. Love this Nicole! You're deep in it now, and it is challenging, but I'm so glad you're still getting out and showing your kids the world. Know that your other traveling mom friends are all behind you, cheering you on. Happy Mother's Day!

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  6. I think I'll need that note to self in the morning too ;-) And thank the Lord for Ergos cause how else could we keep a hand on our busy toddlers and another on the babies? Congrats on being a mom of 2 beautiful, adventurous boys. They are so lucky to have an amazing traveling mom who loves to show them the world.

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  8. Aw, I love this photo! You will enjoy more sleep when your kiddos are older, I promise. Snuggle them tight now - pretty soon they'll be sweaty (smelly) 10-year-olds who don't always appreciate a kiss from Mom in public. :-)

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