I always, always, always wanted to be a mother. I used to dream about what I would name my children. I used to wonder what they would look like and how many I would have. As soon as I met my husband, back in October of 1998… I knew he was the man I would have children with, I just “knew.” I’ll never forget when we decided that we were going to start trying for a baby, I was beyond excited. I remember waiting those 2 weeks until we could take our first test, my nerves… my impatience… my excitement… it was incredible. I wanted 2 pinks lines more than anything in the world and they were there on that beautiful little white stick. I was going to be a MOM!

Being pregnant with William, my oldest son… was the most amazing 40 weeks of my life. I was told he was due on September 25th, 2004, and he came on September 25th, 2004. He was “by the book.” Being pregnant with your first baby, you have the luxury to just focus on him, you’re not worrying about other children, you are able to just “be” with this baby and enjoy everything new about impending motherhood. This is one of my favorite photos of me pregnant with William at 36 weeks.

And then my beautiful boy was born… and I was a mother. I’ll never forget when the nurse said to me, “Mom… he’s almost out!” MOM. One of the most powerful and most beautiful words on the planet.

Motherhood with William was so amazing that we decided to try for another baby when William was a mere 10 weeks old! We were blessed with the news that Alexander was coming when William was 3 1/2 months old! My first 2 sons born 12 months and 3 days apart. I didn’t think life as a mother could feel anymore fuller.

And then Benjamin came along 18 months after Alexander. And Henry 13 months after Benjamin. My 4 sons.

Motherhood for me is the most incredible thing on earth. I have the honor and privilege of being “mom” to 4 of the most amazing little guys. Being the mother of boys… I want to raise them to be incredible men. This is very important to me. I want them to hug and open doors and say “I love you” and dance! I want them to throw a mean curve ball and ice skate like a hockey pro. I want them to swim like a fish and run like the wind. I want them to be hard workers and know the importance of an education. I want them to be husbands and fathers someday. I want them to be anything and everything they want to be in this world.

I was asked in March by someone what I loved about motherhood. Truthfully, it’s everything. There’s not one thing I don’t love about being a mother. The late nights and early mornings have never bothered me. Having 4 boys all come into my bed throughout the night at different times doesn’t bother me. The loud chaos in our house (sometimes – wink, wink)… none of it ever bothers me. I love it all. I really, really do… but there is one particular thing that I do love about motherhood. It’s my sons eyes when I walk through the door. It doesn’t matter if it’s when I pick them up from school or when I go to CVS for a quick errand… NYC for the weekend or a conference for a week… as soon as my sons see me, their eyes open wide. It’s that moment in time that I want to bottle, it’s the moment where my sons thoroughly are excited to see me. I can feel the love. There’s nothing like it.

As I’ve gotten older… a majority of my friends are mothers. I want to wish all of you a very Happy Mother’s Day! There’s nothing more incredible than seeing a mom with her child. To my offline and online friends… may you have a spectacular and beautiful day with your children!

To my own mother, I love you tons! And I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day! To my grandmother, I wish you a beautiful, beautiful day! And to my mother-in-law, who gave me the greatest gift… my husband, my your day be filled with love and happiness!