Things I learned on maternity leave

Below you will find a list of things I learned over the last 12 weeks.  Some are common sense and  some are just my simple observations. Enjoy!

Naps are awesome.  It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, a nap is a wonderful thing and something we should be allowed to do while at work.

12 weeks of leave isn’t quite enough – so I think I need to start playing the lottery…or move to Europe. I love being at home.  I thought I would have gotten bored by now, but I didn’t accomplish as much as I wanted; I was too busy playing with Harvey, cooking, cleaning and getting my shopping done during the day.

Speaking of shopping, after being home for 12 weeks I have decided the best time to go to a grocery store in Alex is after 8:00 PM.  Target is perfect around 10 AM or 1:30/2:00 PM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Walmart is always a zoo.

I have the best family. Period. I have two smart, caring and wonderful older kids that work hard at school and love to have fun.  I have a spectacular husband who is a night owl; which allows me to get some sleep.

The DVR is the best invention ever…and soap operas are the devil (yet highly addicting.) But the best part about a soap is that even after not seeing it for years, you can quickly catch up after a few days. Good-Bye Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives- I will see you again on a sick day! (Or on SoapNet at night.)  J

I am glad I waited to have a baby.  It allows me the comfort to know that sometimes babies just cry and there’s nothing I can do to help him.  I am more content with life in general. I don’t have to have something brand new or name brand. I can live with having hand me downs, hand me ups or hand me overs.  Harvey doesn’t know the difference. And I have the sense to know that we do not need every toy or gadget for our baby. 

Every day I get dressed knowing by the end of it I will fall victim to the 3Ps – pee, puke or poop.  I will be wearing one or all by the time I get my jammies on. I find it fun to look in the mirror as I get undressed to see just where it all landed and think “hmmm…just HOW did it get there?”

I’m glad we don’t have an actual video camera.  I am content with the videos my cell phone takes and if I play around with the other cameras I am sure I can figure out how to record video with them.  I just think if we had a video camera Harvey would grow up thinking this black box looking thing in front of my face was normal.

I have become “one of those” annoying parents.  I have a picture of my son as the wallpaper on my cell phone. I have lots of pictures of him on my phone as well as video.  I have a website and blog.   And any conversation usually winds up going back to baby.  I always found that annoying, but now that I am one, I understand how it happens.   And I am certainly ok being one. His picture will go up on my desk next to the art work and pictures of the other kids.  My desk is turning into “mommy’s brag zone”.

I am glad I stuck with breast feeding.  I enjoy our “mother and son” time and we have had some good conversations while he’s been nursing. I’m not sure how much longer this will last, but I am going to continue to enjoy it while I can.

I am sure there are other things I am forgetting but these are the high points.  I am including a few videos of Harvey so you can see how he is learning to talk.  He certainly has something to say!!  And as always, check out the shutterfly site for more pictures.  Poor kid will probably grow up to be camera shy.  However I have to throw in a picture of two - just for good measure. I have video on my phone and I am working to add that - I can't get the audio to work just yet. Grrrr!

 Took this one while he was in his car seat..and we were waiting to go meet Jason for lunch. I guess he was really excited to see his dad. I simply LOVE his smile.

This is what Harvey wore to church on Sunday. Jason said I am not allowed to pick out his clothes when he starts school. I thought he looked cute and "studious" - Jason said he would get beat up in a sweater.  Oh well - better dress him up in stuff like this now!