Thursday, May 8, 2014

They grow up too fast... too soon!



Fourteen years ago I became a mom. I was twenty-six years old. I had a full-time job at a very busy ad agency as a copy/compliance editor. It was an extremely demanding job and one I loved very much. After giving birth, I had every intention of returning to my day job. As my twelve week maternity leave was nearing its end, I was certain of one thing. There wasn't a job in this world I could love more than being Jake's mom. I made the decision to become a stay-at-home mom and I've never looked back.

Things I've learned...

My grandmother used to say these are the best years of your life. I'd look at the mountain of bottles in the sink, the runny noses and the loads of laundry and think, seriously? Guess what? She was right. The time I spent snuggling with my babies on a rainy day or pushing them on the swing in the yard will always be some of my favorites along with bath time, story time and silly time.

When I would go to the mall with the diaper bag filled with cheerios, goldfish and juice cups, pushing my double stroller I'd see a woman carrying her Victoria Secret bags, hair highlighted, nails done, floating in and out of stores without any kids and I'd think, "I wish I was her." Ten years later, I AM HER. Guess what? I wish I was the mom pushing the double stroller.

One time the kids and I were watching a Pooh movie and Christopher Robin was going off to school and he and Pooh were singing a song. The lyrics went something like this... 

Christopher Robin - "Forever and ever is such a long time, Pooh."

Pooh - "Oh Christopher, forever isn't long at all."

Guess what? Pooh was right.

***

Today my "babies" are 14 and 11. We're still cuddling on the couch and making memories for me to cherish the rest of my days. I wear lots of hats... author, PTO mom, wife, substitute teacher, but the title I most appreciate is being a mom to Jake and Cole.



Happy Mother's Day!

Leave a comment and Beachwalk Press will throw your name into the drawing for some awesome prizes. Be sure to leave your email address too!


Prizes:
1 - $20 Gift card to your choice of Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or All Romance Ebooks
2 - $10 Gift cards to your choice of Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or All Romance Ebooks

Ella
xoxo

69 comments:

  1. So precious, thank you for sharing your story! Happy Mother's Day to all the fabulous mothers out there :) Thanks for the giveaway!

    thestephanieloves AT gmail.com

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  2. Ok it worked LOL Gift Card word be a great Mom Day gift for me thanks for the chance. I was 16 when I had my first now 4 later ( 1 adopted ) I have loved every minute of being a MOM.
    puddinp1e@msn.com

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  3. That's awesome Ella! You rock!

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  4. Thanks for the great giveaway, ella! Vicki. Livedathousandlives@yahoo.com

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  5. Hi Ella, what a beautiful way of saying Happy Mom's Day. I lost my mother way back in 1986 and have missed her ever since. Now I have grown daughters and grandchildren and would not trade the title of mom for anything in the world. It is by far our greatest accomplishment. Happy Mom's Day to you! God Bless you and your family

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    1. My email is: svnnort@comcast.net

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  6. Awww great kids. Lovely article. It is true and I'm only feeling it for the first time with my oldest, 7 going on 14 school wise.... but I see her growing so much more. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Heap happy Mother's Day to all, and ella congrats on your 3 yr anniversary

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  8. Thanks for sharing your beautiful story. I am thankful to be able to celebrate Mothers Day. Our daughter was born 8 weeks early and we didn't know if she would ever come home. This will be my 15 Mother's day and I am so blessed. Happy Mother's Day!!!
    sarah_69_00@yahoo dot com

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  9. Love me some Ella Jade! Happy Mothers Day!!
    n.kuhn.acn@gmail.com

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  10. That is a beautiful story of your kids! I have 3 of my own & they are the best gifts I've ever received! Us mom's have a Mother's Day once a year but our children should be celebrated each & every day!! Happy Mothers Day!
    vgrhottie@yahoo.com

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  11. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us, is a beautiful things to be a mom
    Happy mother days

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  12. mami_chula1126@yahoo.com
    thank you again

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  13. Happy mothers day. Thank you for the chance. Babsishere@gmail.com

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  14. I was a stay at home mom for 2yrs before I went back to work. I love my kids and being homw with them but at the same time I like working my measly 16hrs a week. I feel like that is my "me" time...I just get paid for it!. Happy Mothers Day!

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  15. Happy Mother's Day to you (I know your not MY mother, but you are a mother :) ) Thank you for the chance.

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  16. Life is so much more spicy with mini's ;-)

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  17. Thank you for this...Happy Mother's Day!!!

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  18. Thanks for sharing. Really brings it all into perspective. It all goes so quickly.

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  19. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Mother's Day to everyone ♥♥♥

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    1. Sorry this is Lisa Loredo :)
      lisaloredo05@yahoo.com

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  20. Beautiful story, Happy Mother's Day.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Carjoh56@gmail.com

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  21. Thanks for sharing and Happy Mothers Day!

