Mommyhood

We're home! Utah was great, but it's always nice to be back in our own home. Yes, eventhough it is -7 degrees with a windchill of -20 outside, Omaha feels like home. It's a good feeling. Our little Maddie is growing up before our eyes. It's awesome (in it's actual meaning) to see little growths in her every day. She officially started smiling last Thursday. My sister gave me a set of my dad's paintings that were photographed and put into a cool frame for Christmas. From the day we hung them up, Maddie has taken a liking to them. Yesterday she started smiling at them, and today, she started cooing at them. She officially talks and smiles at the paintings more than she talks and smiles at her dad and me. She also talks to the ladybugs on her mobile when she's supposed to be taking naps. Gotta love it--the stinker bug!

Craig's started up school again. He had his best semester yet, grade-wise, last semester--baby and all! Go figure. Maybe we should have babies every semester the rest of law school. Uh, I don't think so. He thinks he'll have a few more options for his summer internship. He was hired by Salt Lake County's attorney's office for the summer! Congrats Craig! He's still checking out options here in Omaha as well as in Portland.

As for me, who knew being a mom could be a full-time job? I love how I don't get anything done during the day, but I still feel like I've had a full day by the time Craig gets home. I really admire all of those amazing women out there who have and are raising little ones. I guess I've always pictured mommyhood as making sure my babies get enough to eat, changing diapers, putting them down for naps, and making sure they don't cry too much, but I've discovered that it's more than that--even in my short 7 weeks on the job. Us mommy's are personally responsible for our sweet ones' growth-- social, spiritual, and physical (I can't go on one of my crash diets and marathon runs to lose this extra chub of packed on--bug!--I gotta feed my sweet baby). I guess I'm not quite sure how to put into words completely, but I know you moms out there know exactly what I'm talking about. I guess the idea that I'm actually helping a human being grow up hit me today when I was exchanging a mobile that stopped singing. As I mentioned before, I noticed Maddie talking and smiling at her ladybug mobile today, so obviously--she must like the thing. When I went to exchange it, I was told how much I could get back for it in store credit(Babies R' Us--that's all I need to say about how much it cost)--I was so tempted to take the money and perhaps buy diapers or even a new little outfit for Maddie (or for my enjoyment, I guess), but then I looked at Maddie and remembered her cooing at that thing, and I decided to just trade the broken one for another that actually worked. Hey, I guess that's what it's about. I know my mom and my dad made many sacrifices for my happiness. I love them, and I'm just beginning to realize the magnitude of my love for them as I begin to care for my own sweet child. Anyway, enough of the mush, here are some pics of Maddie!!!