41 Weeks: Mother's Day!

There is something precious about the squeeze you get from a 9 month old.  There is something precious about the way she rubs her nose into my shoulder when I tuck her in at night.  There is something precious about the few times I can take her out of the car and she will sleep on my shoulder until I can get her into her crib.  There is something precious about the way she tries to give a kiss, but actually just gets slobber all over me and tries to bite me. There is something precious about the way she smiles and squeals when I walk into the room after being gone for the day.  It's her, my baby girl, she is precious.

My first time holding Millie Raine!

As my first Mother's Day approaches, I can't help but reflect on all the ways my life has changed since July 29th.  I have been mentally keeping this list throughout the week:

1. I have learned how to shower, dry off, and dress in less than 10 minutes.
2. I have learned how to tune out a crying baby to do those things listed in number one!
3. I have learned how to hold my breath long enough to change a stinky diaper.
4. Our trash cans now have fabreeze air fresheners in them.
5. Date nights are few and far between (but that's okay because I love having Millie along when we go out)
6. Going to the grocery store is down to a science, so it can be done quickly.
7. I have mastered the art of pureeing just about anything.
8. Bathing suit season is even more scary now!
9. I now know you must travel with snacks.
10. People want to come to your house, but it's really just to see your baby!
11. You have a new appreciation of what nap time means.
12. Packing to go away for the weekend, looks more like you are going to be gone for a month.
13. You really wonder how a diaper holds all "that" in.  But are thankful it does!
14. Mickey is a life saver.
15. You do whatever it takes to make her happy, even if it means walking up and down the drive way a million times in a play car.
16. You learn who your true friends are.  (the ones that don't mind that your baby is along when you go out to dinner, or will bring dinner to you)
17. Anything Mommy eats is what baby wants, no matter what time of day, or what the food item is.
18. I appreciate my husband so much more. (Who runs to the store, helps with dinner, deals with all my projects, watches Millie so I can have some Mommy time, loves his daughter unconditionally etc.)
19. I have learned to love someone so much more than myself, and more than anything else.

So this Mother's Day, there is really no gift out there that could be better than the one that I was given on July 29th.  She is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and is such a blessing.  I'm not perfect and I have so much to learn about being a Mom, but this is a journey that I'm glad that I'm on.

So to all those out there that mother is some way: those that have their own children, those that adopted children  those that foster children, those that lost children, those that teach and care for children... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!