I know it’s weird, but Sean and I generally do not buy gifts for each other. Not for Christmas, birthdays, or anniversaries. Our celebrations often entail us wishing each other well and going out to eat somewhere special. We have made it through well more than a decade of marriage like this.

Mother’s Day 2013

As Mother’s Day approached, I started to feel that this holiday might be different. I couldn’t put my finger on it (still can’t really), but I knew I’d be disappointed if the day passed with a simple “Happy Mother’s Day” wish and a trip to a restaurant. After mulling it over for a few days, I decided it was important enough to mention.

There’s a chance that Sean would have figured it out on his own, but right or wrong, I didn’t leave it to chance. After 13 years of marriage, I decided it really works best if I just ask for what I want. What I wanted was some actual celebration of Mother’s Day.

Tired Maya

Sean did really well. We spent the morning hiking around Zilker Park and then took a bunch of Mommy and Maya photos at the Zilker Botanical Garden. Maya was so excited about the whole thing that she flatly refused to take a nap that morning. At the very end, she was so tired, she laid her head against me and went to sleep.

Stepping Stone!

I actually helped a bit to construct my present. Sean’s plan is to make a paving stone each year with Maya’s footprints. He gathered all the materials (and like any trip to Home Depot, there were several subsequent trips for extras) and mixed and poured the cement. I dangled Maya over the wet cement so he could direct her feet a little more easily. Sean followed up by decorating with beads and a 2013 penny and applying a sealant after it had dried a bit. I think the finished product turned out very nicely.