What Mother's day means to me

As anyone who has ever had any contact with me over this last year knows, I became a mother last May. I am very proud of my sweet little guy and know that he is the best part of me.
Over the last year, I have learned many parenting rules. (none of these came from those handy books devoted to parenting.)
And as my first official mother's day weekend starts, I would like to pass my wisdom on to you (especially to my friends who don't have children yet... this might be an eye opening event).

Motherhood is the ability to plan 20 different 'snacks' for a six hour period.
Motherhood is picking out outfits that will be changed or altered two to three times a days and that includes your clothes (baby = a messy sponge; they just spread dirty everywhere)

While eating out at a restaurant, your meal is entirely based off of what your child will nibble/graze off of your meal.

Once your child is able to eat solid foods, their meals have three courses: 1) crackers or cereal; 2) main course of food 3)some food that is tasty enough (a.k.a. 'dessert') to hold their attention long enough for you to shovel a few bites of food into your mouth.
A baby will only show love to you when their mouth is messy or their nose is snotty.

No matter how much money you spend on toys, babies will forever be more entertained with box that it came in or the paper it was wrapped in.

The super power for mothers is being able to determine what your child ate by the poopy diapers. (I am sorry that this is so graphic, but it is seriously so true)

While taking a shower, if your baby starts crying, you learn what parts need to be cleaned and what will wait, Example:shaving my legs is like a day spa event. (it happens only every so often because there isn't enough time.)
Now comes the part that sounds like a cheesy Hallmark card. While motherhood is the most rewarding thing in my life, it has also been the dirties, hardest, most tiring, worrisome thing I have ever done. And while I wouldn't trade anything for my little Baby, I want my lessons to be passed on to whoever is listening. Maybe it will help bring the whole parenting thing into focus for some other rookie/or soon to be rookie out there.

(*also I would like to give a special shout out to all the mothers in my life: My mother, my MIL, Yia Yia, Grams, and both my sisters. Thanks for always being such a great examples for me to learn this mothering thing from. Love ya! And Happy Mother's Day!)

Times they are a changing

On a totally separate happy note,
Then....
Now....

Faces of Motherhood

All those faces from feeding him one cracker... no wonder I am so tired at the end of the day, I am all expressions!

Elite club

Yesterday, as I was shopping at my favorite bullseye store, I came across an elite group of women. It was funny because none of them know they are in this group, but they clearly are. After about 9 a.m., this group congregates in most stores. The main requirement to be in this group are that you are a women with small children in tow. While wandering aimlessly around the store, they waste time browsing and shopping for a great deal. Their children are in the golden time of day, right after breakfast, but before nap time. They make small talk, either with the baby or with any passerby, as they peruse each aisle. I myself found that I do belong to this group now. I was also more than happy to chat with complete strangers and wander aimlessly looking for a great deal. I also realized that I, like most of the women, will talk to the only set of ears that is with them, their children. I find myself discussing with Baby about any and all matters of topic, from what kind of plates should I buy or if I could really find a better deal someplace else. My outing with Baby is great because I find that he is probably more entertained by me than most of the other people in my life, including Soder. It is a good thing that we have been on a strict budget, otherwise I have the feeling that I would be down there every day, enjoying the 'meeting' with my new club and overspending while I am at it. Heck, after a few more children, I might even become chapter president!

Am I crazy?

During Christmas every year growing up, my two older sisters had beautiful, intricate fleece stockings covered with sparkly yarn and sequins. I had a sheepy looking stocking with my name in cut out letters glued onto it. I always gave my mother a hard time that she didn't love me as much because all I got was a half-assed stocking. She would kid and joke about it as well and this continued on as the running joke well into my 20's. Then one day I was informed that she had got me a stocking and was working on it for me, then I would never be able to give her a hard time ever again.It is the little things like that that make me appreciate my mother and all the little things she has done for me. After seeing how much work she went through, it is humorous to think I am going to put myself through the same thing. I realized one day a few weeks ago that Baby won't have a stocking. So I took it upon myself to make sure he has the best one my money can buy and I can make. I found this kit online to make for the baby. Then I decided, that like my sister's family who have coordinated stockings, I wanted a similar situation for mine, so I found one for Soder too. I am excited to get going on the project and hopefully I won't be deterred, but I am not going to lie to you, my heart did sink a little when I saw the back with all the little pieces and bits. (it is a good 3 inches thick!) This very well may be the reason we only have one child.

Job Description

I just got off the phone with the President of the Sodermoto Company. (At least I let him think he is the President, we all know who runs the business. We have a Bush/Cheney relationship) I have been wondering where I can get my full job description for the position of Senior Housewife.
While the Jr. VP is napping, I think I have come up with it all on my own.
All I do all day is micromanage all the departments.
Clean up all of my younger associates messes. (including the President's)
Organize and execute the daily activities of the company
Hours are from 5:00 am to 10 pm with an on call shift between 10:01 pm to 4:59 am.
No sick leave or vacation days
Daily conference calls from family members (aka Mother) that will critique/harass your performance.
And just remember that I signed up for this and have a contract with the President for at least an 18 year commitment. (with the possibility for an extension if more team members are added to the company.):)
Glad I have that all cleared up!

The things that have changed

There are a few things that they never tell you about becoming a mother.Like after you have the baby, you feel a little like a kangaroo. You seem to have a pouch, but there is no baby kangaroo that is going to pop out of it. (at least I don't think so)I have also realized that I am not immuned to those black circles under my eyes, I just never had a reason to develop them before I had Liam.It is also like I had a weigh redistribution of every fat cell in my body. Where I used to have a little extra cushion I don't have a problem with anymore but there are other spots where all my fat cells have congregated at like it is some sort of summer festival.Also my beauty habits have changed. (not that I have ever been one for beauty anyways.) Using a hair dryer is a special event. (air drying hair overnight is the look that I sport) I haven't even thought about pulling out my straight iron.Also if the motherhood thing doesn't pan out, I could always join the circus. I have learned an uncanny ability to juggle all sorts of things at once. I feel like the word multitasking doesn't even cover it. I can use my breast pump, feed the baby a bottle, check my emails and facebook all at the same time.
Pretty soon you won't even recognize me with all my new look and talents. Either that or I will officially be considered a circus freak!

Do you ever wonder....

As I sit and hold my precious little one, I often wonder about what he thinks about. Usually the pictures I take help me to understand that there might be a tiny little piece of him already that thinks I am crazy!Even from the hospital, I had the feeling that he thought I was a little nuts!

I think at this point of me taking pictures of him in the bath, he is feeling like I am stalking him like a paparazzi.Clearly, he is thinking I am nuts for putting him in this sunhat.... even though he is so freaking cute in it.

My real job

I don't feel so much like this lately....But more like this.....

I never realized that I would be milked more than this creature every day.
I have gained a whole new respect for my spotted hoofed friend.