Before I Became a Mom...

(I saw this on another blog and thought it was a great idea, because every single day I have a moment where I think to myself "pre-mommy Melissa would have NEVER done/said/exclaimed/enjoyed/eaten that". So here goes...)

Before I became a Mom, I never thought that...

-I'd be so comfortable announcing to my husband "oh crap, can you grab the baby? I have to go #2!" (you'd be surprised how often this happens. And I'm sure before he became a Dad, Todd never thought he'd be so comfortable with his wife's bowels.)

-I'd be so comfortable announcing my child's bowel movements to others.

-Day-to-day conversations with my husband would include the color, texture, and smell of our child's poop.

-I would ever leave the house without any make-up on. I'm talking NONE. In most instances I still won't leave the house sans make-up, but the babysitter is becoming more and more familiar with "just woke up" Melissa face.

-I could possibly worry about things anymore than I already did. But now? If Nick even so much as breaks out in a little sweat from wearing too many clothes, I freak out that he is sick and has a fever and needs an ice bath and needs to go to the ER and probably thinks I'm an awful mom, and ohmygosh I need to sit down.

-I would be more concerned with my child looking cute than myself. Truth be told, I've gotten better about this one...but for the first 4 or so months of Nick's life, taking a shower and washing/styling my hair were the last things on my list. Making sure Nick's pants/shirt/socks/jacket all matched was priority #1. Wait...maybe this hasn't changed much...

-Wearing stretchy waisted pants would be ok with me. Pre-baby, I used to beg my mom to not wear old lady pants with the stretchy waist because she was just too young to do so. Now? I wish all pants had stretchy waist bands. Buttons and zippers are just so binding...when you're trying to conceal the last bit of muffin top you're trying to lose, and get in and out of the bathroom quickly before your baby starts screaming, elastic waisted pants would be WAY more convenient.

-I would enjoy eating mushy apples, cheerios, pureed butternut squash, and slimy squishy peaches. But seeing the joy on Nick's face when I take a bite of his food and then share it with him (not to mention the encouragement it gives him to continue eating), is incredibly enjoyable.

-Drinking coffee would become more of an addiction than just an enjoyable beverage. Now we drink coffee like Juan Valdez lives in our backyard.

-My own health concerns would take such a backseat. It took me 6 months after Nick was born to finally make it to the doctor to take control of my blood pressure issues. And the eczema break outs I keep having on the back of my leg? I just mindlessly scratch and ignore. But I genuinely look forward to taking Nick for his monthly well check-ups. Hearing the doctor say "Your child looks perfect and healthy. You're doing a great job." is music to a mommy's ears.

-I would be able to cry on such demand. Now? One sad news story, 5 lines of a sappy country song, or 3 seconds of the ASPCA commercial, and I'm in complete and total body sobs.

-I could love my husband any more than I did the day we got married. His interactions with Nick and the way he loves his baby boy just melt my heart.

-I could love our son as much as I do. I knew the love I had for him would be immeasurable. But I had NO idea of the love of a mother until I became one. The saying is beyond true:
"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone