Oh what a joy!

I love being a mom! I personally can not fathom those who do not want this for themselves. I know there are a lot of things you have to give up to be a mom, especially a stay-at-home mom, but the blessings and benefits certainly out number the draw backs (like 110 to 1... or more). And yes, it can be hard, (in fact I was going to write this blog last week and I had a really hard mom day!) and yes, I only have one kid (I know it gets harder with more... but so do the blessings, right?!), and yes, Hannah is a very good and happy little girl... But again, I can't imagine not wanting to be or love being a mother. And for those of you who have to work so, so hard for this blessing, I'm sorry and I really do ache for you. I thank Heavenly Father everyday for Hannah and pray that I can be a good mother to her.

The little daily things with Hannah bring me so much joy. She is so much fun. I love getting down on the floor with her and playing, doing puzzles and blocks, watching her and Nic chase each other as she screams and giggles, reading book and singing songs and dancing around. Here are just a few fun things

• I was watching my niece several months ago and she kept asking (regarding Hannah) "Why is her laughing?", "Why her smiling?", "What her think funny?" I hadn't really thought about it. Hannah was just being her happy little self.
• At the beginning of Family Home Evening, we usually bring the Primary Songbook into the family room, sit on the couch all together and sing a song. About a week ago, during the day, Hannah was saying something to me and I didn't understand so I told her to show me. She took me by the hand and brought me into the living room where she pointed to the Songbook. She didn't want to play the piano or sing in there; she wanted me to bring it into the family room and sit with her on the couch like we do for FHE. This might seem insignificant to you, but to me it showed that she likes doing this and the time we spend in Family Home Evening is significant to her.
• Hannah loves ranch dressing!
  
• Before Hannah goes to bed at night we kneel down for family prayer. Lately Hannah will plop down, fold her arms and start saying the prayer herself. It sounds like a bunch of jibberish, but then we'll hear daddy, mommy, Nannie (that's her), and food. Nic and I always get a kick out of her doing it. We have to get her to stop and tell her its now one of our turns but when we start up she usually does too! She'll even pray when we are driving sometimes. I'll look back and she'd got her arms folded saying a prayer.
  
• Hannah will just randomly say people's names like she's doing roll call, "Mama (grandma), Papa (grandpa), Ash, Deedis (Graysen), Tawdew (Carter), Hallie, Addy... " Lately she's been saying "Hallie, nice." and "Deedis (Graysen), play."
  
• When asked how old Hannah is, she says, "two." Where did that come from?! I tried to teach her to say "one." But she's always said "two." How funny is that?! Even at one she wants to be older than she is!
  
• Hannah has cried when I drop her off in nursery on Sundays. In fact two weeks ago I had been prepping her, as we walked down the hall I was telling her she was going to nursery... and she kept saying, "NO!" Then someone asked her, "Hannah, are you going to nursery?" and she just started crying. Well this week we were in charge of bringing the treat bucket. Hannah loved seeing it at our house through the week and on Sunday she proudly walked into nursery showing everyone the bucket! No tears at all when I left.
  
• Hannah will tell me she wants to watch a movie, "Meme." But the cute thing is, while she's saying "meme" she's always moving her hands around and around really quickly... the reason being, usually the only movies/TV Hannah watches is "Signing Time."
  
• Hannah has recently grasped possessives, so she goes around the house all day long pointing to things and saying, "Daddy's" "Mommy's" and "Nannie's."
  
• It is so cute to listen to Hannah reading books. Her little language is adorable... just like she really is telling a story.