The baby paparazzi strikes again

I've added a few new pics of the little miss (who is now 7 months old!!) to my Flikr photo album.

Just click on the Flikr image on the right to enjoy some Kaylin cuteness in your very own home.

Enjoy!

Before I was a Mom...

A friend emailed this poem to me. I would normally find these sorts of things sappy, but this one made me cry.


Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom...
I slept as late as I wanted
and never worried
about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom...
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom...
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on. Spit on. Chewed on. Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom...
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests.
Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom...
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom...
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom...
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Dressing my dollie

If you know me, you know that a super-stylish wardrobe is not my forte. I don't particularly love shopping for or trying on clothes. Maybe if I were a size 4 it would be more fun. Anyway, it's not my thing.

When Kaylin was first born I was worried that my lack of style would mean the same for my baby. If I can't dress myself, how am I going to buy and pick out clothes for my little girl? I struggled in the first few weeks to put together matching outfits for her. She's doomed, I thought. Poor thing.

However, as time went on more and more gifts of baby clothing arrived from friends and family. And the whole thing got a lot easier. Her clothing options expanded and suddenly I could mix and match all kinds of outfits! Gee, this is kind of fun. It's like playing Barbie all over again. (And just as much pink too.)

And then I started shopping for her! Wooo hooooo! Who knew the mall could be such fun? I would head out looking for socks for myself and come home with an adorable pair of baby jeans, a tiny sweater, and three sleepers with the little feet. Magically, when all your clothes are varying shades of pink and purple, everything matches.

Now, dressing Kaylin is like playing with my dollie every morning. I love looking through all her clothes and helping her be the cutest baby she can be. She probably could care less what she has on, as long as her chubby legs are warm. But I'm having a ball. And best of all, she distracts from whatever frumpy, baggy, third-day-in-a-row outfit I've thrown on.

Babies - they make great accessories.