I kept a dairy of moments throughout the day that make me grateful to be a mother for almost a year. Here is one month of that diary. When doing this exercise I found that those precious moments come every day without fail! I recorded these moments so that I can look back and remember the sweetness of my kids’ childhood, and also for those of you who wonder how motherhood will enrich your life…. if this is you, I can promise you the list of moments that you will be grateful for are endless!

– Ana

February

Tuesday 28

My four year old son I loved having you fall asleep on my lap – I was able to hug you as if you were still a baby!
My two year old daughter When you were upset this afternoon I was grateful that just sitting quietly with me for a few minutes was enough to cheer you up.
My seven month old son How did you get another tooth without us noticing?!

Monday 27

My four year old son I was feeling sick today and all day you made it easier by being so happy, helpful and obdient. Thank you.
My two year old daughter When you said something was ‘not fair’ I have to admit it was quite amusing. Are you really only two?
My seven month old son You have a hearty giggle and it is so heartwarming.

Sunday 26

My four year old son You were so sweet showing your friend that came over your toys, how they work and not being one bit selfish with them.
My two year old daughter When you put play doh in your mouth and said ‘yum I like that. Tastes good. Do you want to taste?’ I really had to laugh.
My seven month old son You are definitely on your way to crawling! You see a toy you want and shuffle towards it with such purpose.

Saturday 25

My four year old son You were actually enthusiastic about organising your toys into separate boxes! Oh I love that organising is exciting for you!
My two year old daughter You helped set the table – your idea completely – even our guests were impressed!
My seven month old son When you called out ‘Mumma’ from your cot my heart melted.

Friday 24

My four year old son Just watching you eat a whole Icecream with so much enthusiasm was enjoyable for me too.
My two year old daughter When we pick up your brother from school and you give him a huge hug it’s so adorable.
My seven month old son You were bouncing to the music of your toy – I can’t believe you respond to music already!

Thursday 23

My four year old son Your teacher informed me you sang twinkle twinkle I’m front of your class! I’m so proud you had the confidence to do that!
My two year old daughter You and your older brother were whispering to each other today and it was very cute!
My seven month old son When there was music you were trying to sing by yelling out baby noises!

Wednesday 22

My four year old son I loved it when we saw a few of your classmates in the car park and you greeted them and told me who they were. I am so happy to see you making friends at school.
My two year old daughter When I had a deadline today and had to work you were so patient, drawing and playing with play-doh and stickers alongside me.
My seven month old son You are truly aggressively affectionate with the kisses you give me!

Tuesday 21

My four year old son Your laughter and good mood was contagious today!
My two year old daughter When I was busy today you got some cereal for yourself out of the cupboard, put it on a plate, grabbed a spoon and sat at the table – beautiful!
My seven month old son You let me have an extra sleep-in this morning, entertaining yourself doing rolls in your cot for ages!

Monday 20

My four year old son You were showing your baby brother your toy computer and what it could do!
My two year old daughter Your squeals of delight are genuine and we hear them all the time – for occasions as simple as finding a toy you were looking for!
My seven month old son You cried because something scared you, and gosh, that face is so utterly irresistible.

Sunday 19

My four year old son We went to the beach together and it’s cute seeing you alternate between wanting to be in the water and play in the sand. I love the beach myself but seeing you have fun makes it that much better.
My two year old daughter Seeing in you in your baby togs making sandcastles at the beach – just gorgeous.
My seven month old son You made us all laugh by blowing raspberries. The effort of doing it makes you close your eyes throw your head back!

Saturday 18

My four year old son I love how you have conversations with your little sister and explain things to her. You have your own language that only you two understand.
My two year old daughter You fell asleep standing up, leaning on the couch. I had to take a photo. I did the same thing at around your age too.
My seven month old son The little noises you make – it’s like you’re talking to us!

Friday 17

My four year old son I loved taking you to the zoo and seeing your excitement at seeing all the animals. I still remember when I went to the zoo around your age. I hope you remember this too!
My two year old daughter You make friends wherever you go! Kids, adults, animals. You really don’t discriminate.
My seven month old son Taking you out to day trips is so easy. You are such a beautiful, compliant and calm baby.

Thursday 16

My four year old son You really impressed me when you got the Atlas out of the bookshelf and remembered where I told you we lived in Australia, Perth and where Abuelita lives in Brisbane.
My two year old daughter When you dressed up in boots, a hat and fairy dress well it was just comical and oh so cute.
My seven month old son I really love holding you when you’re sleeping, your face is so peaceful and sweet.

Wednesday 15

My four year old son Picking you up from school and seeing you talk the ear off another kid was good. I just miss you when you’re not at home but it’s so comforting to know you’re making friends!
My two year old daughter Despite being sick you were still doing your best to entertain your baby brother, jumping up and down and making funny noises to make him laugh.
My seven month old son Seven months on. How did the time go so fast? You have come such a long way in such a short amount of time and it truly just amazes me.

