Truly Gifts from God

In the trenches of stay home mommy land I sometimes forget that my two little angels are truly Gifts from God. I have thought recently about how I handle other gifts. I have a special box to keep one in, make sure another doesn't get water marks on it, and always handle others with care. Although it is a good thing I don't keep my children in special boxes I can't say that I always treat my children as I would fine china. AND, being honest, I think this may have gotten worse with having the second child.
Case in point... a few months ago my youngest had gotten up from her nap and I went into her room to get her (don't get me wrong, moments of getting your child up from their nap when they are warm and snuzzly are still like Christmas everyday)and I pick her up and feel something jutting out of her onesie. A quick peak in revealed a baby brush underneath her onesie that I had somehow missed before I had put her down for her nap. Yikes!
I think most moms at certain points feel rushed, may look at their children and think, "their hair is fine for today," or, "their nails can wait one more day before I trim them," etc. When I think like this a visual usually comes into my mind. My sister, a pretty blanket rolled out, several products laid about and my sister's daughter (Miss Thing) getting her royal after bath treatment.
This visual is from the first time I had actually met Miss Thing (who happens to be only 13 days older than my youngest). During this time frame I was adjusting as best I knew how to life with two children and how to manage it all. So, after bathtime for me was more of a relay exchange between my two children, making sure my older daughter had washed all of her 2,000 body parts, and getting in another feeding before bedtime for the youngest. I watched my sister and Miss Thing, mesmorized for a moment, remembering that these children are so much more than the 3 meals a day, making sure they are learning and experiencing (and leaving a mess along the way) little creatures. They are Gifts.
I am sure my sister has moments like every other mom does, but she is such an inspiration to me because 9 times out of 10 when I look at her being a mother she is doing things so right, and so articulate, and I think God must be smiling down at her and is so pleased that his special gift to her is being treated the way it was meant to be.
I can't promise that my children won't ever have watermarks left on them like fine china, but because of the example my sister has set I do make sure to take extra time with my girls and occasionally give them the royal treatment :)