Year 1, Day 158

I've learned quickly how to be a mom. The nurturing part and the protection part came easily, because I was raised with a wonderful mom who showered us with love, attention, and boundaries. The difficult part of being a mom, for me, was handling the logistical every day things. I remember asking a friend while I was expecting, "how do you possibly carry the groceries AND your baby inside while climbing a long flight of stairs?" or "How can you possibly hold him for extended lengths of time?" I remember holding her son for less than 3 minutes and feeling like my arms were going to break in half. I didn't know how I was going to function on a daily basis.

But somehow you gradually develop this superhuman strength that is at your disposal when you need it. If Mike was working late and I needed to carry twelve bags of groceries AND Jackson up the stairs it was not a problem. I just did it. You aren't sure how, but it gets done because you have no choice and your baby is involved. You learn to accomplish ANYTHING one handed, with a baby on your hip. Squatting and bending down to grab fallen objects with a 25 pound baby in the crook of your arm is a mere handweight in comparison to a daily workout with a one year old.

So alas, we have learned how to function on a daily basis and it isn't as difficult as I had expected. Though, I can't imagine how a person has more than one baby at a time. Not that I am considering that yet. I mean, eventually, but just not now. How could I ever guide a three year old up the stairs, hold a infant in my arms, and carry groceries up a long flight of stairs? :)