The New Normal

So I have been thinking about how my life has changed since becoming a mommy. I can't believe it will be 8 weeks on Sunday! Pheww! Time really goes by so quickly.

I wanted to do a sort of comparison between of how the dynamics of my life have evolved from pre to post Bryn. Here it goes:

Cleaning the house:

Pre-Bryn-

1. Straighten up/put away things my husband has left all over the house for the cleaning lady to pick up....cough cough
2. Dust all surfaces
3. Clean windows
4. Vacuum
5. Sweep tile floors
6. Mop tile floors

Post-Bryn-

1. Put Bryn down for a nap in her swing
2. Straighten up/still clean up after my husband/2nd child :) love you honey!
3. Wash bottles
4. Put binky back in Bryns mouth
5. Sweep the floors at top speed cause she is fussing around and about to wake up again
6. Trip over cats playing with dust pile on floor
7. Pick up baby and put her in her carrier
8. Vacuum floors with baby who falls asleep
9. Try to take her out of carrier without waking her up......nice try
10. Dance around house with Bryn who finally falls back asleep
11. Put her back in swing
12. Re sweep the floor after cats have redistributed the mess
13. Mop floors......thank goodness she is still sleeping!
14. Forget about all other cleaning tasks and sit down to relax
15. Enjoy 5 minutes of quiet time before she wakes up again and wants to play
16. Repeat tomorrow because husband comes in house with muddy shoes after work. >:(

Going to the bank and post office:

Pre-Bryn-

1. Gather mail and paychecks
2. Get in car
3. Drive to bank
4. Fill out deposit slip
5. Take out $50 spending cash for the week
6. Get back in car
7. Drive to post office
8. Drop off out going mail

Post Bryn-

1. Feed Bryn
2. Burp well because of her refux/gas
3. Starts to fuss
4. Try to burp again
5. Give up.....the car ride will work it out of her
6. Gather diaper bag/car seat
7. Put Bryn in car seat
8. Starting to scream because we hate going the in car seat
9. Put on shoes/ no need for a coat I am already sweating
10. Get out of house
11. Put car seat in base
12. Realize I forgot paychecks and mail
13. Take car seat back out of car
14. Get paychecks and mail
15. Go back to car
16. Put car seat in car
17. Drive to bank. Thank goodness she fell asleep.
18. Go through the drive through and pray there is not a line
19. Crap! There is a line. Pray she doesn't wake up.
20. Wahh! Shes up and its my turn.
21. Put binky back in mouth.....no good.
22. Screaming louder. I apologize to teller for screaming baby. Oh how cute! How old? Whats her name? Where did you deliver?.....Shut up and take my money so I can get out of here!
23. Takes 10x longer than before.
24. No extra cash this week.....we needed some more butt paste and more gas drops instead.
25. Drive to post office. Back to sleep.
26. Deposit mail. Still sleeping :)
27. Arrive home.
28. Leave in car seat because she is still sleeping.
29. Try to get some cleaning done. Haha mom nice try. I am awake.

Going to visit my parents in PA:

Pre-Bryn-

1. Pack my bag: pants, shirts, underwear, socks, bras, deodorant, hair brush, tooth brush
2. Put bag in car.
3. Drive to PA
4. Enjoy relaxing visit with Momma and Daddy

Post Bryn-

1. Pack my bag the night before: pants shirts underwear, socks, bras, deodorant, hair brush, tooth brush, panty liners (yep....still need them :/) cocoa butter (go away you damn stretch marks!), nursing pads. Probably some other things I have forgotten to pack but who cares.
2. Pack Bryns bag the night before while Daddy plays with her: 4 outfits (we are only staying 2 days but you always need back up), 4 sleepers, burp cloths, swaddles (forget those and die!), diaper cream, about 40 diapers (cant be too careful) box of wipes, lotion, bath tub, baby wash, sound machine, bedding, 3 soft blankets (must have both John Deere ones because the satin is her favorite, 4 binkys (I must have lost about 20 of those already), booger sucker, toys, jacket, body suit (if its really cold), diaper bag, car seat.
3. Wake up next morning and feed her
4. Burp well
5. Shes falling asleep
6. Lets go NOW! Its a 2 hour trip and we will be hungry in 3 hours.
7. Pack car as fast as humanly possible as Bryn is lounging in swing.
8. Attempt to put her in her car seat while she is half asleep....big mistake!
9. Oh well...she will fall asleep as we start driving
10. Put car seat in car
11. Forget keys......run inside like a cheetah (shes already screaming)
12. Get back to car...screaming louder
13. Meet husband at end of driveway.
14. Both roll eyes and he wishes me good luck
15. 3 miles down the road she finally falls asleep
16. Cross my fingers she sleeps through stop light
17. Notice I am almost out of gas
18. Look for gas station with no lines
19. Stop for gas
20. Pray the stupid gas attendant would hurry the heck up before the volcano erupts in my back seat
21. Wishing I still lived in PA so I could pump my own gas!
22. Starts fussing.
23. Finish filling up.
24. Quickly leave.
25. Look for every pothole to put her back to sleep.
26. Enjoy a peaceful 2 hour trip as she sleeps
27. Arrive home
28. Don't unload car
29. Must eat NOW! Feed Bryn
30. Change diaper
31. Enjoy 2 days of much needed Grandparent time :)

Now these scenarios are assuming we are NOT having  a good day. We are working on shortening those lists but it takes time and PRACTICE!