What I've learned since becoming a mom...

I have learned a lot of things since becoming a mom....here are some of my thoughts...

1) Patience is the most valuable virtue when you bring baby home. You will spend nights awake for hours at a time with a screaming baby...who screams for no reason at all, and you will get mad and frustrated, but patience is what gets you through it all.
2) The difference between a good parent and a bad parent, is that a good parent can walk away for a few minutes, a bad parent doesn't walk away.
3) You can be furiously annoyed with your child one moment, and then madly in love with them the very next. Parenthood is an emotional rollercoaster.
4) God made babies adorable for a reason. :)
5) The most adorable thing in the whole world is your child's first smile.
6) People give you advice on how to raise children, and what is best, but only you can truly know your own child and their needs. Take every word of advice with a grain of salt, but know that what you decide is what is best for your child.
7) My name is not Wonderwoman, nor is it God. I cannot get everything done everyday. BUT my child doesn't care if my house is clean, or if dinner consists of more than a microwaved dinner...all my child cares about is that she is loved and cared for.
8) Don't judge other parents for something that they do that you don't think you agree with. You will find yourself doing the exact same thing 3 months later.
9) A Marriage takes work, being a married couple with a new baby takes A LOT of work. Take time for each other. Your child won't die if they spend an evening with grandma while the two of you take time out together.
10) There is always another load of laundry to do. LOL
11) There is nothing wrong with a little drink in the evening before bed...haha.
12) You can never have enough baby blankets, burp cloths, or outfits on hand. Chances are that if you have 2 outfits on hand...you will need 3.
13) When you are pregnant, they tell you not to lift over 20 lbs...when you leave the hospital with your new baby, you walk out carrying over 50 lbs.
14) A diaper bag can never be too big.
15) 13 bottles is still not enough
16) Never turn down help or free items. Coupons are wonderful as well.
17) You can want to breastfeed for the first year of your child's life all you want, but it comes down to what you can and cannot manage as a human being. I am not a bad mom for not breastfeeding for more than 4 weeks. I did what i could and what was best for my baby and myself.
18) I am a good mom
19) Boppy's really are as wonderful as they say
20) Moms really do have eyes in the back of their heads, 8 arms, and can see the future. You gain these talents the moment that your child is born into the world.
21) No matter how tired you are, how sore you are, how sick you are, or how frustrated you are...hearing your child cry for you...you will immediately jump up and run to them. You forget yourself and focus on them, no matter what.
22) Make-up becomes optional
23) the 'mom hair-cut' that occurs after you have a baby, really is neccessary. LOL
24) Mom ALWAYS knows best :)
25) Love and adore your baby every moment that you get because before you know it, they are grown up. I cannot believe how big Mackenzie already is. I love watching her grow, but sometimes i wish it would take a little longer.