For most of the first few two years of my sons life, there has been little to no experience of rain. Water falling from the sky, and the related fun surrounding the winter season, is new to him.

So you can imagine, as the rain picks up a whole new world of wonder has arrived. “Agua” is falling from the sky!! You can find Luke on a rainy day standing on tip toes, staring out the window shouting, “Agua, agua, agua” over and over again.

Another totally new experience is stomping in puddles. Once we navigated the purchase of rain boots for a toddler with very thick calves, we were ready to go. For months…no rain. But then last Sunday presented the perfect opportunity. The rain stopped early in the day and we were able to go out and find some puddles.

At first he walked by them, but then Dad invited him to stomp in the water on the ground. That was all it took. We watched him, he was fascinated and fully engaged in stomping in a few small puddles.

It occurred to me that the most incredible part of being a parent is having a front row seat to so many firsts, the first step, the first bite of food, the first puddle stomp. For me, witnessing a first provides the kind of perspective and grounding that nothing else does.

I’ve been giving some thought to momentum. It seems that in my life, almost everything is easier to do with some momentum. A little energy is the momentum to get out for that morning jog. Writing regularly helps you write more. Eating healthy is easier when you’ve already started to do at least one little thing.

But there is a benefit in a dead stop too. I have struggled with various stops in my goals and efforts over the past few years. The daily list I have for myself, the trifecta of things that I know make me a happier me and in turn a better wife, mom, friend, businesswoman, this list is hard to check off.

There are three things on this list: exercise, write and meditate. None of these have to be done to the extreme, 20 – 30 minutes is enough to get me sweating and clear my mind. 10 – 20 minutes of writing keeps my practice up. And as little as five minutes of meditation will calm my very busy brain.

And yet, while I know these are things I want to do with my time on a daily basis, somehow I do not do them. I think about doing them and then…inaction. Nothing. I’m sure everyone has this type of procrastination in his or her lives at various times. I’d like to understand, see some type of study or research about why grown, disciplined individuals can have goals in their heads and not make any progress with them.

A blog post I recently read said that you have to write down your goals in order to act on them. If you don’t write them down, they are just thoughts. So today I started a list. Writing – Check.

I also woke up in the dark and with the help of my husband, bundled up my two-year-old son and went for a very hilly jog for 20 minutes. Exercise – Check.

Meditation, not likely, but I will take two out of three for today.

Today we invited a few little neighborhood friends over for a piñata party. My son’s caregiver brought him one for his birthday, filled with balls and goodies. It was nothing like the piñatas I remember from my childhood. This one was huge and came pre stuffed with the things that make kids feel happy.

As parents of mostly two year olds, we spend a lot of time telling our kids not to hit or grab. The piñata party was an experience in the opposite. One at a time we handed our children a plastic bat and then told them to go ahead, hit it. They all took turns, looking a little sheepish and happy. After a few rounds with no budge, the parents jumped in and I have to say, it felt good to haul off and hit something. I could see that I wasn’t the only grown up that felt that way.

When the piñata did finally burst open, little cars, plastic reptiles, all kinds of cool little things (including tiny Sun Maid raisin boxes) flew out onto the ground. There was a moment of silence while all the kids looked at the toys hesitantly. Then we told them, get in there and grab some of those toys. They did, although they all seemed pretty reserved.

The piñata was a very thoughtful gesture from our caregiver. So simple but so much fun and one of the most carefree things we’ve done with our little one lately. It made me determined to find more abandon in our days.

My friend is a magical pregnancy unicorn. This phrase is lifted from “What to Expect When Expecting” movie that came out a few years ago. In it there were normal pregnant woman (bloated, tired, cranky) and then there was one woman who seemed to glide happily, aglow and peaceful throughout her entire pregnancy.

My friend isn’t quite like that but almost. If there was ever a person whose calling it is to be pregnant and be a mom, it is my friend. She has charged through all three of her pregnancies with energy and determination. As she’s added children, she’s maintained her pace and adapted them into her world. I remember a time when we were walking home from an afternoon event, in the sun, she carried her 10-pound newborn like a football, nursing him as we walked down the Embarcadero. Not only did she match my pace, she was also wearing three-inch wedges.

I am in awe of this friend. She is an earthy pregnant woman and a beautiful mother. When I was pregnant I watched her and wondered how she did it. And I absorbed some of her unstoppable energy.