Happy Mother's Day (Sorry so long)

I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me when I awoke this morning... Justin had prepared me breakfast in bed, and surprised me with two gifts: a cute shirt that read "Baby Mama" and 15 trees planted in my name in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. I also received a cute maternity outfit and card from my mom and Dave, and a very sweet gift and card from Justin's Dad, step-mom, and step-siblings. Even though I don't really count this as my first mother's day, it was a wonderful Mother-to-be day! Thank you to all of you that helped make it so special. 

It did get me thinking of all the wonderful mothers in my life to whom I owe thanks. So, here is a message for some of you that have made an impact in my life:

To Diane McKean, Sarah Osborn, and Alexis Long: Happy Mother-to-be Day to you! I'm so happy for all three of you and know that you are going to be outstanding mothers in just a few short months.  It's been wonderful sharing this special time in our lives together. I wish we lived closer. 

To Alli Haworth: Thank you for all your tips, advice, and continued support. It has been really wonderful to have you, someone who has been there most recently, help guide me through this exciting adventure. You are a wonderful mother and Avery is so lucky to have you, she is such a beautiful little girl. 

To Kim Macchio and Denise Hawk: You two inspire me so much! I sincerely hope I can be half as wonderful of a mother as you are. Your children are some of the sweetest, smartest, most beautiful people in the world, and I know that a very large part of that is because of you. Thank you for helping to shape me into the best mother I can be (even if you didn't know you were doing it).

To Mimi and Mima: Thank you for always being there for me. I have been so blessed to have you two as my grandmothers and am super excited that my child will have you as great-grandmothers. Don't spoil him or her too much ;)

To Connie Sweeney: I am so glad that you and I have become so close. You have really made me feel a part of the family. You are such an amazing mother to Sarah and Zach, as well as Justin and I. Thank you for all your love and support. You are going to make a wonderful grandmother.

To Shannon Townsend: I cannot express all my gratitude to you for raising the most wonderful man in the world. He is so caring, considerate, smart, driven, funny, loyal (the list goes on and on). I thank god everyday that he has chosen me to be his wife, and I know he is going to be an amazing father. I know that this is in very large part due to you, so Thank You! Thank you also for welcoming me into your family. Our child is blessed to have you as a grandmother. 

Lastly, but obviously not least...

To My Mom: I love you so much! Thank you for everything! Being pregnant, I'm starting to get a small glimpse at everything you've done for me that I haven't always been aware of and fully appreciated. I'm so glad that I have you as my roll model. It means the world to me that we are so close and I know I can always count on you when I need to talk. Of course I wish we were closer geographically as well. I know you are almost as excited as Justin and I are, and I have no doubt that you will make as wonderful a grandmother as you have a mother. I really hope you can be here when this little one is born. Other than Justin, there is no one else I would rather have by my side. Thank you again! I can never say it enough. 

Okay, before I start sobbing uncontrollably I better bring this ever so lengthy post to a close. I want to note that I wasn't able to include all the wonderful mothers in my life above, so thank you to each and every one of you that has touched my life and taught me about the most important job a woman can have, being a mother. Happy Mothers Day to you all!