Mother's Day

I sit here while Owen naps writing a Mother's Day post. After 10 months it is still a little surreal.

It's funny being a mom.

Life before Owen (B.O.) was perfect, happy, and full but life after Owen (A.O.) is perfect, happy, and full it is just different. I will say there is way more pressure A.O. because you are raising an actual person and that thought is overwhelming.

The biggest misconception I had was that I would feel like a mother as soon as he was born. It was different for me. I knew what to do and could meet his needs but I didn't change into a Mother at that moment. I have realized it is a gradual process that takes place without even noticing until you look back at who you were and realize you are different.

More patient, loving, playful, and responsible. Less selfish, and awake.

Being a mother is a learning experience. You learn what they like (infomercials, animal noises and Ditka) and dislike (diaper changes, seat belts, applesauce). You learn there isn't an animal noise for newt and that all touch and feel books are not created equal. That even if your arms hurt from holding them you can hold them for hours longer and not die. That putting them to bed later doesn't mean they'll sleep later and playing airplane after a bottle doesn't work out well. It is the hardest and best thing I have ever done!


We had a nice Mother's Day. We went to brunch with family where Owen vomited down my dress and later choked on fruit! That baby! We went for a drive, and potted our vegetables and herbs. It was a perfect day.

Stroll"ughs"

I HATE STROLLERS! I especially hate strollers in crowded places and I hate myself for having a stroller in crowded places!

The farmers market reminded me of this hatred. We had the parents who use an umbrella stroller because they are smaller and quicker-these people whip in an out without any regard for anyone else. Then there are the double strollers because there is so much open space-it only makes sense to get a double wide and piss off people on both sides of you. Then there are the wagon people. They are the WORST. I don't even know how that seemed like a good idea. We saw quite a few people who had BOTH! Really??

I am on the hunt for a sling or carrier for Owen. I am over it and willing to suck up a little discomfort if it means no stroller.

Bound to Happen

Owen got his first gory injury today.

It happened while I was getting ready for work. He crawled into our room and in the time it took for Nick to get him he had fallen. Nick assumed he was fine and it took a couple seconds to realize blood was POURING out of his mouth. Having worked in daycare for 5 years I have seen blood and tears, but there is still a panic that comes over you when it is your baby. Thank god I knew to get him a cold wet cloth and he was fine but it was still terrible.

It was the first and I know there will be many many more but I bet they are all equally terrible!

Back At It

On Saturday I hurt my back while lifting Owen and was rendered completely useless for several days. It. Was. Hard.

Nick took excellent care of both of us and my mom even came and stayed for a couple days to help out. Even with extra help it became clear that little boys need their mother!

Going out in public with hummus on your cheek and pants-check

Crawling on the floor at the Dr. Office-check ( I don't even want to think about the germs)

Diaper rash back with a vengeance-check

Waking up a few times per night-check

Eating mud-check

Poor Owen...

Things are back to normal today. Thank goodness.

Baby Math

I have decided my main complaint about babies is that THEY DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE!

Putting Owen to bed at 7:30 = waking up at 7 for the day but putting him to bed at 7:15 means we get up at 5:30!?! I don't understand how 15 min costs 1 hr 15 min of sleep? I do know I hate baby math!

One of "Those" Days

Warning: Pregnant people may want to wait on this post

Yesterday I read my usual blogs and one blog mentioned this story

http://www.hormonal-imbalances.com/

After reading this story and the comments-I was lead to this blog

http://averycan.blogspot.com/?m=1

Ugh. After some tears and prayers, I was feeling a little better. I couldn't help hugging Owen even more, giving extra kisses, extra attention, rocking him to sleep because stories like this make you realize you can't take anything for granted!

He's Me

Every morning Owen and I get up he gets a bottle, I make coffee, and we start our day. As soon as he is done he makes a beeline for Ditka's water dish. I catch him and "redirect". He beelines for the water dish. And we repeat until I just move the water dish. It is the same for the vertical blinds and pretty much everything he shouldn't have or go near. In inevitably I tell Nick how persistent, stubborn, or intolerable ( I am going to bring that word back) he is. And then I say "Owen just does whatever he wants".

That's when I realized he is just like me! How awful!

DAMN YOU APARTMENT BABY

Warm weather is here at last and most people would be excited-Not this girl! I have anxiety over having an apartment baby of my very own. I have an irrational fear that one of our neighbors is going to come pounding on the door and harm us because of the 5 am screaming our apartment baby insists on doing lately.

This fear stems from my own hatred for apartment babies.

The summer we moved in we were wakened at 3 a.m. I would shake my fist and curse that baby and its awful parents for letting her cry. I swore I would NEVER have an apartment baby.
Karma is a funny thing!
I still wake up shaking my fist and cursing "DAMN YOU APARTMENT BABY!". The only difference is he is 10 steps away and I am that awful parent who has to go and get him back to sleep!