Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother. -Lin Yutang

Just some random mother things to talk about ...

It's funny how once you become a mother, there are so many things in every aspect of your life that you now appreciate & look at from a completely different perspective. I'm talking about things that I never gave a second thought about before I had Julianna - It's not something you have any control over, it just happens. I recently watched the story on the news about the little boy that went 'missing' in Oregon. Before I had Julianna, I would have thought, "OK yeah this is sad, but whatever"
Now... I watch that story in horror and fear. When I thought about that happening to Julianna, it made me cry hysterically. It's funny how you can almost put yourself in other parent's shoes when you have a child yourself. Those poor parents must be beyond devastation. You would need to put me in the looney bin if it were me.

Before I had Julianna, I was very self centered & selfish ... yep, It was always about me. That's how I used to roll. Don't get me wrong, it's about my husband & our relationship too. But I will admit I never wanted kids because I was too greedy. I didn't want anything coming in the way of our relationship. At least I can admit it.
Once Julianna came along, Brian and Julianna are my world and she is front & center for everything. And you know what? Our relationship is even better than I could have ever imagined.
It's amazing how you just automatically put your child's needs before everything else in your world. It just happens.

I never really liked other kids - sorry but anyone that knows me knows I was the person in the restaurant that got "annoyed" when parents with kids sat anywhere near me. Now, I am the mom that smiles at the other mothers in the restaurant when their kids are screaming or acting up - because we've ALL been there or will be there one day. I don't wish evil on them like I used to. LOL. I find I am way more 'sympathetic' towards parents with crying kids. I don't even hear a baby crying anymore even when they are right next to  me. What happened to me!? Oh yeah, I became a mom!

Innocence - It's amazing how my heart just melts when I look at Julianna. I just want to hold her and never let go. It makes me sad or uneasy to think about how she is so "Innocent" right now and knows nothing of this world yet. 

I can't wait to show & teach her everything ... and for her to explore the world on her own. These are some things I am looking forward to:

• Teach her about how caterpillars turn into butterflies
• How each flower has it's own wonderful smell
• The smell in the air before it rains
• How soft and loving our Pepper doggie is  
• Santa coming on Christmas eve (I can't wait to see her joyous expression on Christmas morning! I always loved Christmas as a child and can't wait until it is her turn to love it like I did!)
• Making Christmas cookies and doing the 25 day countdown until Christmas with the advent calendar
• Putting up the Christmas tree & decorating it as a family
• Showing her what baby animals look like and going to the petting zoo
• Seeing her face when we take her to the circus or other kid's shows
• Teaching her about money and how to be smart with it
• Going for a walk in the park and seeing the simple & beautiful things nature has to offer
• Seeing her develop relationships with her grandparents, friends & family
• Seeing her develop her own unique little personality (which is already happening!)
• Seeing her face the first time she realizes she can stand up on her own
• Showing her how to build a sand castle on the beach
• Seeing her walking on the sand on the beach and laughing as she feels the sand between her toes
• Relaxing on a cool summer night outside, listening to the peaceful noises of the evening like the crickets, peeping frogs, and other night creatures
• Dressing her up for Halloween and going trick-or-treating
• Showing her how to swim
• Her first day of school
• Her first Baseball game
• Taking her bird-watching and learning about all the birds that Mommy & Daddy love

I could go on and on ... but you get the picture. There are so many 'firsts' I am looking forward to! I know Brian is looking forward to all of this too! It's amazing how you both become instant teachers and role models to your child!