6 more things

About 6 months ago I wrote this post on 6 things I've learned since becoming a mom. Now that Blake is a year old, I wanted to write 6 more things I've learned. So, in no particular order:

1. It is possible to get places on time. It just takes preparation and organization.
This mostly applies to Sunday mornings. A few months ago I dreaded Sunday mornings. I'd lay in bed on Saturday night and go over the game plan for the morning. I'd wake up early and shower before Blake woke up. Then I'd get as ready as I could until I heard him wake up. After that it was chaos until we were out the door to catch the train.

One Sunday in particular stands out in my mind. I was ready to go and just needed to get my keys. But, they weren't in my usual "key" place. After searching for a few minutes and calling my husband to ask if he knew where they were, I still had no clue where my keys were. The clock was ticking and I knew we were going to end up being late. I became so enraged that I kicked one of Blake's toys and broke it. Ok, so not one of my better moments in life. I was just so angry that everything was going smoothly so we could make it to church on time and in the blink of an eye it all fell apart. It was on that Sunday that I decided it was my fault for hating Sunday mornings. So now, I get anything I can get ready on Saturday night so I don't have to worry about it on Sunday. And things usually work out nicely.

All bets are off when we have another kid, though.


2. Babies cry. And cry. And cry some more.
I've just kind of gotten used to Blake's crying at this point. It's one of the only ways he can communicate with me at this point in his life. 


3. Try to enjoy each stage.
Honestly, it's hard for me to even remember when Blake was first born. I don't really remember him being that small. And that makes me sad. I feel like I was so excited for him to reach each new milestone that I forgot to cherish whatever stage he was in. (Note to self: Cherish him whining about how his duct tape rolled under the couch and he can't reach it. Pretty soon it will be him whining about how we won't let him drive somewhere by himself. Yikes.)

4. I'm really going to have to improve my eating habits.
If I kept a food journal I'd probably be appalled at what I eat. I don't think I eat a lot of unhealthy food, I just don't have a balanced diet. And that's going to have to change. I have to be an example for Blake to look to when it comes to...well pretty much everything, including food. No more brownies for breakfast. (Ok that doesn't really happen...very often.)


5. My whole life revolves around someone other than myself.
It's true. Being a mom means I come last most of the time. My thoughts are made up of what Blake will eat for meals and snacks, when he will nap, doctor appointments, trips to the playground, and things I should be teaching him. And usually that's ok. I am a mother and have a responsibility to care for my child. I try to take time for myself, but sometimes there isn't any time left.


6. I can do it! I can be a mom!
I've said this before, but when Blake was first born, I had a moment of sheer terror. I was alone with Blake. My mom had left and Evan was in New York. It was going to be about 5 weeks of just me and Blake. And I didn't think I could handle it. I thought I had made a mistake. But things got better. Not necessarily easier, but better. Even now, I don't think being a mom is easy. But I'm doing it. And I think I'm doing a pretty good job. At least I'm doing the best that I can. And while there are days that I think about my pre-baby life and sometimes miss it, I wouldn't trade anything for Blake.