Motherhood Illustrated

We are blessed with books - LOTS of children's books fill our home.  The shelves are full in both the girls' rooms, they are scattered about the living room, the back seat of my car, and in nearly every room.  We are very lucky to be able to provide our kids with so much literacy from the moment they were born.  And they are blossoming because of it.

But after several years of reading the same books over and over and over, I find myself not always paying attention.  My mind wanders off as I read aloud the same stories that the girls have been requesting for a long time.  I do enjoy having a child on my lap and sharing a good book, don't get me wrong.  And I plan to keep on reading to them long after they can read (Morgan can quite well already) and put themselves to bed.  But every once in a while, I come across a page that catches my eye and makes me chuckle because the author and/or illustrator seems to capture exactly how I feel!  And I realize that I am not alone in this parenthood thing and someone else gets it!

So here are some of my favorite illustrations from children's books we have around the house and some of the moments that only a mother is lucky enough to experience.

I might as well climb in there with them - I'm going to get wet!

Mama Berenstain Bear and I are kindred spirits!

Jamie Lee Curtis' books for kids are awesome, but her illustrator, Laura Cornell is even more amazing.  I love how they capture all the highs and lows and goofiness of childhood.  

Yep.  And did you also know Hands Are Not For Hitting and Feet Are Not For Kicking?

Oh Prudence!  And Prudence's mother!  You make it look so easy!

I also adore Olivia books.  Here is just one more reason why.  

It's amazing (and troubling?!) how often this phrase comes out of my mouth!

But it's also amazing that I get to tuck my kids in every night with beautiful stories...

.... and of course be there when they need me.  

SWEET DREAMS

And so I don't get in trouble, here are the books that these wonderful illustrations came from:

What Do People Do All Day?  by Richard Scarry
The Berenstain Bears Sick Days, by Jan and Mike Berenstain
My Brave Year of Firsts, by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell
Pacifiers Are Not Forever, by Elizabeth Verdick and Maricka Heinlen
Once Upon a Potty, by Alona Frankel
Olivia Forms a Band, by Ian Falconer
No Biting! by Karen Katz
I'll See You in the Morning, by Mike Jolley and Mique Moriuchi
Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram