Time sure flys when you are constantly changing diapers

I keep putting off updating my blog becuase I have all these pictures I need to upload and I haven't. That is a horrible reason I know. SO here is a blog post. I apologize for my long absence.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen I have been a mother now officially for three months. So obviously I now know everything that there is about being a mom and I am secretly superwoman.
Yeah, so that is not true at all. I think I realize more and more everyday how much I don't know. But I am so grateful for friends and family who help me along this wonderful learning experience. I have been truly blessed with amazing support. Thank you to all of those who help me and teach me. You probably don't even know who you are... but I notice all of you. Thank you a million times.

There are a few things I have come to realize these past three months and I would like to share these wonderful thoughts with you now.

First off I realized that food tastes SO much better now that I am no longer pregnant. Maybe it is that my nose is no longer the "super sniffer" or maybe its that breastfeeding makes me so hungry that an eggplant covered in chocolate and rolled in dirt would taste delicious (ok not really that sounds disgusting) but whatever the case I am so glad that food has gotten its "flavor" back.

I have realized that stretch marks are hot! They have to be becuase what feels like 80% of my body is covered in them and if they are not then I would feel pretty bad about myself. ha. Truthfully though stretch marks and my c section scar tell about the amazing journey that I took to get this sweet little baby here... so yeah that is pretty "hot" if you want to call it that.

Going to the gym for the first time after pregnancy was a little depressing. Meeting with a trainer and having him tell you that your body like a 33 year olds body when you are only 23 is not exactly the easiest to hear. Also trying to run, jump and do lunges the same way I did before I was pregnant didn't exactly work out well for me... I may or may not have lost my balance a few times and almost fallen over. heh its cool.
BUT its super fun to reach all these new "goals" and I feel pretty impressed with myself when I do reach one. Regardless of the fact that these are goals my 20 year old self could do in her sleep. hahaha. I realized though that working out can really make you feel better about yourself. (As long as you keep going JANELLE!)

Baby spit up, baby pee and baby poop are not as disgusting as you think they will be. When something becomes an everyday occurrence you just become desensitized. When Addie pees on me my last reaction (now) is to freak out and gross out. I'm not going to lie sometimes I don't change my shirt... I just wipe it with a clorex towel and call it good becuase truth be told... its probably about to happen again in about five minutes. (ok I do change my shirt... but I think about not changing it. Especially at 3 am.)

Going along with that... Spit up stains are a pretty sexy accessory this season. Almost every shirt Eric puts on has a big spit up mark on the shoulder. I love it. Just shows me that he is wonderful and always helping me by holding our cute kid. And she loves him too... and her spit up is just one way she shows her love.

A baby talking gibberish to you is super fun. I can do it for hours. And I love to record it and make everyone else watch her do it too even if they don't find it as entertaining as I do.
That being said Company is very nice. I love Addsters but an adult conversation every now and then is really appreciated. My sweet sisters call me all the time and it makes my day. I love just having someone talk to me. I never realized it before but I love it. Phone calls, visits... love it. They mean so much.

Blow drying your hair is such a luxury. I never realized how much I took blow drying my hair for granted before. but on the wonderful days where I can blow dry my hair and wear it down... I feel like a queen. I feel honestly spoiled. Sometimes I worry that when my hair is down Addie won't recognize me.

Reading to your baby is super fun. But the same books over and over again gets a little redundant. So I realized at this little age I am in charge and we can read what I say we read. Addie doesn't mind as long as I am talking to her. So we have been reading lots of random books like the Glass Menagerie and my all about the Titanic book. Her attention span is only for like  7 minutes anyway sooo we don't get through lots but its fun to try.


Baby kisses are magical. Need to feel better? Had a rough day? Give Addie a kiss and your worries will probably just melt away.

Don't get near your old jeans. Don't do it. Those "skinny" jeans you have been saving for a while because someday you will lose enough weight to fit in them... they will depress you. Throw them away my friend (future Janelle rereading this!). Having two pairs of jeans is cool. Especially if one has holes all down the inside of the leg. Truth is no one notices and if they do no one has said anything. I don't have the time nor money for that matter to go get a new pair of jeans and these jeans love me. They don't make me cry. Why would I want to submit myself to sadness when I can stick with my friend mr. comfortable?

Baby smiles... they melt your heart. you can't be mad, sad or even annoyed when that cute little baby looks up at you with that smile. And my luck would have it, Addie LOVES to smile while getting her diaper changed.

Addie has the "puppy face" mastered and it makes her father do anything for her. Addie does this thing where she will pucker her lower lip and start to whine when she wants to be moved, held, changed, or rocked. Its not a real sad face just an adorable little way she lets us know that she isn't happy with the current arrangement and wants a change. For example, we will be somewhere and someone unfamiliar will be holding her. She will be ok for awhile and then puppy sad face comes on. Daddy grabs her and she is fine. Its like nothing was ever wrong. Another example... She is lying next to mommy on the floor. Puppy sad face in Daddys direction... She is now smiling and happy in his lap. That girl has got her dad wrapped around her finger already. She is pretty awesome.

Spit up will probably go in or near your mouth at sometime. Just spit it out as fast as you can and you will survive. Avoiding the "flying baby" game will probably help to decrease your chances of this but if your baby loves to be "flown" around above your face just keep your smile to a closed mouth one and you will be fine.

I realized also... I am old. At 23 I am old. Both my little sisters have told me this in the past two weeks. And guess what?! It is ok. I don't party till dawn. I can't just go do something crazy fun spur of the moment. I have to always be carrying my Mary Popins bag with me. I can only do things my infant can go with me to. I am old and all grown up though I feel just as immature as ever.
But its ok. I like being old. It is totally worth it.
(It is a lot of responsibility being old though. I am trying my best but it is kinda tough dude.)

I have also realized how awesome Eric is. Ok I have said it before.. I married an amazing guy, my best friend and I love him... blah blah blah. But seriously, these past three months have just reaffirmed that I made the best choice possible in a husband. He is amazing. He deals with cranky sleep deprived Janelle, He deals with sad depressed "I am so fat" Janelle, He deals with "I am strange from no sleep" Janelle. He is so kind to me. So sweet. He is always doing anything I ask. I feel so blessed. I feel bad that I am ever short with him. He also is an amazing dad. He is so funny with Addie. She just adores him. Whenever she hears his voice she starts looking around the room for him. She doesn't do that for me... haha. He is always concerned for her health, safety and well being. He is so great... I truly was blessed that he somehow fell in love with me. I am sure glad I was able to convince him to marry me.

Of all the things though I think I have realized that all those cute little cliche things you hear about being a mom... they are all true.
"Being a mom is the greatest job in the world..." True.
"You will understand better the love your parents have for you and be more grateful for everything they have done for you..." True... I could write a whole blog post just about that.
"You will understand better how much our Heavenly Father loves us and how he loves us so unconditionally."True. I see how much I love Addie and I realize that if Heavenly Father loves me as much as I love her then I am so very blessed. I am so grateful for a God who knows me and loves me. It is such a blessing to know that through adversity and trials we have someone who loves us THAT much rooting us on. We really are never alone.

Adelaide is amazing. She is just the sweetest little thing. I am so humbled that I am her mother. I hope I can be worthy of her and teach her all she needs to know. Truth is, so far, she has been teaching me. Patience, love, understanding, how to be happy... the list goes on and on.


These past three months have been amazing. I am excited for the times ahead. I know they won't be easy but I look forward to getting to know Addie more.