Tuesday 14

My four year old son Thank you for that quiet time in the middle of the day, just calmly and quietly lying on the bed together and listening to music was  exactly what I wanted.
My two year old daughter Watching you play your toy guitar and sing to your baby brother omg just cuteness overload.
My six month old son I can’t stop being grateful for how easy you are to put to sleep. Your blankie, a dummy, sleep sounds, your sleeping bag and down into your cot. A perfect recipe for instant sleep for you!

Monday 13

My four year old son When I said to you ‘don’t you dare’ (when you were about to do something I’d told you not to do) and you responded with ‘I’m not daring, I’m just playing’, it did make me laugh on the inside.
My two year old daughter When we went to the shop you said hello to EVERYONE. I find it very amusing.
My six month old son When you grab my face to pull me close enough to give me a ‘kiss’ – the best feeling!

Sunday 12

My four year old son I loved seeing you take the initiative to ‘read’ to your baby brother because you could see he was bored.
My two year old daughter Watching you try to hop on the lego motorbike and putting on a lego hat just shows your sense of humour.
My six month old son Just sitting outside in the cool breeze with you while the other two played with the hose was such a relaxing moment.

Saturday 11

My four year old son I love how you think it’s so fun to wash dishes! Let’s hope you don’t lose that love for it later on!
My two year old daughter I enjoyed cuddling you close and comforting you today that you were sick. There are good moments even in the bad.
My six month old son Your first tooth cut through! Gosh you took that well!

Friday 10

My four year old son You’re so creative building things with lego and helping you is something I particularly enjoy because I’ve never fully gotten over my own love for lego!
My two year old daughter You caressed my face so lovingly when we were sitting on the couch. I can’t believe a little child can be so very sweet.
My six month old son You’re so interactive, always wanting to touch anyone within reach.

Thursday 09

My four year old son You behaved so well at the library and I’m proud the way you looked after your sister, making sure she didn’t get lost.
My two year old daughter You are always coming to give me kisses and hugs and I feel so loved.
My six month old son When I hold you close I can sense how it comforts you, and I love having the ability to do that.

Wednesday 08

My four year old son You ate all your dinner without even being prompted and you participated in our conversation at the dinner table, telling us about your day at school.
My two year old daughter The carefree way you were jumping in puddles when we had to pick up your brother from school in the rain reminded me of the simple joys of life. It was so playful and innocent.
My six month old son Dancing with you, your brother and sister while listening to my kind of dance music – simple moments that make memories to last a lifetime.

Tuesday 07

My four year old son Me: ‘Can you cook?’ You: ‘No you can! For me’. I love the ‘For me’ part! Haha.
My two year old daughter Me: ‘Are you my princess?’ You: ‘No, I’m me’. Me: ‘What’s your name?’ You:’Me!’
My six month old son Everyone always comments on how happy you are. Just a look is enough to warrant a massive smile from you.

Monday 06

My four year old son No matter what you’re playing with – leaves, blocks, cars, food or whatever it may be you make them talk to each other. Such an imagination!
My two year old daughter You ran to get a tissue to clean up your baby brother when he regurgitated some milk. Very sweet and motherly.
My six month old son Even though you’re just a baby you enjoyed me carrying you around as I chased your brother and sister when we played ‘run if you dare’. The smile on your face said it all!

Sunday 05

My four year old son I have to laugh when you say ‘I need to do my work’ on your play computer. Some-one’s picking things up from watching mummy and daddy!
My two year old daughter It’s sweet how you look up to your big brother, down to copying what he says, does and where he goes.
My six month old son The way you go oooh putting your mouth in such a round ‘O’ shape – seriously adorable.

Saturday 04

My four year old son Quietly lying on the couch with you at the end of an exhausting day was just what I needed.
My two year old daughter You hugged me saying ‘best friend mumma’! There are just no words for your sweetness.
My six month old son Watching you grab your blankie with one hand and sick your thumb with the other – you are just like your brother.

Friday 03

My four year old son Reading a lift-the-flap book with you that even I thought was cool was a special moment. They always were my favourite type of book!
My two year old daughter It makes me laugh the way you always skip out of the toilet (sometimes sideways), excited that you’ve gone to do your business in there.
My six month old son We had some lovely quiet time together just lying on the floor, smiling and looking at each other while the others were asleep.

Thursday 02

My four year old son I loved showing you how to make paper planes the way my dad taught me, it makes me happy to pass it on.
My two year old daughter Seeing you run with your arms poking out in a ‘chicken wing’ type style always makes me smile.
My six month old son Watching you scoff a banana down and seeing your excitement at holding it yourself is amusing.

Wednesday 01

My four year old son It was your first day of kindy and I thought you would cry but you didn’t! I was so proud of you. My baby’s growing up…
My two year old daughter You handed me my shoes saying ‘here you go, mumma.’ Then you said to yourself ‘here you go, me.’ And proceeded to put on a pair of my heels. Haha.
My 6 month old son You really try to give us kisses now to the best of your ability. I am absolutely convinced that that is what you’re trying to do! What a sweetheart!