The Best Things About Being a Mom

1. You are adored in a way that even your college boyfriend couldn’t match. That feeling when your baby reaches up to touch your face for the first time – magic.
2. You get to buy cute clothes without the guilt; they just aren’t for you. It’s actually more fun to shop for your baby: no trying things on, no stupid body issues.
3. You get to spend hours reading kids’ books. If you read Green Eggs and Ham often enough, each picture takes on new meaning and you hear the text in your mind as you drift off to sleep.
4. You gaze at the most beautiful thing in the entire world on a daily basis. A sunset? A sale at Banana Republic? Nothing compared to your baby’s eyes.
5. You lose your jaded outlook as your baby sees things for the first time. Snow used to be a driving problem. Now it’s actually fluffy frozen water falling from the sky.

What is it about being a mom that inspires you?

Items on a New Mom’s Christmas List

After almost ten months of being a mom, there are a few items I’ve realized I couldn’t possibly live without. Okay, well, I’d rather live without these items then my baby swing or high chair. These are items just for me, though. We all need that – especially since being a mom makes it easy to lose site of your own desires. None of us have a lot of time to pamper ourselves, but these things make it a little easier.

Tivo! I admit it. I’m a TV junkie. But I don’t want my baby watching TV. And we all know that you can’t even count on uninterupted time after they go to bed. Tivo lets me pause shows, zap commercials, and record my favorite shows to watch when I actually have time.

Senseo! Okay, so being a new mom without fresh coffee is about as sucky as it gets. I should know. I avoided all caffeine for months when I was breastfeeding. But there’s something comforting about that morning cup of coffee, even if it’s decaf. With Senseo (or any single-brewing system), you only have to make one cup of coffee at a time. That means that if you’re up hours before your husband (not that I would know anything about that – grrr), you can enjoy coffee without making an entire pot that will just get stale.

A phone with talking Caller ID. This one saves energy (your energy – not fossil fuels) and also is a great source of entertainment. Basically, when the phone rings, a voice tells you who is on the line. If it says “Not Provided” or some such thing, you can go on changing that diaper or whatever. No more dropping what you’re doing (or just stressing about that missed call). Plus, when the robotic-sounding voice mispronounces your best friend’s name, you will be cracking up.

Anything that saves you time and energy is a major plus. I don’t know how I’d get through my day without these items.