A Few of My Favorite Things

Back in October I wrote A Mommy's Top 10 List cataloging the things I couldn't live without as a new mom.  Well, times have changed significantly since then and I thought I'd channel my inner Oprah and share a list of my new favorite things.  (Sorry, no giveaways today.)  

Say What? Take these words of wisdom with a grain of salt...

* Silence is golden: Don't get me wrong.  I love a quiet house as much as the next mom.  But unless Mackenzie is napping, a quiet house for me means that my daughter is off on her own doing something she's not supposed to be doing.  
* Actions speak louder than words: True as this may be, I challenge you to a scream-off with my child.

Operation Look Alive

LOCATION: SEPHORA, SOMEWHERE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
TARGET: ONE TUBE OF LAURA MERCIER STICKGLOSS IN BROWN SUGAR
TEAM: TWO AND A HALF FEMALES
GEAR: ONE BOB STROLLER, ONE PAIR OF NEW BALANCE RUNNING SNEAKERS
MISSION: CAPTURE AND PURCHASE TARGET IN UNDER 3 MINUTES

Goo Goo Ga Ga Google

Back in October I wrote this post about things I never thought I'd Google.  Mackenzie was four months old at the time and a lot of my questions involved poop.  
I'd glad to know I'm not alone.  
Last night while I was checking A Mommy Is Made's web statistics, I came across some interesting Google searches that have led readers to this blog. 
This search was the most fascinating: "baby poop shoot across room". 

Meet Mackenzie

Hi.  I'm Mackenzie.
You already know my Mommy.  So I'm sure you know how great crazy she is.
Don't get me wrong.  She's super fun and takes really good care of me.
But sometimes she's just... well, insane!

10 Reasons You're Getting The Abridged Version

People often ask me how I have time to write up a blog post.  The answer is simply, I don't. 
Between chasing Mackenzie around the house trying to prevent her from destroying half the furniture, to driving around running errands between naps and meal times, it's a challenge to hunker down in the basement and type something that is 1) interesting and 2) cohesive. 

Sunday Funday

I remember -- albeit vaguely -- when Sunday mornings were spent sleeping late, lounging in bed, having a big breakfast and staying in my pajamas all day catching up on TV shows on the DVR.  
Now Sunday Funday goes something like this... 
Wake up, fetch Mackenzie her milk.  
Watch Mackenzie as she plays with her toys. 
Read her some books. 
Fix her breakfast (eggs this morning, which she chewed for a few seconds and handed to Doug).

Survival Guide: A Mommy Is Made's Dos and Don'ts

* DON'T ever do a smell check in public.  While this may work in your intimate circle of mothers, it's never cool to sniff your child's butt in front of total strangers.  Find a way to perform a discreet diaper assessment and you won't have half of Target looking at you in sheer disgust. 

* DON'T mimic your child's wave unless you're in the confines of your own home.  It's not okay to wag a limp, floppy hand at your garbage man while saying, "buh-BYEEEE... BUUUUH-BYE".

* DO make sure to find time for a shower.  Your husband, among others, will thank you. 

* DON'T break up your kid's food with your own mouth.  There are reasons we have forks and knives. 

Don't Look Back

Our family recently attended a barbecue that lasted from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. 
The invite list was split down the middle.  
Half the guests were married with children and half were either single or married without kids. 
Naturally those of us toting toddlers arrived on the early side, with the latecomers showing up a few hours into the party.  Presumably these were the people hanging out until last call.  The rest of us, I can assure you, were well into our REM cycles when the last beers were opened.

Who's Keeping Score?

Apparently I am.
And apparently other wives are.
And apparently husbands across the globe are not.
This, according to my husband.
I've never been one to engage in quid pro quo, but when it comes to life after baby I do believe there needs to be an occasional trade-off.

Women At Work

People often come into my house and ask, "Is it always this clean?"

I kind of shrug and nod my head.

But the truth is that my house will never be the pristine abode it was B.B. (Before Baby).

CAUTION
WOMEN AT WORK

For the first year of Mackenzie's life I managed to keep things looking much the same.  Aside from the daunting task of cleaning projectile poop off the nursery carpet and walls, I had it pretty easy.  There were times when I thought I would never stop wiping spit up off the couch, but much like the butt blowouts, the spitting up subsided after the first several months.