Happy Mother's Day

Somewhere out there in Internet land or cyberspace or whatever it is called, is a poem titled "Before I was a Mom". I have gotten it emailed to me few times, and it is pretty good. I probably cried reading it. I thought in honor of Mother's day, I would write my own version of this piece...

Before I was Mom...

-I never slept on the very edge of a king size bed in 3 inches of space with a toddler's foot in my back.
-I was never woken up by a toddler standing with his nose 2 inches from my face whispering 'mommy' over and over. Or by a kick to the nose at 3am.
-I never knew I could function on two hours sleep.

-I never held a baby on my lap while I went to the bathroom to stop him/her from crying hysterically and/or playing in the trash.
-I never caught poo-poo in my hand to keep it from getting on my white bed spread.
-I never did the pee-pee dance or have been so proud of poo-poo in the potty.
-I never used words like poo-poo or pee-pee.

-I saw movies with adult content, and I didn't have to share my popcorn with anyone.
-I never enjoyed riding a carousel so much.
-I didn't know the names of all the dinosaurs.

-I never had carrots sneezed on me and I never knew they would stain any material known to man.
-I never knew my washing machine ate miniature socks.
-I never knew diaper blowouts only happened out in public.

-I didn't know I could make a full dinner holding a baby on my hip.
-I didn't know I could do work out videos with a nine month old holding on to one leg. Or make a bed. Or play catch with a 4 year old.

-I never worried and fretted about how much another human being ate and slept and pooped.
-I never saw every stranger as potential danger for my child.
-I never knew the fear a screaming child could instill in me.

-I never knew I could love my husband more just by watching him teach and play with our children.
-I never knew a baby's belly laugh could make me belly laugh too.
-I never knew how good it would feel to be called mommy.

-I never truly understood God's miracles, and I thank Him daily for the two he gave to me.
-I never fully understood true, pure love, with no conditions, the kind that even a smile or a laugh can bring you to tears.
-I never understood how much my parents love me.

Before I was a mom...

-I never knew a sweet little boy could be so ornery but so lovable at the same time.
-I never knew a sweet little girl could be such a drama queen and still melt my heart at the same time.
-I never knew how incomplete I was.