being a new mom means...

My sweet baby girl has been here for just one month now, but life before her is becoming a distant memory. She brings so much joy to my days. She's sweet and cuddly and is starting to smile. She's interacting with us and is so expressive now! She sleeps pretty well for the most part, and we seem to be getting into a good night time routine of just one middle of the night feeding. I love her more than I ever thought possible and my heart seems to fill up more and more every single day watching her change and grow. Cute doesn't even begin to describe her!

I've only been a mom for a short time, but I've learned a lot already and I thought I'd share my thoughts with my friends that are thinking about having kids or are patiently awaiting their little ones' arrivals. So, here it goes: Being a new mom means...

1. Emotions are at an all-time high. I'm not talking about postpartum hormonal emotional breakdowns (although those are REAL, too). I'm talking about the ugly crying that takes place while you're simply rocking your baby to sleep and just thinking about how quickly she is going to grow up, or while you're reading her "On the Night You Were Born" or "Love you Forever." I've cried more in this last month than I have in the last 25 years. 
2. Making eggplant parmesan with one hand because your baby doesn't want to be put down but you insist on making a good meal so you can feel a little bit normal again. Good news - it was just as good as if I had made it with both hands!
3. Learning to control your bladder. When you finally get your baby to sleep after hours of whining and crying, and all of a sudden you have to pee... too bad! Hold it!
4. Feeling like you can grow 2-4 more arms at any point in the day, depending on your to-do list. I thought I knew what multi tasking was... until I had Madison. Pumping both sides while feeding her a bottle, talking to a doctor on the phone, and throwing a toy for the dog. I wouldn't believe it could happen if I didn't experience it!
5. Cherishing the sound, or lack-there-of, of a sleeping baby. It's amazing how nap time will motivate you to move mountains! Or just clean your house for the first time in weeks...
6. Not getting upset when your baby outgrows her newborn clothes. I'm still working on this one.
7. Laughing at the gross stuff. The poonamis, the spit up, the snot, the cough/farts. For some reason, it all ends up being cute when it comes out of your baby!
8. Fighting back the tears when your husband asks you out on a date for the first time after the baby is born. Best feeling ever.
9. The hours in the day seem to go faster than they did before. Before you know it, it's dinner time and you haven't even had lunch yet. Thank goodness for patient husbands and freezer meals!
10. You won't even think about shopping for yourself anymore because buying clothes for your little one is so.much.more.fun. You won't have any money leftover for yourself, anyways.
11. Lastly, being a new mom means sacrifice. Sacrificing your bikini body (ha!), your hygiene on some days, your sleep on some nights, your alone time, your freedom to go anywhere or do anything you want to, your budget, and so much more. But, I can whole-heartedly say that the happiness, joy, and love that this baby has brought to our life far outweighs the sacrifice that it takes. She is the light of my life and my biggest accomplishment. I'm so proud and honored to have the privilege of being her mom.

There you have it. My first blog post in a long time! Number 12: You have very little time to do anything "extra." I can't believe my baby is one month old already. Time is flying!