Thursday Thirteen: What I've Learned

The late edition . . .

On August 10, 2007 I became a parent. Before that, I thought I had finally figured myself out (you parents out there are chuckling, aren't you?). Well, apparently, parenthood adds a whole other dimension to who you are and what you are all about. Well, here's what I've learned about myself in the last 7 or so months.

1. I'm no longer a planner. I used to plan everything (I had quite a few wretched To Do lists hanging around). I found out that you can't plan a leaky diaper, a upset tummy (resulting in spit up or previous leaky diaper), a total melt down. Babies, oddly enough, do do To Do lists. Nope. So, now. Neither do I. (Secretly, I'm SOOOO OK with that.)

2. I like flannel. My PJs are flannel. I lived in my PJs pretty much from the day J was born. They are quite functional. I have one with stars all over it that totally camouflages spit-up. They are soft enough so J can lay his head in my lap while I slurp my yogurt and watch Good Morning America. Functional flannel works for me and simply put, showering is a luxury that I can't always afford. Bummer . . . (Yes, that is me on the right--in my flannel).

3. Mess and chaos are totally OK with me. Remember this post? I used to be all about clutter free rooms. Now, we live in a slightly smaller version of Toys R Us (yes! Law Student Hot Mama--it DOES look like Toys R Us threw up . . . more than once!). And, why bother picking it all up? It just looks that way again in 10 minutes or less. BTW--I checked out this video again and clearly I was still in my clutter free mode. It seldom is THAT neat.

4. I have leaky eyes. ALL THE TIME. TV shows. Movies. Commercials. Magazine Ads. You name it, my eyes leak. Call it hormones. Call me a mush. It is what it is. Now pass me a tissue.

5. I am a diaper expert. I look at style (though, does baby really care whether it is Pooh or Micky on his diaper--I think NOT). I search for the best value (and am a mad coupon clipper). I examine baby physics in order to determine the most ergonomic fit for baby. I continually test for absobancy (both directly and indirectly by the amount of unabsorbed fluid on baby's clothes/mommy's PJs and in the bed).

6. I am a baby food connoisseur. I have clearly learned that nothing, and I mean nothing, beats sweet potatoes. (Though Law Student Hot Mama has some promising things to say about Turkey . . . ).

7. I am ingenious when it comes to making up animal noises. Did you know that a giraffe makes noises? Yeah, it does. At least J thinks it does. You see, when singing Old McDonald over and over again is the only way to calm a crying baby in the middle of meltdown, you might start with a cow, sheep, and a pig, but you end up with a giraffe, a dinosaur, and a blow fish. (RJTrue--I haven't given up on the tractor. And it totally sounds different the same, really as the dinosaur).

8. My bed time is now 8 PM. I mean 12 AM. Oh, I mean 3 AM. Um, maybe more like 5 AM . . . I don't use an alarm clock any more . . . why bother. I have a built in one now.

9. My body is no longer mine alone. Specifically two parts. Which, when they are returned to me will never, ever be the same. I've learned to accept this. *sniff* Um, no pictures here.

10. My tastes have changed. I used to be into classic literature. Now, I am into classic nursery rhymes. I used to think George Clooney was pretty hot. Now I think Curious George is pretty cute. I used to rock out to funky classic rock and funky 80's tunes . Now I rock out to Veggie Tales' The Hairbrush Song.

11. I get excited about TOYS. I mean really, really excited. I could peruse the aisles of Toys R Us for hours. I used to get that way at bookstores and office supply stores (a weird addiction, I know), and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Now, it is all about the TOYS. Ooooohhhh . . Toys. (From the picture on the right, I clearly have a problem . . . yes, I bought these. All of them . . . the same day. I, the one who said I would never fall for buying all that "junk." I would stimulate my child naturally. Yeah, whatever.)

12. I look at the world in a completely different way. I am protective of all those who are innocent. I feel deeply for those in pain (more so than ever). I am concerned about the environment, the war, the economy, and crime in ways I have never, ever been. Each day brings out the activist side of me more and more.

13. And finally, I have learned that my heart no longer beats just for me . . .

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