My Life as a Stay at Home Mom

Sometimes when I compare my life now to my life before Claire was born I am amazed at how drastically things have changed in just a short 10 months. Before I spent the majority of my time out of the house: working, running errands, seeing friends and family and volunteering at church. Although I enjoyed all of these things, I always looked forward to a little bit of free time where I could just stay at home and relax (which usually meant having a nap). Now the majority of my time is spent at home with Claire and I get so excited when I get to go out. 

Before I would dread the days I would have to go grocery shopping after work and would try to get it over with as quickly as possible. Now getting groceries is my one outing of the day and it is something I always look forward to. Before when I would grocery shop I would speed walk the whole time and only go down the aisles I needed something in. Now I meander up and down every aisle, even the cleaning supplies, (I can really take my time in this aisle because no one is ever there) looking for sales and generally just enjoying my time out. Before Claire I did not like running into someone I recognized in a place like the grocery store (you know the whole running into them in every aisle, each time a little more awkward than the last) and now I hope to run into at least one person I know and if I don't I am happy to talk to complete strangers (which is made much easier when Claire is smiling at everyone who passes) and I am happy to run into the same person in multiple aisles and even sometimes go out of my to do so!

Before I would love getting home from work before Matt and having a little time to myself. Now I'm counting down the minutes for Matt to get home. I used to never feel like talking when I got home from work because I had to explain things and repeat myself all day long. Now I get excited to talk to anyone that can say more than "da da da" and "ma ma ma". Before I don't think I ever said the phrase "Did you make a poopie?" (in a baby talk voice, of course) and now I say it multiple times a day, everyday.