This my friends.  This is not just a glorious looking margarita.  This is my victory lap.

For the last 7 and a half years of my life, with the exception of 4 months somewhere in between, I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding.  And for that I am beyond grateful.

But let that sink in for just a minute.

For the greater majority of the last 7 years and 6 months, I have worried about what I put into my body because of how it would impact another tiny human.  I have stressed over kick counts, and cheeses being pasteurized.  I have choked down microwaved lunch meats and my boobs have changed sizes at least 4 times.  I have woken up lying in leaked breast milk or because of engorged breasts more times that I can count.  I have been sliced open to deliver one baby by c-section and then fought for and researched the mess out of V-BACs to deliver 2 babies naturally.  I pumped in closets at my work place as a working mom, and have nursed babies almost anywhere you can name.  And once, believe it or not, we evacuated for a hurricane with a diaper box full of frozen breast milk mostly because I was too afraid to lose power and then lose my stash of pumped milk supply.

And now, for a solid week, my 16 month old baby has not toddled over to me with the nursing pillow in tow asking to nurse.

So this margarita- this beautiful, perfect margarita -this is my victory lap.

Of course I have enjoyed a drink here and there, but not many without guilt.  Or without worrying about timing.  But not like this. This is glory.

We usually take time to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, job promotions, etc., so why not take the time celebrate our mommy victories.

Am I saying I’m a better mom because of these things I did?  Absolutely not.  They were choices that I made and mom-goals that I set for myself and my littles.  And luckily, God was on my side.  As I write this and recount all those feels-the good, the bad, and the ugly-of course there is a tear rolling down my cheek.  And although I can’t guarantee what God has in store for our little family, I am going to celebrate as though this is the end of a deeply cherished season for me.  It wasn’t easy.  But it doesn’t matter how you’ve chosen to write your story, no part of motherhood is.

So no matter what your mom-goals are, or what season you are watching become a memory, take the time to celebrate them.

Even though people have been doing a lot of this stuff since the beginning of time, it is work that should not be overlooked.  Practice the pause, breathe it in, and bask in the wonder of your part in bettering the life of your tiny human.  You’re a rock-star.

So cheers mama. This one’s for you!