A Reason To Smile
This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Dreyer’s blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.
If you would have asked me years ago if I would have kids only 18 months apart in age I would have laughed at you. After years of struggling to have our first baby, our second came sooner than we expected! Don’t get me wrong, we wanted a second baby, we just assumed it would take as long to get her here as it did our first. We were so wrong and I am so glad.
My son is currently three-years- old, my daughter is just a few months shy of two and they are the best of friends and my number one #reasontosmile. Sure, they fight and bicker, they steal each others toys, and rough house. But, at least once a day I look up to find some version of this:
They “read” each other stories. They help each other out. They are constantly laughing and playing together and it makes this mama’s heart so happy to see that. As a mom my greatest hope is that they will cultivate this relationship throughout their lives. I hope that they will always look out for one another and be able to laugh together. I hope they understand how much they were wanted and how each of them brings a different life and element to our family and that we wouldn’t be the same without them.
I want them to deeply understand that they are loved. They are valued. They have the right and responsibility to make goals and be dream chasers. I hope that sometimes they will chase those dreams together, or at least be the stepping stone for each other when they need to reach just a little higher, or the helping hand extended when one of the inevitably falls.
But for now, I will watch, and observe, and document the sweet way that they interact. Because they won’t remember these times and all the fun that they had. I want to be able to show them someday that this relationship they share runs deep. It will continue to make me smile day in and day out.
Do you need a reason to smile? Try one of Dreyer’s NEW limited-edition summer ice cream flavors: Fun ‘n the Sun Banana Split and Summer in the City Cheesecake. Each flavor is available now through August 2014 nationwide in Grand and Slow Churned varieties for the retail price of $6.49. What could be better, right!? How about helping a child smile as well?
Dreyer’s has teamed up with Operation Smile to provide 500 life-changing surgeries to children with cleft lip and cleft palate by visiting the Dreyer’s Facebook page with the Dreyer’s “A Reason to Smile” posts throughout the summer. And you can help!
You can upload or share your own photo to Dreyer’s Facebook page and include #ReasonToSmile in the caption to help Dreyer’s gift 500 life-changing surgeries to children in need. Every photo helps! So let us know:
My husband and all of my babies.
Oh so much! My kids, my husband and the way God surprises me with special friends and RAOKs!!
Oh so much! My kids, my husband and the way God surprises me with special friends and RAOKs!!
What a sweet story and a fun cause! WE love Edy’s!
My boys are my reason to smile. They are the center of my world.
Our first 2 were very close in age and I never would have expected it. Then there is large gaps between the others.IN the end it all works out.
My kids are the reason I smile too. I absolutely adore them to pieces. I have a boy and girl as well, and they’re still close!
My kids are my reason to smile too. My first two children are not quite 15 months apart and it can get very crazy at times!
we had fertility issues for a while before and after my first… miscarriages… not fun.
but somehow, we have 3 kids 25 and 23 months apart and are so blessed beyond measure. and the little things do make us smile!
We had a couple miscarriages too, I am so sorry you had to go through that! So happy for your 3 blessings!!
You have gorgeous kids. Thank you so much for sharing about them.
My girls are 3 years apart. Yours are perfectly spaced and I must say absolutely adorable. That is one of the adorable pictures ever and now you have me craving ice cream. Guess I am running out to the grocery store unless I can bribe a family member to go haha 🙂
mmmmm ice cream makes me smile. And happy kids too, of course!
What a beautiful post! Gorgeous photos as well. What a great campaign! Ice cream definitely makes me smile. 🙂
I love how close your kids are, they are so sweet with each other! Mine are all 2 years apart, which seems to be good spacing for us. Operation Smile is an awesome foundation, I never used to smile before I got braces.
This is such a sweet campaign and I love your images. My son gives me a reason to smile every day.
It’s so easy to take these years for granted. I remember the days when my nephew had to hold my hand when we went to the store. Now, he’s into girls! They grow too fast.
What beautiful photographs.They grow up so quickly.
Oh, those flavors sound so good! I love those special moments with my daughter. She makes me smile every day!
Yum, Dreyers has the best ice cream flavors! What a special reason to smile!
What beautiful blessings your little ones are. I have three little blessings myself; and they definitely give me a reason to smile. Especially when they are being kind and loving toward each other.
Reading your post made me smile! It reminds me of how my sister and I were when we were little.
How sweet is it when you catch your kids getting along perfectly? My kids get along really well and seeing it is my own reason to smile.
This is such a sweet post! My kids were four years apart and bickered for years, but seeing them getting along so well now is my own reason to smile.
Oh my goodness! They are precious! My kids are 3 years apart and I love that they are close in age, they really are best friends–well, most of the time. 😉 You have a beautiful family!
Operation Smile is such a great organization. Having a smile that you can be proud of does so much for your confidence and also leads to better long term health.
What a beautiful family- those pictures are precious… now onto some ice cream for a cause! We will post a pic after shopping this weekend!
Such precious photos. Dreyer’s Ice cream always brings smiles!
My little boy waking me up in the morning makes me smile. Of course, Dreyer’s ice cream makes him smile. 🙂
Shoot I also forgot to tell you how precious your kids are and love the pictures!
Ice Cream is a favorite in our home. I am always looking for more flavors and variety! Love the names of the new ones and that they are doing Operation Smile!
Ice cream. <3 Great pics, too. Precious!
I am the opposite. I got pregnant with my first son on our very first month trying, but it took a LONG time with our second. I wanted my kids closer, but it didn’t work out that way.
The Summer in the City Cheesecake flavor sounds like a treat. Now that’s one good reason to smile.
You are so truly blessed! I’m sorry that it took so long for your son, but there’s always a reason. My brother and I are 18 months apart as well, though I am the oldest. Please don’t be upset if sometimes after your son gets his license and starts to date if they perhaps drift apart a little, we did. But my “little’ brother and I are so close now as adults, grown, with families of our own. It’s a special bond to be sure. I love Dreyers and this campaign. I will try the cheesecake flavor for sure!