    Jessiem950@gmail.com

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  22. From one Mom to another Happy Mother's day!! Thanks for the giveaway!♡ parkerzmommy89@hotmail.com

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  23. Thanks for the post and the chance. Happy Mother's Day! :) kristypetree@gmail.com

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  24. Thanks so much for the awesome giveaway and Happy Mother's Day to you! My boys are 18 and 15 this year.
    amandavinson535@aol.com

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  25. Happy Mother's Day, being a mom is my favorite job too! :-) caraolson24@yahoo.com

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  26. My babies are noe 33,29 & 21. I wouldn't trade the time I got to spend with them at home for anything! Cuddles and sticky kisses are the best rewards in the world!

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  27. Thank you so much. Happy Mothers Day. my email is 99.hill@gmail.com

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  28. Happy Mother's day to you all. All mothers should cherish the time spent with their little ones. They grow so fast. Glad you were able to stay home with them.

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    1. Oops I forgot to leave me email. Jmancini44@gmail.com

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  29. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I loved it and it sounds a lot like mine. I have four kids ages 14, 13 11, and 6. I can't believe how fast they have grown and I would love for them to be small again.

    crystalnewman51@gmail.com

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  30. Thanks for sharing your story.. I am a mother to two girls that are 5 and 3 and then coming up the rear is the baby of the family is Ryan and he is 1.. I love all my babies dearly they are truly my blessings...

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  31. Love your post. It' sweet and I agree that spending time with your children hold the best memories when they grow older. Happy Mother's Day.

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  32. My little man is 2 years old and it's really been the best 2 years of my life. I would never give up one moment of it to be anyone else, to live a kid-free life. Life with out my child would be meaningless. Thanks for the chance to win and Happy Mothers Day To all you mothers out there!

    ashes_0249@yahoo.com

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  33. My boys are 10 and 11. I ask myself everyday where the time has gone but we still have random movie night where we watch in my room where we've turned the king size bed into a fort or the tickle wars or even water wars outside wth water balloons. I'm sure going to miss these moments when they are grown but so glad they'll have happy memories to look back on.
    Tiffany
    Tmsaylor@gmail.com

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  34. My mother is gone, but I miss her every day. I have 3 kids, and 8 grandkids, and would love if someday we could all be together for Mother's Day, we are scattered all over the country. Happy Mother's Day to you.

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  35. Such a great story and that quote from Winnie the Pooh is one of my favorites! Happy Mother's day I hope yours is fabulous! Thank you for the chance! Anastasia_romonav@yahoo.com

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  36. Hope you have a Happy Mothers Day

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  37. Thank you for sharing I have felt that way as well when they are young you wish you had your old self back where you had time to take care of yourself and hen they are grown you wish you were that mess again, Happy Mothers Day! mrscrabbyfan@gmail.com

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  38. Thank you for sharing! I love being a mom& now a "Nanny"! Each child is a gift~~

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    1. Oops forgot email!
      froggy_momma(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  39. Happy Mother's day to all of us Moms! Thanks you for sharing! Also appreciate the giveaway!

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  40. Congrats on your 3 year anniversary, YAY. Thanks for the great giveaway. Have a great Mother's Day. laurie_lunn@msn.com

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  41. Congrats on your 3 yr Anniversary. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there.
    Thanks for a chance at the giveaway!

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  42. Happy Mother's Day!
    As a Mom you get to BE everything else - and so much more.
    It can be an exhausting job, but there is no quitting. And the rewards are such you'll never find anywhere else.

    wismom works@ gmail (dot) com

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  43. Thanks for sharing.. happy Mothers day!!

    mpashon@hotmail.com

    Melanie J

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  44. Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for the giveaway!

    cl_fox@yahoo.com

    -Carrie

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  45. Happy Mothers Day! I am blessed to be the mother of two young men. It saddens me how fast these years have gone by. But my boys are awesome and fill me with joy everyday. Simpson4945@sw.rr.com

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  46. Jessica Hale(Parsons)May 8, 2014 at 11:50 PM

    even though my kids are nearly 3 and 5 this is the first year i get a mothers day present since my son had a mothers day stall at kinder but my kids were the greatest gift i got :)

    jessicaoz(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  47. What a great write up! :) I agree-- "mom" is my favorite title that I have also. My little guy will always be my "baby", even long from now when he's taller than me ;) Happy Mother's Day!

    ReadingAmore@gmail.com

    ~Amy

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  48. Wonderful story Ella, thanks for sharing. I hope you have a blessed and wonderful Mother's Day. <3

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  49. Very sweet post :) Jake and Cole are lucky boys!

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  50. Happy Mother's Day! Your SO right. I'm sending my oldest to high school next year and my baby will be in middle school. She's reaching womanhood so fast and it seems like yesterday I was bringing them all home. <3
    Email: cgmartin79@yahoo.com

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  51. Awesome :) kbobb01@aol.com

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  52. Forever isn't very long at all ;) Thanks for sharing your post--what a great reminder to treasure each of our days!

    fedora at gmail dot com

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  53. Love the stories you share about your kids, you inspire me to want to do what u did...

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  54. Hope you have a great Mother's Day!

    nat2am@msn.com

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  55. Happy Mother's Day!
    And thanks for the giveaway!
    neilliza@yahoo.com

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  56. Happy Mother's day from one mom, who was considered a young mom, to another!

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  57. Happy Mother's day from one mom, who was considered a young mom, to another!

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  58. Thank you for sharing your story, hope you had a great Mothers Day! M8231m@aol.com

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