Life changes
Before I had Annabelle I knew life would dramatically change. In my mind I thought it wouldn’t be bad. I thought of the typical things: no more sleeping in on Saturday or no more going to the bar whenever I wanted. But now that my daughter is 5-months-old, I’ve stumbled upon some things I would have never imagined.
* I notice I now park at the closest spot to a cart rack instead of the closest spot to the store. Even the first parking stall is too far from the door to carry the baby and the carrier and the diaper bag. Plus, what would I do with the cart after the groceries are loaded in the car? I can’t leave the baby in the car alone. And I hate leaving the cart in a random spot in the lot. And whoever came up with the idea of Aldi’s quarter system apparently has never been a parent!
* I never get to eat dinner while it’s still hot. I swear every time I sit down to eat dinner Annabelle mysteriously becomes hungry. It doesn’t even seem to matter that she ate 30 minutes ago, she now wants to eat again. Bye-bye warm mashed potatoes, you will be missed!
* Showering is a whole new experience with a baby. Most of the time I am the only one home with the baby when I need to shower. This has now led to the “never showering without being watched” feeling that is incredibly awkward. Annabelle sits comfortably in her bouncy seat as I try to rush through one of the most basic chores of daily life. I’ve become more used to it as time goes by, but I can’t help but feel a little offended when she starts laughing out of nowhere.
* I’ve learned to get myself ready for work AFTER Annabelle has been fed and dressed for daycare. It took me only two days of being spit up or pooped on to learn that I don’t have a never-ending closet of clean work clothes.
* I never thought I could survive so easily with only one available hand. Learning to do everything with one hand took me a little bit, but within the last five months I can just about manage anything. The hardest and slowest one-handed action so far: writing an e-mail. And THANK GOD for my blue-tooth ear piece or I would never answer my cell phone.
* I’ve never been a big fan of putting away laundry. I never minded doing it, I just hate the tedious action of hanging and folding. I remember the first time I did a large load of Annabelle’s laundry. I was actually happy to think I finally wasn’t wasting water on such a small load. Until I realized that a large load of baby laundry means 250 pieces of shirts, pants, socks, wash cloths, burp cloths and bibs. Now I just about cry every time I have to move the switch from small load to large.
* I never realized how creepy the toys on the Little Einstein videos are or how annoying SpongeBob is, seriously.
I’m sure the list could go on forever, but I’m going to stop now and leave it up to you! What have you noticed in your life as a parent?
My daughter is six. Its funny, I have come to appreciate Spongebob more. Sometimes I wonder if it is because my brain is taking on a sponge like consistency. I was actually humming Spongebob’s “Best Day Ever” song when I came into work today. I probably need professional help.