The joys of motherhood

Disclaimer: This is definitely a doting mother post, beware!

Man, I didn't know how much life would change having a child! One of the big things that changes is what makes you jump for joy! The smallest achievements by your child will put you in a joyous frenzy! Now I understand the parents that would say things like, "Did you see that?!?" or "I am so proud of Bobby!" when it seems like what Bobby did wasn't so great...but that was before I had my own! I think it has something to do with seeing them grow from not being able to do anything - not even really cry, eat, or sleep right! Then you watch them grow from this helpless state to being able to do things themselves. Maybe that is what highlights the fact that they can do those things so much more.

Okay, all of that to introduce the topic of....Madelyn's recent achievements! She is such a smart girl! In the past two weeks there have been two achievements worth noting. 1. She no longer uses her "pi" (pacifier) because Mom (me) took them away on June 23rd. But that wasn't her achievement! Her achievement was learning in a weeks time that she didn't need it and is now going to bed peacefully without it! I'm so proud! 2. She pooped in her potty last Sunday! I was so surprised! She was in the bathtub and started to make those signature grunting sounds and I knew what was coming. So, I pulled her out of the tub and put her on her potty. But again that wasn't her achievement! Her achievement was deciding to stay there for the next couple minutes until she was done doing her thing and then saying "All done!" And again I found myself proud (and not knowing what exactly to do with what I found in her potty)! I think she is closer and closer all the time to being ready to potty-train. However, I DO NOT want to deal with the whole issue until she is really ready. So I'm not pushing it yet.

And there you go. Two very strong examples of why motherhood changes a person and what she can find herself jumping for joy about.