Eight-six days ago, Ms. Reese came into our lives and we are forever changed.

We now drive slow. We go to bed early and we wake up even earlier. We talk in high-pitched tones. All the time. We get excited over the Babies R Us coupons that come in the mail. We get even more excited when we go to Babies R Us. We never leave the house without a binky. If we do, we  turn around and go home. Every time we go somewhere, we secure everything in our car down with bungy cords, lest it become a projectile. Instead of having nightmares about missing a test in high school, we have nightmares that we are somewhere without a binky. We watch our mouths. We say things like, “are they crazy?!” when we get invited to go on someone’s boat, or to a dinner party that starts at 7:30. We curse people who drive too fast when we are on walks with the baby. We say things like “Yep, she’s into her 6 month clothes now!” and “growin’ like a weed.” We document the color and consistency of poop. We run by those baby modeling agency booths in the mall because we are sure they are going to ask us about Reese and we just don’t have time to talk to them. We easily take 30 pictures a day. We plan in advance now (or try to.) We never go to the after party.

The other day Andrew and I were out to eat at a restaurant with Reese and Andrew was bouncing her on his lap, making her laugh. A little girl at another table pointed and said “Look!  The Daddy is tickling his baby and making her laugh!”

Um what? We looked at each other.

It took us a little while to realize that she was talking about Andrew. A few weeks before we had laughed when a little boy called Andrew “sir.” ( Ha! That little boy thinks you’re a sir!) We definitely do not consider ourselves old enough to be referred to as “Sir” or “M’am” but hearing yourself being called a mommy or daddy by an outside observer is a whole different ball game.  Since Reese isn’t really saying “mama” or “dada” yet when I hear someone else say it, I have to stop and think for a second. “Oh yea, I am a Mommy.”

Don’t get me wrong. The past 8 months have definitely made me feel like a Mom and have changed me in so many ways. But I am proud that so much of me has also stayed the same; that I have been able to keep my sanity and sense of humor while not letting my fears of caring for another life overcome me. Although I may cry at first when I knock Reese’s head into the door jamb as I leave the kitchen, I can later laugh about it (most of the time.)

Here’s to hoping that through this blog I can successfully document my journey into Momhood while sharing stories of our sweet girl with friends and family near and far.