I Get It Now

There are so many things about being a parent that I totally didn't get before I was one myself. There are even things I made fun of other people for doing that now make perfect sense to me. For example, I totally used to make fun of women who went out and bought bigger vehicles because they had ONE kid. I used to joke that I would buy the biggest Hum.mer when I had a ONE kid. But now that I'm a mom who has a road trip in my near future, I understand why people need a bigger car for one kid. Baby Bean's stroller honest to God takes up my entire trunk. Her car seat takes up so much room in the back seat that we had to move the two front seats forward to fit it in. And good luck trying to fit a slightly overweight person in the back seat next to it!

I had no freaking clue just how much stuff is needed to travel with a little one. I figured I had a good idea. WRONG! She needs her pack-n-play, bouncer, car seat, play gym, enough clothes she can spit up and be changed 2-3 times a day, pjs for every day just in case she soils them, diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, bottle brush, bather seat, burp rags, booties, stroller (if you can fit in the car with everything else, which we can't), and the list goes on and on. How can something so small command so much stuff?!

Yeah, my goal is to have my credit card paid off by the end of the year so I can buy a bigger vehicle. Laugh at me. I do. I will be one of those moms. But you know, when I go to the local home improvement store and buy a curtain rod that I can't fit in my car because I have a baby seat, its time for a bigger car.

I also understand how people who have been pregnant before can want to be knocked up again within months of giving birth. For me, pregnancy was the awesomest thing ever. I loved every second of it. Motherhood? I am completely over the moon about it. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my baby and being a mom and I just want to repeat the whole experience as many times as I can. It was something I couldn't completely understand until I walked the walk.

Another thing I didn't get before I was a mom was how people could have ONE kid and never have time to do anything like clean their house, email friends, keep a blog, etc. I so get it now! I had no idea how much time and attention a baby really needs. When people say your life will revolve around your baby, they mean it. All of a sudden everything you do has to fit into the baby's schedule. No longer can you just run off to the store whenever you want. You have to check to make sure the baby won't need to be fed before you can get back home. When you are home you're constantly making sure your baby is content before daring to embark on house cleaning. My house hasn't been as messy as it was while I was on maternity leave since we moved in and had unpacked boxes everywhere. My poor dogs have never been so neglected. I've even forgotten to feed them a couple of times since Baby Bean came home. I always forget to make sure they have raw hides to chew on. I'm getting better about remembering to give them treats every night, but its been weeks since they had any.

These little bundles of joy are a lot of work and I love every single second of it. I wouldn't trade it for a thing. At least I get it now. So here is my formal apology to all of those women I made fun of because I didn't have a clue about how it really was to be a mom. Drive your big cars when you have one kid, use the excuse you have no time for life because you have one kid, and pop out kids by the dozen. I get it now!