Things I have learned as a mom - in the past 2 years

I know we all say it as parents - "Time Flies".
And we all know how very true that statement is. I really do feel like my daughter was born yesterday, but its been 2 whole years. Two years filled with happiness and blessedness, chaos and uncertainty, joy and fulfillment.

Sure there are frustrations & anxieties that come with being a parent. Nothing I can't handle. This child fulfilled a part of me that I never knew was missing until I had her. My heart would have been unknowingly empty without her in my life.
My husband fills a very extraordinary spot in my heart, but our daughter fills the most remarkable part of our heart, soul and lives. She makes us both so incredibly happy. We have been so fortunate to have her in our lives and feel blessed every day.

Brian and I would like to have another child, but if it doesn't happen, and all we end up with is Julianna, then I will still be the happiest mom that ever lived! Her smile melts my soul. Her giggles brighten my day. Her happiness makes me feel like I've achieved success as a mother.

Some things I have learned as a parent in the last 2 years

• Every parent has a different parenting style - none of which is wrong. It's their own way. 

• I listen to my gut when making decisions regarding Julianna. 

• I listen to my husband when making decisions regarding Julianna. 

• We make decisions together. 

• Enjoy every moment you have as a family and try to make special & happy memories. 

• It is easy to get caught up in so many other opinions and online nonsense, especially while raising our first newborn when you are vulnerable and not sure how to handle some (most) situations. But in the end, you end up making the right decision and it works out. You learn from it. You grow as a parent. 

• There are going to be bad days. There are days where you get so frustrated and upset. You get through it. Looking back, the bad days have to happen to make you appreciate the good times. 

• I believe: Everything (and I mean everything) happens for a reason. Nothing in this life is random. Every soul is put on this planet for a reason whether they are here for one heartbeat or here for 100 years. 

• Sometimes life hands you situations that you don't know how you can possibly get through it. I believe you are not handed any situation that the almighty knows you can't handle. And sometimes, when you look back in retrospect, you then understand why things happened the way they did. 

• Quality family time prevails all else.

•  Happy and loving parents make for a happy child. That's a fact. 

• You will be presented with turmoil daily, and it's up to you as the parent how to handle it to the end, and move on. 

• As a parent, you can never have all the answers. We are moms, not super-heroes (even though some days you feel like you might have to be superwoman to make it through!) 

• My husband doesn't get the credit he deserves. He does it all. Always. He bathes Julianna, changes diapers, takes her to the park, feeds her, snuggles with her, dresses her (in not so matching clothes, but he has gotten better), feeds her, does her hair (God love him), and spends quality time playing & laughing with his baby girl. When she was born, he got up in the middle of the night every night, to feed her. We took turns alternating and never had a bad night's sleep because of that. He did not care that he had to work the next day. Both of us are equal parents in his eyes and we were always equal in caring for our daughter. We still are 2 years later. He has never been absent. Without him, this whole parenting thing would have flat out sucked. 

• Some things {regarding raising my child} I said I would never do, I did. And some things I said I would do, I haven't done. Nothing is absolute with raising a child. I try to keep a much more open mind about things.

• Being a full time parent is still possible even if both parents work full time. You just make every minute count. I have never once felt that my daughter was deprived by us having to put her in daycare, nor have we ever missed a milestone.  Would I love to be a stay at home mom? Probably. But that's in a perfect world. In our world, we both have to work to live the way we want to live. 

• Toddler eating habits are generally downright insane. I consider my daughter to be a very good eater. If she's hungry, she lets us know. If she doesn't eat all her dinner or doesn't feel like eating much one day, it's ok. She's not going to starve. In other words, I learned not to stress if she eats like a horse one day, and eats like a bird the next. She's a toddler. Period. 

• Toddlers are smart. Smarter than mom & dad. Smarter than we ever gave her credit for. She owns us. (half joking of course... ok maybe not!)