A Year in Review

My family makes my world go 'round.


Wow. What a year 2011 has been. Definitely a year of change - a new baby, a big move, and a new house. I have learned so much in the past year - I tolerate certain things more and tolerate other things less. Here are a few things I've learned this year that are becoming daily reminders:

The post-partum hormones don't go away. My heart has gone completely soft these days. I remember sitting on the couch when Isaiah was 5 days old struggling with his first pediatrician's office to get an appointment, then having to sit on the phone with insurance to figure something else out. I was tired, emotional, and irritated and just started crying. I said to my mom, "When do these hormones go away?" Her response: "Never." And they don't. The littlest things make me cry. I cry tears of joy, sadness, and frustration depending on the day and sometimes all emotions at once. So now I've learned to judge the over emotional/feel too deeply people of the world less, especially since I am one of them.

Time flies. Last January was the longest month of my life. I couldn't wait to have Isaiah and be done with pregnancy. Then I had him and blinked and the following 11 months are gone. I have found myself saying things like, "I can't wait until he can roll over...sleep through the night...crawl...walk...(fill in the blank)." I have found now those moments pass all too quickly. I saw a quote the other day that said, "when children are at your feet the days pass slowly but the years pass quickly." That is so incredibly true! As excited as I am to see what Isaiah will accomplish next, I also feel I can wait for the next milestone. Because at the end of almost every day before I close my eyes, I say to Darren, "Can you believe it? Where has the time gone?"

I am a super hero. I am by no means trying to toot my own horn and I don't care who disagrees with me, but I can accomplish more than I ever thought possible. There are days when I feel as strong as superman, as invincible as Wolverine, and as smart as Batman. There are days when I feel I must have 10 arms or two bodies to complete the daily duties I do and still have a happy baby by nightfall. Even on days when I get absolutely nothing done (and I mean NOTHING) and I don't know how I'm going to get through another day, Isaiah still looks at me, reaches for me, and snuggles with me and lets me know in his own way that I am still his super hero. And because of that, I have never felt a stronger purpose in my life.

Take parenting advice with a grain of salt. I love talking babies and parenting with everyone but sometimes I have to remind myself to not take advice so personally (from doctors, friends, family, strangers...anybody!) and not to give advice so definitively. Every baby is different and every parent is different as well. Sometimes it's easy to judge others for the way they parent or the way their kids behave when really, I need to remember that what happens at what age isn't a "by the book" topic and what's normal to me might be abnormal to someone else. What's right for me isn't always right or the comfortable choice for someone else and vice versa. I think it's great to learn and share with one another but certain topics and/or advice shouldn't be taken too personal. After all, no parent wants to feel like they're doing something wrong and we're all trying to do what's best for our babies, right?

Our God is an awesome God. End of story.

As 2011 comes to a close, I can truly say this has been one of the most incredible years of my life. I love my family more than words can express and I am so excited to see what the future has in store for the Moss family. As we begin the new year my resolution is to judge less, and love more (and READ more! Is anyone else having trouble finishing a book since they've had a baby???). Now that I'm a parent I feel like I can get through anything - the good, the bad, the ugly, the dirty - I have to. If not for myself, then for my family. So 2012...bring it!

CHEERS, everyone! And happy New YEAR!!