Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I am going to be a Tia, this coming May, to a baby boy!!
My brother and sister-in law are becoming first time parents. I am very excited for them and am looking forward to spoiling him silly...because he will be so far away....I shall have to buy his love with toys...no not really, of course not...well ...maybe just a little bit... just a bit.

What? You no speaky spanish? ...Tia is "Aunt" in Spanish. Not shorthand for "Transiet Ischemic Attack" as one nurse friend asked.

Anyways...I informed my brother this past Christmas that next Christmas he will have to become "Christmas Card people."....because of the baby. "You'll have to take cute Christmas themed pictures next year and send out Christmas Cards," I told him. He said he and his wife just realized that.

I got to thinking....how our lives change once we have kids...

Sure sure there's the "I never knew I could love someone I just met." and the "I never knew my heart could hold so much love.".....yadda yadda (its true, but not where I am going with this post)

I'm thinking more of....My "me time"...which used to be shopping or a pedicure is now..."Ooooo it's 9:00pm...I could go to Publix and shop by myself...or go to Target and lose myself in the clearance racks and the dollar spot while hubby stays home with the sleeping kids."

True story...I was once at Publix 9:00ish at night and one of the cashiers said something about no kids with me...and I happily said, "Yup, this is "me time" as I handed over a box of toddler yogurt drops and whole milk to be scanned. To which the teenage Publix bag boy chuckled and said "Wow, thats sad." I waved a box of Snoopy fruit snacks in his direction and said, "Just watch bucko, this is your future."

But whatever...I was shopping...with no children whining at me...my heart still full of love...just also full of love about the fact that I could listen to the car radio to my station and not the Sesame Street Happy Birthday CD that lives in my car CD player.

So what else changes after kids....I asked some of you...and here's what a few of you said...

1.No one ever watched me pee or shower until I had kids, now it's a daily occurance. (Kristen)
2. I never thought I would obsess over the color or consistancy of a dirty diaper. (Regina)
3. My husband I were pretty serious vacationers (the more exotic the better). Now getting to the zoo has been attempted...and failed....twice. (April).
4. You know...I love an expensive meal....as you know thats -oh so much harder now..." (April)

and my favorite:
5. Someone once told me after Samuel (her son) was born, 'all your family's/friends kids you thought were so cute, don't look nearly as adorable now that you have your own.' (Tara)
...to which I replied..."What you dont think my kids are adorable??"


I also would like to add...
-You also have to share dessert...cause if she sees it...its now "ours" not yours...the following is also true for ice water, your orange juice, and apples.

-you no longer look at your purse as a cute accessory...you look at it for its durability and its ability to hold baby toys and a sippy cup with out spilling.

- annnnd New Years Eve...will now...and forever more...until you allow them out until 12:00 be spent watching Ryan Seacrest and Beyonce awkwardly ring in the new year on TV while you toast with a bottle of cheap champagne or the last of the kids Mott's apple juice.

But with all these changes...comes all the wonderful moments that parenthood brings. Even though you will wonder why his poop is green, and then spend the next few moments wondering if you gave him anything green to eat...your heart...will always...be full of love.