I wish I knew...

Everyone knows how much kids change your life. Upon reading another Mommy Blogger post entitled "10 things I wish I knew before having kids"...I realized her list and my list were quite different and it inspired me to write my own...

1). You'll never, ever again sleep like you did BEFORE kids! Even when they get older (and I mean old enough where they have been sleeping through the night for years. in their own bed, even). You will still sleep with one eye or one ear open. Now I know how my mom could hear me throwing up in the middle of the night a full hallway away with two solid oak, six panel doors closed between us. And I must mention, I think I was at least 18 years old. I looked up between my vomit induced gagging and asked, "How do you DO that?"' Now I know!

2). That cute bundle of joy is a blank slate and he/she will grow up to be JUST LIKE YOU...So make sure you like who you are! There is no clearer reflection of the truth than your child.

3). Enjoy all your warm meals. You'll never have one again.

4). Hot, long showers are a thing of the past. Now you'll consider 5 minutes LOOOONNNGGGG. You have no idea what a toddler can do to a bathroom in 5 minutes or under.

5). Money? What money?

6). Caribbean beach vacations with umbrella drinks will be replaced by long road trip to Yellowstone. And it make take some convincing, but deep down you'll prefer the latter to the former. The memories really are made in miles.

7). That big hairy dog that you swore would never, ever be a part of your house? Well, your kid cried and begged and then refused to leave your brother's house without one of his own. You will relent and then realize it was the best decision you ever made. No family is complete without one.

8).  You really will enjoy watching your son play baseball in the freezing cold. And more than likely, in April, it will also be raining. But lucky for you, no lightening. So, you get to sit your ass on a cold bleacher and it will be wet.

9). You have no idea how fast time can fly until you've quit your job and dedicated your life to 3 little ones. The days that wouldn't end at the office find a way of flying by at home. And it's true...It goes even faster when the kids start school.

10). Fatherhood is super sexy on husbands!

Enjoy the Journey

I firmly believe in the old saying "Everything happens for  reason"...It's become my mantra for life. I can find reason and/or faith in just about anything if this phrase is applied first....

So, this being said, I've looked at my youngest bundle of...err...joy, I guess...for the past year and wondered...What is the reason for you? Since the moment of his abrupt arrival, he has continually sucked the life out of me, whether it comes in the form of sleeplessness, sanity, or a breast pump, and with more vigor than any child I have ever known. 

He is the reason we are unable to compute math at a 5th grade level, get anywhere on time, or arrive anywhere showered, dressed or put together in any way, shape, or form. He's the reason I went to Target with baby poo on my shirt. He's also the reason why I had to pull a deeply embedded dried noodle out of the dog's hair. He's the reason why we have no toilet paper within reach in any of our bathrooms. There are times where I feel as if I should receive some kind of Olympic medal for being able to remain seated on the toilet AND reach the paper. He's the reason why our house, always so clean and organized, has taken a back seat to his near Tazmanian level rampages through the toys, books, and cupboards. 

Today, as I was sitting near him, watching him play with his older sister, I looked at him and wondered, once again, "Why?" And it hit me so hard, the answer I've been searching for...It was almost as if the Universe answered my question. I heard, "To teach you patience. To teach you how little any of the above really matters in life. To teach you to slow down, unwind, enjoy the journey. I'm your last chance to see how important I am and how fast I will grow and how limited the time. Nothing else matters."