LOVING EVERY MOMENT

Being a Mommy has taught me A TON!  I feel totally confident in saying that I have learned more in the past 10 and half months than ever before.  I have learned simple lessons like how to quickly change a diaper and how to be the ultimate multi-tasker.  I have learned what unconditional and true love really means (that what I call gladly waking up multiple times a night for someone and feeling so blessed while doing it) and how much your heart can ache when being separated from someone while working.  One of the biggest lesson I have learned by becoming a mother though, is definitely not something I could have read in a book and prepared for.  The most important lesson I have learned from Waylon, is to value every minute of every day.

So yes, this is a clique thing to say.  But, I will say that my time, is my most valuable asset.  It isn't because I am so important and have so many people wanting a piece of my time.  It is because...it is going by so fast and I have finally learned how to be living in the moment.  I have spent years of my life planning for tomorrow and just trying to rush through today but I can finally say that I am no longer doing this.  I am valuing the time that God has given me, each day, and learning and loving it in.  Of course, I am still excited about things in the future (like being in Disneyland in less than two weeks) but I am focusing on what is right in front of me and what I have now.

I will say that I have pretty much had to do this by force.  By having Waylon, my daily routine changed and my freedom went out the window.  Trust me, I am not complaining....I wouldn't have it any other way.  But...it did make me realize that in order to have time for everything and everyone in my life, I would have to not only plan but make it a point to do this.  The evenings aren't spent just snuggling with my hubby on the couch or running to a movie any time we please...there is bath time, and reading time and "walking training" time that now fills that time slot.  But, our solution...Hubby and I make it a point to go on one date a month, just the two of us around our anniversary date. 

It sounds silly...once a month...but some months this is a challenge.  Life gets hectic so we have to make a point to make it happen.  It is so awesome to be able to go out, hold hands, eat with out wiping Waylon's face and just focus on each other and catch up.  Of course we spend a lot of our date time talking about our Mini Man but it really does provide me with the opportunity to focus on my hubby and just how much I love him!  It is something I look forward to each month and I really do treasure this time together we have.

Moments with JUST ME!  Wait.....I know at first it might sound selfish and ridiculous but I am sure even Super Mommy needed just a few moments of "me" time.  These moments too are pretty much non existent.  Gone are the days of  "monthly tanning" or just "resting" on the couch.  So now...when these moments appear....I totally soak them up.  It is nice to just be able to spend a bit of time focusing on me and relaxing.  My favorite...Shower time...BY MYSELF!  Now I love to spend bath time with my Mini Man and most days...I do.  But every now and then...I get in the shower all by myself, turn on some Jessica Simpson, and zone out!  I will say that it is usually interrupted with "Noodle, where is the..." and Waylon coming in to check on me but I do think that those deep breaths I am able to take in the shower keep me sane....or from not COMPLETELY falling off my rocker.

Time with my friends!  I am blessed that my friends make this pretty easy by always including Waylon in almost everything we do.  But, I am lucky that they love to stop by, meet me for lunch and are helping me plan an awesome girls weekend away wine tasting in Paso in March!  I CANT WAIT!  And of course my family too...dinner nights with the Pearces, church with the Baumeisters, games wtih the Stephers and Sissy, mani's with my Mama, and chatting with my Daddy are all moments that I treasure. 

And mostly...I value my time with my Mini Man.  The minutes I get holding and nursing him instead of giving him a bottle and cleaning, the minutes we spend reading instead of placing him in front of the tv, our trips to the park on the warm afternoons,

the nights I spend creating "terrible habits" by letting him fall asleep in my arms and snuggling with him in my bed before putting him in his crib, the moments I spend dancing with him instead of entering grades, and the seconds we share with his chubby arms around my neck and him giving Mommy KISSES!  These precious moments in my life, I am sure, will all too soon be replaced with awesome new, moments.  But, RIGHT NOW, I am living in the moment and feeling blessed beyond belief. 

I AM LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF LIFE...ok...well, let be honest... MOST! :)