As with most major life changes, good or bad, you usually learn to appreciate the little things that were over looked for the most part in your daily life. Having a baby as definitely brought me to a place where I have a new appreciation for the smallest things. Here are a few examples:
1. Uninterrupted sleep. Before baby (baby and pregnancy) I never thought that sleep was such a big deal. I took for granted closing my eyes at 11PM and waking up to the sound of the alarm at 7AM. Now it is a glorious feeling when I get 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Once in the last year I got 7 hours of straight sleep, it was worthly of the record books.
2. Smiles. Maybe I have seen millions of smiles in my brief life, and maybe I will see millions more, but when Ruby smiles it is such a big deal. It is a run and great your camera deal, it is a tell people on the phone deal, it is a brighten your day and forget about everything else deal. When Ruby smiles it means all is right in her world, which means all is right in our world. She smiles in her sleep, she smiles when you make a funny face or a silly noise, and she smiles when you get home from a day at work. The latter are the best smiles of the best smiles.
3. Sitting down while eating. When I get home from work I am super thrilled to spend some quality time with Ruby. I am also super hungry. So I manage to cook dinner (15 minute meals, beat that Rachel Ray) while Ruby is in a bouncy seat. The problem is that she lets me cook dinner, but she doesn't let me eat dinner. So I eat most Monday-Friday dinner standing up while holding Ruby at the kitchen counter. Every once in a while Ruby is chill enough to sit in my lap while I sit down and eat. It is so lovely to eat while sitting. It is almost special.
4. One beer. I had a Guiness and a half on Friday at Magnetic Field. Ruby's aunts babysat. The first sip of a cold Guiness on a Friday night while hanging out with adults and making bitchy chatter about hipsters was magnificant. The one beer got me totally tipsy. It was so relaxing. Who knew a simple beer would have such an effect and give me enough happiness that I am looking forward to the next one.
5. Leisurely bathroom time. No matter what is going on in the bathroom it is a great thing when Derek has Ruby and I can take my time in the bathroom. Maybe I am sitting there flipping through a catalog, maybe I am twizzing my eyebrows, maybe I am just leaning against the shower wall thinking about whatever. It is so nice. I never thought I would miss the days where I could spend as much time as I want in the bathroom.
6. Leaving the house with nothing. Well maybe not nothing, but just a purse with a wallet, phone, keys, and ipod. When I leave for work in the morning and I am just responsible for myself I am actually relieved. I love going places with Ruby. But I can't stand all of the stuff. Diaper bag and all of its contents, car seat, stroller, baby, boppy, toys, and your adult stuff like phone, keys, wallet. The baby stuff makes you so crazy that sometimes you decide you don't need the adult stuff.
7. Walking around in nice weather. This is partially due to our current season, but when it is 40+degrees out and sunny I love walking around outside with Ruby. She sits happy in her stroller, looking at me, and looking around. Sometimes she falls asleep and sometimes she doesn't it is lovely either way. I can't wait for the spring time, and I swear I will never have a winter baby ever again.
8. Taking my sweet time at work. Gone are the days where I can think that I can get my work done at 7PM at night. I have got to be out of work between 5-5:30 everyday. 1. Because I miss Ruby, and 2. because it will cost me $10 for nanny overtime. I got to get it done between 9 to 5 and in this freaking industry where people think the most devoted and best workers pull 60 hour work weeks it is a challenge. Thank god I stopped caring about what people think. My priorities have shifted as they should have, family is first, work is second. And I got to go.
Speaking of having to get my work done......
1. Uninterrupted sleep. Before baby (baby and pregnancy) I never thought that sleep was such a big deal. I took for granted closing my eyes at 11PM and waking up to the sound of the alarm at 7AM. Now it is a glorious feeling when I get 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Once in the last year I got 7 hours of straight sleep, it was worthly of the record books.
2. Smiles. Maybe I have seen millions of smiles in my brief life, and maybe I will see millions more, but when Ruby smiles it is such a big deal. It is a run and great your camera deal, it is a tell people on the phone deal, it is a brighten your day and forget about everything else deal. When Ruby smiles it means all is right in her world, which means all is right in our world. She smiles in her sleep, she smiles when you make a funny face or a silly noise, and she smiles when you get home from a day at work. The latter are the best smiles of the best smiles.
3. Sitting down while eating. When I get home from work I am super thrilled to spend some quality time with Ruby. I am also super hungry. So I manage to cook dinner (15 minute meals, beat that Rachel Ray) while Ruby is in a bouncy seat. The problem is that she lets me cook dinner, but she doesn't let me eat dinner. So I eat most Monday-Friday dinner standing up while holding Ruby at the kitchen counter. Every once in a while Ruby is chill enough to sit in my lap while I sit down and eat. It is so lovely to eat while sitting. It is almost special.
4. One beer. I had a Guiness and a half on Friday at Magnetic Field. Ruby's aunts babysat. The first sip of a cold Guiness on a Friday night while hanging out with adults and making bitchy chatter about hipsters was magnificant. The one beer got me totally tipsy. It was so relaxing. Who knew a simple beer would have such an effect and give me enough happiness that I am looking forward to the next one.
5. Leisurely bathroom time. No matter what is going on in the bathroom it is a great thing when Derek has Ruby and I can take my time in the bathroom. Maybe I am sitting there flipping through a catalog, maybe I am twizzing my eyebrows, maybe I am just leaning against the shower wall thinking about whatever. It is so nice. I never thought I would miss the days where I could spend as much time as I want in the bathroom.
6. Leaving the house with nothing. Well maybe not nothing, but just a purse with a wallet, phone, keys, and ipod. When I leave for work in the morning and I am just responsible for myself I am actually relieved. I love going places with Ruby. But I can't stand all of the stuff. Diaper bag and all of its contents, car seat, stroller, baby, boppy, toys, and your adult stuff like phone, keys, wallet. The baby stuff makes you so crazy that sometimes you decide you don't need the adult stuff.
7. Walking around in nice weather. This is partially due to our current season, but when it is 40+degrees out and sunny I love walking around outside with Ruby. She sits happy in her stroller, looking at me, and looking around. Sometimes she falls asleep and sometimes she doesn't it is lovely either way. I can't wait for the spring time, and I swear I will never have a winter baby ever again.
8. Taking my sweet time at work. Gone are the days where I can think that I can get my work done at 7PM at night. I have got to be out of work between 5-5:30 everyday. 1. Because I miss Ruby, and 2. because it will cost me $10 for nanny overtime. I got to get it done between 9 to 5 and in this freaking industry where people think the most devoted and best workers pull 60 hour work weeks it is a challenge. Thank god I stopped caring about what people think. My priorities have shifted as they should have, family is first, work is second. And I got to go.
Speaking of having to get my work done......
posted by Alaina @ 6:27 PM
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