Maternity Leave

Dear Lucy,

The past 14 weeks with you have been better than I could have ever dreamed. I feel so very fortunate that I was able to spend so many weeks home with you before returning to work. I will go back to school for just 3 weeks, to wrap things up, and then we will be able to spend the summer together! While it will be so hard to go back to work on Monday, I must remember how lucky I am to have had 14 whole weeks with you.

Over the past 14 weeks I have bonded with you and fell in love, a love that I never knew existed. You mean the world to me and it feels like you are a part of my body. When you hurt, I hurt. When you cry, I want to cry. When you smile, my entire spirit brightens.

I found this poem that other day and it brought me to tears. It does a wonderful job of summing up the past 14 weeks we spent together. While I rarely ate a hot meal(if I ate anything at all!), took longer than a 2 minute shower(on a good day!), or read any of the books I had collected for my "maternity leave"…this time was more than I could have ever dreamed of! You are the very best baby and I think it is a true blessing to be your Mommy!


Before I Was A Mom

Before I was a mom, I made and ate hot meals, wore unstained clothes and had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a mom, I never worried about how late I went to bed because I could sleep in as long as I wanted.

Before I was a mom, I washed my face and brushed my teeth everyday.

Before I was a mom, I enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee while reading the
morning newspaper on a Saturday morning.

Before I was a mom, I slept the whole night through.

Before I was a mom, my house was clean everyday and I didn't worry about whether or not my plants were poisonous.

Before I was a mom, I had never been puked on, pooped on, peed on, chewed on or pinched by little fingers.

Before I was a mom, I had complete control of my mind, thoughts and body.

Before I was a mom, I never held down a screaming child while doctors and nurses did tests or gave shots. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces because I couldn't stop the hurt.

Before I was a mom, I never knew how satisfying it is to feed a hungry
child. I never knew how fulfilling it is to soothe a baby's cries.

Before I was a mom, I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

Before I was a mom, I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

Before I was a mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never was up in the wee hours of the night just watching a baby while it slept. I never knew that something so small couldn't effect my life so tremendously.

Before I was a mom, I never knew I could love someone so unconditionally and completely.

Before I was a mom, I never knew the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

Before I was a mom, I never knew the warmth, the joy, the heartache, the
wonderment, or the fulfillment of being a mom.

Before I was a mom, I never knew I would love being a mom.




LJE - I love you so much and look forward to our summer together!!! :)