Being a Mom

It's still so weird to call myself a Mom.  I look at my beautiful baby and sometimes I forget that she is mine!  These past 6 - 7 weeks have given me a new appreciation and understanding to what it means to be a Mom.  And I realized that it all comes down to one thing.  And that one thing is...

being a Mom means putting yourself second.

My whole day revolves around when Rebecca needs to eat and sleep.  I can't shower, sleep, or go to the store whenever I want or whenever it's most convenient anymore.  And I imagine it will be a long time before that changes.  My fashion is lacking because breastfeeding clothes are not exactly the most fashionable things.  I'm still working on getting my body back and, lets be honest, it will never be exactly like it was before I had Rebecca.  My clothes often times smell like spit-up and my hair gets done...sometimes.  Quality time with my husband is rare and let's not even talk about quality "me" time!  My life has forever changed and I'm starting to see all the different ways it has. 

At one point I thought to myself, "Why do people do this and how in the world do they handle doing it again, and again, and again?"  And then a few days ago, Rebecca was looking right at me while I talked to her and she smiled.  Now, when I say she smiled, I mean she SMILED - her eyes lit up, a little dimple showed up, and you could see her gums.  I wished I would have been able to take a picture of it!  As I looked back at that moment, I understand why people do this again and again and again. 

I have a new understanding of love and appreciation for Mothers.  I will kindly disagree with anyone that says being a stay-at-home mom is not a full-time job.  Mothers are heroes!  They gladly give up whatever they need to for their children.  Some of you may be thinking, "I don't always give it up gladly..." but the reality is that you still give up whatever it is - gladly or not.  So thanks to all those mothers out there!  You guys are amazing and are true inspirations to me.  And to my own Mom - I have always known you to do whatever you could for us kids.  And I have realized there were plenty of other things you gave up for us that I never noticed.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a stellar Mom!  I love you and hope to become the Mother you are.