Mommy of a 6 month old!

I never thought I would be SAD that my baby turned 6 months old, but yesterday I actually cried, like a baby! I guess it is because time has gone so fast, and so much has changed, so quickly. I can't help but wonder though if I am having such a hard time with 6 months, how will I handle it at a year, or at 10 years! Being so upset about this has just made me realize that I need to enjoy every second with him that much more, whether he is smiling and happy, or fussy in the middle of the night. He is only going to be this size for a very short time.

Happy half birthday little man!

5 Things I Didn't Know I Would Like About Motherhood

With my lil dude is turning 6 months on Easter, I have been reflecting lately about how much I have changed and evolved in just 6 months. I love being a Mom and there were certain aspects of Motherhood I knew I would like, but there are also a few that were pretty surprising to me.

1. Nursing/Breastfeeding: I did this because I knew it was good for my baby and would provide some added bonding, as well as save money. But at the 5 month mark, I was not making enough to fill up my rapidly growing tiny person. I had to start introducing formula, and he took to it like gang busters. I thought I would love letting other people feed him, and make the night time feedings a lot less stressful for me, but to my surprise I was actually brought to tears by this change. I love breastfeeding. I love the closeness it brought. I love the convenience. I love knowing that my body not only brought life into this world, but could also sustain that life. I guess I also sort of selfishly liked that I was the only person in the world that could provide such a service to my little guy. I am still feeding him in the morning, at night, and pumping enough for one full bottle at some point during the day, but not being needed 24/7 as a food source is oddly sad for me.
2. Picking Up Toys: I like a tidy house, not a super clean one. I am not one to get into dusting, and cleaning windows, but I like the house to at least have the appearance of being clean. I thought that adding a bunch of toys, blankets, books, and other items into this mix would only bring a headache of more to do, but I find myself smiling as I do it now. I guess it is because I love knowing that these tiny little items belong to my most favorite person, and that picking up tiny toys will only be a small part of my parenting time. I am much happier picking up stuffed animals, binkies, teething rings and the like, than I may be down the line when I am picking up stinky teenager socks, gym bags, and video game accessories...though maybe I will find myself still liking that down the line too. 
3. Changing Poopy Diapers: I never though the day would come when I would ENJOY and look forward to changing a stinky diaper, but as a parent your whole view changes. When I get a poopy diaper I know that his little digestive system is working the way it should, and I don't have to worry. When we switched to formula my poor little guy went from two or three a day, to none for 5 days, and I was in a panic. I thought I had broken him. Turns out it was just his system getting used to the change and everything is back on track, but now I am glad when I smell "that" smell, and relieved that he is doing just fine. 
4. Hearing Someone Snore: I never understood how my Mother could sleep next to my step father every night. He snores like a hibernating bear! I thought, "how in the world can you get any sleep"?! I didn't even like sleep overs as a kid at times because I would stay up all night listening to a girl three sleeping bags down snore away, and it drove me nuts. But to my surprise hearing baby snore is a huge relief and actually helped me sleep better. Hearing his snoring was how I knew he was still breathing in the middle of the night. After reading way too many articles about the ever terrifying SIDS, the sound of a snore is like music to my ears. 
5. Being Chewed On: I always had puppies growing up, and they would chew on you, drool, and the like. Now being someones teething toy makes me smile like nothing else. I know that by him chewing on me, it is comforting him and helping ease his pain, and as a parent that is a great feeling.