Mothers Day Musings + Gift-Buying Guide

Mothers Day is exactly two weeks away. This is my first Mothers Day. My FIRST Mothers Day. My son is too young to know what this day means to me, but that doesn't mean that it will not be one of the most special occasions since he has been born. I so look forward to Mothers Days of the future--to getting scribbled portraits that are supposed to be me and my Sweet Baboo, and dandelions clumbsily picked from the backyard and put into a mug to keep fresh, and breakfast in bed that consists of cheerios on a milk spattered tray because he's too young to use the stove. I can't wait until he is old enough to put his sticky arms around my neck and tell me he loves me, that I am the best mom in the world. I have no illusions of grandeur. I am not the best mom in the world, not by a long shot, but miraculously every child under the age of five thinks their mother is the best and mine will hopefully be no exception.

But this year my son will not yet be a year old on Mothers Day, and so this one won't be about me feeling loved, but about me feeling how much I love him.I am nuts about that child. Just nuts. And I am so excited to have a day that is all about the wonder of me being his mama. Sometimes I honestly still can't even believe where I am in my life. It's like I just woke up one day, and I was married with a kid. A real grown-up. I don't remember all this time passing, I don't remember going from 19 years old to almost-25, but here I am. I somehow managed to house life inside of me and here is the proof. This Mothers Day, I will not only be celebrating my own mother, thinking of what to get her and how to make her feel appreciated. This year, I will be celebrating the fact that I am a mother. I can't wait.

There has been lots of talk amongst my first-time mommy friends about what they want to mark this momentous date. It's not just another Hallmark holiday, people. It's a day where we can think about how much we love our little guys and gals, a day that we can celebrate the fact that yes, we have made it. Yes, we are mothers.

I am a very sentimental person, and I like to have trinkets and physical reminders of important events in my life. My first mothers day certainly qualifies. So I am putting together a list of great Mothers Day finds for you to pass on to your husbands and/or children. For us first time Mamas, this will make the first day celebrating the fact that we're moms. For you more seasoned Moms, you have made it through another year with your little rugrats and lived to tell about it. Treat yourself--or have someone else treat you.
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Gift-Buying Guide

For the Jewelry Loving Mom:

Mothers Day Necklace from etsy.

I love this. It's gorgeous, simple, and it conveys the truth. The word love and the word mom just go together.

I love this necklace. Inspired by my favourite poem by ee cummings (we actually had this read at our wedding!). Sweetly personalized with your little one's name and the magical date they were born.

Not your traditional, cheesy locket. Name, birth stats, and a photo of your little guy or gal. LOVE.

For the Shutterhappy Mom:

Ladies, my life was far more frustrating than it needed to be before I entered the world of DSLR. You don't need to be a photographer or have professional aspirations to invest in one of these babies. You just need to be sick of missing all those split-seconds of candid adorableness because of regular point and shoot shutter lag. There is nothing like a DSLR for capturing every precious look, smile and expression. Get your hands on a Canon Rebel.  You can thank me later.

If you're a beginner, this book has great tips and tricks for capturing those moments.

For the art-loving mom:

Turn your kiddo's sweet profile into art.

Think your kid is a budding picasso? Clean out that drawer you have stuffed full of every drawing your kid has ever made and put that stuff proudly on display with http://www.mykidsartoncanvas.com/.

Mommy/Baby Pop-Art. I definitely have this one on my wishlist. I love that we live in an era where we can get a canvas of us with our kids without having to sit for oil paintings.

For the Stressed Mom (Oh, wait, that's all of us.. .):

Give the gift of relaxation, with a spa finder gift card.

For the mom who only shops for the kids:

OiOi - Hobo - Diaper Bag

Because that tattered canvas bag you've been lugging around town isn't going to hold up for much longer.

For the breastfeeding mom:

We've all seen those nursing necklaces. You know the ones I'm talking about--the ones that look like toys. We're willing to do a lot for our kids, but not all of us feel like sacrificing our sense of personal style to wear a giant string of brightly-coloured plastic baubles just so our kid has something to play with while we feed them. Enter: Julian & Co. Eat your heart out, fashionable nursing mamas.

Baby Bond nursing cover. Love. Looks just like a sassy blouse. No more hiding under a tarp for you! Or, if you're like me, trying to breastfeed with the baby in a sling, thinking that's discreet enough, and having a total stranger behind the counter at Burger King go to extreme lengths to see INSIDE THE SLING, despite you repeatedly shifting away, until she realizes OH! Her boob is exposed--and apologizes sheepishly while you bite your tongue to keep from snapping at her to just get your damn fries and stop harassing strangers. True story.

For the Lit-Loving Mom:

Baby-Proofing Your Marriage. Because the rug-rat is already here, but that doesn't mean its too late!



Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner.



A yummy piece of fiction about the ups and downs of mommyhood.

Hope you got some fabulous ideas, ladies. Direct your husbands to this post and I'll take care of the rest.

EDIT: It has come to my attention that there has been a gross oversight. Single Mamas, by all means, skip the middle man and treat yourself! It's actually better that way since you don't have to hope for someone to magically pick the right thing, or grasp any of your not-so-subtle hints.