What a Long Strange Trip It's Been...

...and continues to be.  I can't believe it's been 6 months already!  During my pregnancy, I smiled and nodded politely when older people told me that they enjoyed being grandparents, more than being parents, because they got to enjoy it more.  I get it now!  The past 6 months are an absolute blur!  I've been blessed with a child that doesn't sleep a lot, so I've not spent much time in REM sleep in 6 months - my memory is atrocious and I bring a whole new level of meaning to the terms 'dazed' and 'ditzy'.  But you know what?  I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Some reflections, musings...and things I've learned since becoming a mom:

• Being up every 1-3 hours a night for 6 months turns a person into a zombie and can result in killing phones, unintentional injuries, perpetually losing items, (extremely) short term memory loss, a short temper and a myriad of other things that, frankly, I can't think of right now.  (i.e. I left my keys hanging in the front door for half a day just a couple of days ago -- only realized it when I opened the door to check the mail. *sigh*)

• Just when I think I've gotten his routine down, Declan changes it.

• Just when I think my boobs can't possibly get any bigger, they do.

• a.) Declan will find a way to shoot pee on me, even fully diapered, and b.) there is such a thing as projectile poo and it will happen, unexpectedly, in the dark, at 2am.

• I will make list after list after list...and forget to bring them when I go shopping.  I will eventually not have the ability to organize my thoughts enough to create a list (I'm there now).

• I spent an inordinate amount of time, those first few months, getting acquainted with the backseat of my car in random parking lots, as I couldn't run an errand without D wanting to nurse!  That creepy lady hanging out in the backseat of her car?  Totally me ;)

• I will, after spending an hour grocery shopping, be in line with a full cart...and a baby in a sling screaming while trying to gnaw a hole through my shirt.  I never knew what anxiety felt like until that moment.

• I will deal with a collicky baby for weeks...until I realize that all of the dairy, soy, wheat and caffeine I'm consuming are the culprits (but the fully caffeinated coffee tasted SO good!).  *sheepish grin*

• Having no idea what you're doing as a new parent is perfectly acceptable.  I will 'wing it' until I 'get it' (if I ever do).  Thank goodness for Google.

• I try to be grateful for every moment I get to spend with D, especially those difficult moments.  We're lucky to have such a cool (and weird, in a cool way) little guy! 
• I can't wait to see what the next 6 months will bring!   

• I look forward to growing our family more!