What I Didn't Know About Becoming a Mother

I was reflecting the other day on how much my life has changed in 2 short years. Instead of office work my days are now filled with nursing, diaper changes, housework, playing trains, reading Curious George, and the list is endless. The journey of motherhood has been challenging at times, and I was thinking about all the things I didn't know before I became a mommy.....and what I know now:

I didn't know giving birth would not go as I had planned.

I didn't know breastfeeding was going to be so difficult.

I didn't know how tired you can be and still function.

I didn't know how many loads of laundry a baby can accumulate.

I didn't know how dirty my house could get after one day "off."

I didn't know hearing my baby cry could make me cry as well.

I didn't know how competitive some mothers can be.

I didn't know I'd have to put my screaming baby down and walk away until I could tend to him with love.

I didn't know how much a baby could affect your love life.

I didn't know how expensive children are.

I didn't know you could read the same story 7 times a day but still look forward to it if it meant snuggling with my child.

I didn't know how my boys came into the world was so very unimportant, but rather that they were healthy and fearfully and wonderfully made.

I didn't know hearing "I love you, Mommy" could overwhelm me.

I didn't know the smell of my newborn was something I'd always remember.

I didn't know looking into my little boys' eyes would be so amazing.

I didn't know having their little fingers wrapped around mine would make everything all right.

I didn't know his hug could make me feel like there is nowhere else I'd rather be.

I didn't know seeing them smile would make my world stand still.

I didn't know the first time I saw my sons I would fall so in love.

I didn't know having another baby could mean loving them both with all my heart.

I didn't know creating something with my husband could be so beautiful.

I didn't know the meaning of unconditional love until I held them in my arms.

I didn't know when my boy got a boo-boo I would feel his pain.

I didn't know how much I could pray.

I didn't know having children would bring my husband and I closer together.

I didn't know how amazing my God was until He wove such perfection within me.

I didn't know how much God really loves us until I tried to fathom the sacrifice of His only son.

Healthy Eating

When I was pregnant with Tennyson I read a lot of parenting and pregnancy magazines. There is so much talk about whether or not to feed your baby organic foods, and after much thought I decided that for the first year of his life he would eat all, or mostly all, organic food. (Of course, only now do I realize that buying such things as organic bananas was a waste since they have a thick peel.) And with this baby I will definitely be mashing my own. In fact I am going to try and make most of my own baby food this time around. I know, I know a LOT of you have done that, but frankly I was SO overwhelmed with other things that I just didn't want to feel like I was spending all weekend, every weekend making baby food.

Now I am not one of those vegetarian, tree-hugging, organic hippies, but I do believe in feeding my child the best that I can. I think most mother's would say that their children eat healthier than they do. You know, really watching their sugar intake, making sure they get enough fruits and veggies. Tom and I have been making a conscience effort to eat more of those good foods and not feel bad about spending money on them with an already tight budget. Cuz you know it's cheaper in a can! But even though I don't buy a lot of organic food, I am a hardcore label-reader! And I still try to make sure what I am putting in our tummy's is good for us and doesn't have "weird" stuff in it. (Does it make anyone else crazy that there is high fructose corn syrup in everything?)

Aside from Annie's Organic Bernie O's (which Tennyson gets two meals out of per can) a favorite thing to buy is the giant bag of organic mixed veggies from Costco. And the best part of all......NO lima beans!!! They are about $6 and we always have a bag in our freezer. I use it for sides or put it in chicken pot pie or casserole. Good thing Tennyson would eat his veggies over fruit any day. I am hoping that lasts for a while.