Ten Things Thursday

Ten things that changed after I had kids:

1. My heart grew.  I think I actually felt it the moment Cameron was born.  Then again when Olivia was born.  Now, whenever they smile, or laugh, or cry or get hurt I feel like my heart might burst out of my chest.
2. I worry more.  About everything.  I was always a worrier, but now I worry for three people instead of just one.  I worry that I might say or do something that will damage these precious little human beings forever.  I worry that they are not eating enough, or eating too much.  I worry that they will never get out of my bed.  I worry that something terrible might happen to me or their Dad or one of them.  I worry they will someday feel deep sorrow and not understand it.  It's silly, I know, because there is really nothing I can do about all of this, but these are thoughts that go through my mind sometimes when I'm lying in bed at night.
3. I cannot watch horror movies.  I used to watch horror movies all the time.  I used to like being scared.  I knew it wasn't real, so it didn't really affect me.  But ever since Cameron was born I cannot even watch "Ghost Hunters" or even a commercial for a horror movie.  When Damien sees one come on he quickly changes the channel or tells me to close my eyes.  I still know it's not real, but I think it is somehow connected to my increased worrying.
4. My life revolves around bowel movements.  I am always making a mental note of who pooped and when.  I think, subconsciously, I even do it for my husband.  It's sick, I know, but if you have kids you understand.  Especially now that both of mine are potty-trained.  I don't want to get stuck someplace without a bathroom if Olivia hasn't pooped yet.  I'm looking forward to the day when I don't have to think about it anymore.
5. I have a lot more friends.  When I quit my job to stay home I started getting out in our community more.  I have met a bunch of other Mommies and I have made some really great lasting friendships from those encounters.  
6. I am closer with my own mother than I ever was in all my previous thirty-four years.  My mom and I had a pretty rocky relationship growing up.  My Mom is a wonderful person and she is a wonderful Mom.  My kids have brought us closer together, and that makes me happy.
7. I eat less.  I find that a whole day will go by and I have forgotten to eat.  It usually hits me around 2 p.m. that I was so busy feeding all the kids in my house that I neglected to sit down and eat something myself.  I'm getting better about preparing myself a plate at the same time, but there are still rare days here and there that the day just seems to get away from me.  Those are usually the same days that I have carried two kids up and down a flight of stairs on more than one occasion and start to feel a little dizzy.  Yikes!
   
8. I do laundry every day.  Ugh!  It feels like the laundry never ends.  I swear, I wear the same pair of jeans three days in a row because I just don't want to add to the piles of laundry I have waiting for me. 
   
9. I'm getting crows feet and that smile line on my face.  Sometimes I see it and start to worry about the wrinkles, but then I smile and think to myself, "Wow, these kids really make me happy!"
   
10. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.  My children make me so happy that I cry.  I know that a lot of you Moms out there know exactly what I'm talking about.  When Olivia whispers, "Mommy, Mommy," in that sweet little whisper of hers, and I say, "What sweetie?" and she says, very softly right into my ear, "I love you."  Then she leans back and gives me the biggest smile.  When Cameron wakes up in the morning and all he wants to do is be near me and we spend a half hour on the couch just snuggling.  Oh, it all just melts this overgrown heart of mine.