Lessons from Motherhood: The first month

As Bruce turned one month old last week, I starting thinking about how MUCH my life has changed in such a short amount of time.  Here are a few of the things I have learned this past month:

1. Learn to do every task in spurts.  Instead of being frustrated by the fact that it has taken seven attemps to get the laundry folded, instead I'm learning to be grateful for the fact that the laundry is DONE.
2. To heck with sleeping through the night ... I'm thankful for the fact that my son has learned simply to sleep AT night.  For the first three weeks of life, every night our little man would be wide awake for any where from 1.5 to 4 hours every night.  I won't lie ... it struck fear into my heart.  How was I ever going to function again if this child wouldn't sleep?  I am now blissfully thankful that during the night Bruce has learned to simply wake up, eat, and go back to sleep.
3. I have learned that a simple shower and teeth brushing can drastically improve my outlook on life. 
4. In motherhood, accomplishments are relative. I used to have high standards for my everyday accomplishments - I had a long list of tasks to complete each day.  Now, if at the end of the day my son is well-fed and in clean diapers, and I've managed to find the time to shower and do a few dishes, the day is a success. 
5. I didn't know that the first time I left my son (even for a short trip to Wal-Mart) would feel like an actual physical severing.
6. I never knew that the wonderful, sweet smell of my baby's head would so completely fill my heart and soul.
7. I have learned that in spite of the large quantities of spit-up, the diaper blow-outs, the messy house, fussy days and less-than-restful nights, I wouldn't trade the life I have now for anything - this new life of being Bruce's mommy, which I thank God for every day!