Top Ten List -- Mom Version

Like all parents, I've been doing things a bit differently now that I'm a mom. Some things I never thought in a million years I'd be doing; some I figured I would be doing, it's just weird that it's actually happening now. So here's my list: The Top Ten Things I Never Thought I'd Do, Or Think, Until I Became a Mom.

1. Go to bed before 10pm every night (even on weekends). 
Then: My college roommates can attest to the fact that I was always the last one to go to bed. Staying up to midnight or 1am (or later) was the norm.
Now: The clock strikes 10pm (or soon thereafter) and if I'm not already in my bed then I turn off the tv and head on upstairs and cannot wait to get into my pjs and under the covers. I do this for several reasons: 1) I'm freaking tired all of the time 2) I know that if Ella is asleep I might as well go to bed now anyway and try to sneak in a few hours of sleep while I can 3) If I stay up much later I would think, "Self...your baby was asleep at 7:30 and yet, you stayed up until 11pm...you can't complain tomorrow when you're so tired because it's your own fault." And, I really don't want myself having that conversation with myself the next morning.

2. Ignore e-mails that say "Huge Shoe Sale from Nordstroms!" Or other enticing sale message from one of my favorite retailers. 
Then: Hello, sale? I'm Stephanie. Nice to meet you.
Now: Heck no. I can't remember the last time I bought something for myself. Ella, yes. Aaron, yes. Kali (our dog), yes. Me, notsomuch. I miss buying shoes (or anything else for that matter).

3. Think driving someplace in my car alone is considered "me" time. 
Then: Driving someplace was a means to an end. I drive, I get there...mission accomplished.
Now: If I get out of the house to go grocery shopping or run to CVS or even head to a meeting, I think of it as me time. I don't have to worry about my daughter in the back seat or whether or not our dog is going to poop in my car -- it's just me.

4. Feel baldy about doing something for myself.
Then: When I was married with no children I never felt bad if I went to the gym or got a mani/pedi or did something with friends. Nor did I get upset when my husband did the same.
Now: I can't help it. Mom guilt that I hope I'll get over soon. My husband encourages me to get out and do something on my own and I'm starting to feel better about doing so. Plus, it's good for me to have my own time (I have to keep repeating that to myself).

5. Not caring if I had a boy or girl first.
Then: I used to think I wanted a son first. I grew up with an older brother who is absolutely amazing. He's a Major in the Army so as you can imagine, he always was the protective older brother that I loved having. I think everyone always imagines having a family like their own. If you have a sister you want your child to have a sister, and so on.
Now: When I was pregnant, even since day one, we knew Ella was a girl. And an overwhelming majority of people guessed girl...literally only 3 people guessed boy. The ultrasound tech expected us to have some sort of reaction when she said, "it's a girl!" and we said, "we know!" I am so thrilled to have Ella first. I know she'll be an amazing older sister to a younger sister or brother.

6. Want to see someone's poop. 
Then: Um, obviously I wouldn't ever want to see someone's poop, ever. In college I was at a party and had to use the bathroom. Well, the guys who lived there took Polaroids of their poops and posted them on the wall. Nasty. I never forgot it and it's been 10 years since I graduated.
Now: If I don't change Ella's diaper I always ask, "What did her poop look like?" I am amazed by what it looks like and how it changes. Granted, I'm checking to see if something she just ate isn't agreeing with her but still, I never thought I'd be so excited or so interested in someone else's poop.

7. Want to know where I came from.
Then: I was always told my heritage was Italian and English. Then it changed to Italian, English and Irish. Ok, fine by me.
Now: There was a 14-day free trial of ancestry.com and I couldn't resist. For a while now I've been wanted to know how far back I could trace my family. Not only for me, but for Ella as well. I wanted her to know that she had generations before her who came from whatever country and did whatever for a living. I just suddenly felt that it was important to know her history -- and to also find our we're part Scottish.

8. Hire a Cleaning Lady.
Then: Why on earth could I not do everything under the sun, including cleaning the house thoroughly each week?
Now: Help with house cleaning, heck yes! The best bi-weekly expense ever.

9. Buy something from Amazon.com each week. 
Then: Amazon.com was great for things like Christmas shopping.
Now: I'm not kidding when I say this, but I buy something from Amazon every other week, or more frequently. Their Amazon.com mom program is amazing and their subscribe and save is genius. If you are a mom/dad or parent-to-be you need to know about this.

10. Care so much about breastfeeding. 
Then: When I was younger I always wondered if I would breastfeed and never really had any desire to do so.
Now: As Ella gets older and eats more solids I know the breastfeeding will come to an end in the near future. Hopefully I can make it to 12-months but we'll see how my body holds out. It was not easy and in the beginning it looked like it wasn't going to work out, but I kept with it and am still doing it today. It's an experience that I'm very proud of and I'm so glad I did it for her, and for me.