Before I Was A Mommy...

Before I was a Mommy (in no particular order):

Before I was a Mommy...I never knew the full meaning of the word "wonder."

I never thought it would be possible to stare at the same person for hours upon hours and never get bored.

I never knew what it meant to be truly exhausted.

I never knew what a miracle a woman's body truly is.

I never fully appreciated the value of a full night's sleep.

I ate hot meals.

Before I was a Mommy...I used to say things like, "My kids will NEVER act like that!"

I should have kept my mouth shut about other people's kids.

I daydreamed about the wonderful Mommy I would be.

I didn't understand just how far my emotions would be tested.

I never stuffed frozen cabbage leaves in my bra.

Before I was a Mommy...I had a flat tummy and zero stretch marks.

I didn't know how fascinating a leaf of grass was.

I didn't know what squished up pears and bananas tasted like.

I didn't know what the best stain remover was.

I read lots of books.

Before I was a Mommy...I used to think I had it all together.

My house was clean.

I never laughed as much as I do now.

I didn't understand what it would be like to be so proud of someone.

I didn't cry at every sappy movie and commercial on TV.

Before I was a Mommy...I never knew how truly protective I would be.

I didn't wear Strawberry Shortcake band-aids to a pool party.

I didn't know that my heart could be so full of love.

I didn't know that I could have ever created something so wonderful.

I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that I could grow a person inside my body.

Before I was a Mommy...I never knew I could feel so much frustration.

I never knew every color of every Disney princess's dress.

I never knew that someone so small could love me with such a big huge love.

I never gave out butterfly kisses, eskimo kisses, and ladybug kisses on a nightly basis.

I could sleep as long as I wanted on a Saturday morning.

Before I was a Mommy...The only thing I left the house with was my purse. And it was a small one.

I didn't have precious artwork on my refrigerator.

My couch cushions stayed exactly where I put them.

I didn't see tiny hand prints and fingerprints on every shiny surface and window.

I didn't give a second thought to where every pair of scissors was in the house.

Before I was a Mommy...I wondered why the first day of Kindergarten was such a big deal.

I didn't jump in mud puddles.

I didn't truly know the repercussions of "Oh, I'll have just one more small slice of cheesecake."

I was never asked such challenging questions.

I was never hugged so much.

Before I was a Mommy...I couldn't identify what was in a bowel movement. (I know, gross!)

I was never peed or pooped on (well, by a tiny human anyway.)

I never picked any one's nose.

I never rubbed any one's tummy for hours trying to get them to pass gas.

I learned the hard way not to hold a baby over your head after they've just been fed.

Before I was a Mommy...I never fully understood unconditional love.

I never thought my heart could be so full.

I didn't really understand how fast "time flies."

I never knew I'd be so sad about time flying.

I never knew how much I would want to hold onto my kids, and let them go at the same time.

I never knew how much there is to learn about love and life.

Now that I'm a Mommy, I am very much changed. I'm so thankful for this precious gift of Motherhood. It's the hardest and most rewarding job I've ever had. Please, God, help me to be exactly the kind of mommy that my kids need me to be. Help me be the mommy you've created me to be. Help me to always lean on you and never forget that my children are precious gifts from you. Thank you for trusting me with them. Thank you for loving me, Your daughter, so much that you would allow me to feel even a fraction of the love that you feel for me when I hold my kids. I will do my best to raise them to be Godly women, fully devoted to you. Amen.