Having a baby changes everything!

Oh yes it does! Our lives have done a complete 360 since baby Eden arrived nearly 5 months ago. That's right, our baby girl will be 5 months next week. I can't believe it! She is growing up so fast. Here is a list of things that I have come up with about how our lives have changed since having a baby.

- Nick and I usually never eat at the same time. We have a perfectly orchestrated system where one of us holds Eden while the other eats, then switch. Usually I am first to eat because my husband is such an amazing servant!! At home it is getting better because she likes to play with her toys now, although there are some nights she is just too fussy to put down. Eating out is a little different becuase she does not like to be in her car seat if we are not in the car MOVING!

- Our house is now a baby sanctuary! We have had to move furniture out of our living room just to make room for baby toys!

- Nights usually involve about 4 feedings! I haven't had a full nights sleep since before she was born. Baby Eden likes to snuggle and eat all through the night.

- Grocery shopping is a 2 person task. I used to go to the store during the week before Eden was born and Nick never had to step foot in a grocery store, which is great because he really doesn't like it. Now, we go together on the weekends - which is fun for me because I enjoy the company. While we are talking about grocery shopping with a baby, I will share a funny story. Usually when we go to the grocery store, Nick carries Eden in the baby Bjorn front carrier and walks through the store with me as I shop. It's usually about an hour trip and the store is not that far from us. Last time we went, I left the diaper bag at home and just brought my purse. (I think you know where I am going with this story) We were almost through with our shopping when I hear Nick saying, "Uh Carissa, I think we have a problem." I immediately knew what he was referring to. I looked over and all over Nick's hands was Eden poopie! I looked down and it was seeping out of her diaper. I quickly finished my shoppig and paid for my groceries. Luckily I had brought a burp cloth so we used that to protect her car seat. When we got home it was the worst poopie diaper she has ever made. HAHA. It was all the way up to her belly button!!

- Getting ready usually takes a lot longer than it used to. I used to could go from sleep to out the door in about an hour...now it usually takes Nick and I around 2 hours to get ready for church and if I go somewhere by myself during the week when I don't have Nick's help, I usually start 3 hours before I have to leave.

- I usually don't get to take a shower until Nick gets home from work. It just gets so busy around here durig the day trying to get laundry done, dishes clean, dinner ready, and get my work done all while playing and taking care of a baby that I usually forget to shower. By the time Nick gets home from work I usually reek of breastmilk complete with spit up stains. Oh the joys of motherhood :) I have the best husband though because he still makes me feel beautiful regardless of the mess I am when he gets home.

- Dinner is usually a crock pot meal. It's been a while since I have gotten in the kitchen and cooked a meal all from scratch. I am on a crock pot kick and it just seems to work for us these days. I will share some crock pot recipes in my next post so stay tuned (they are GOOD!)

- Lastly, my body!! Oh how I would love to be back in my "skinny" jeans. Loosing the first 15 pounds of baby weight was a snap. Now I am on those last 10 pounds and it is driving me crazy. I am going to start Weight Watchers next week and I'm really excited about it. I will keep you updated on my progress.

I love our life with a baby! I wouldn't trade these things for anything else, but it makes me wonder sometimes what in the world we did before Eden was born!?!?!

What are some ways your life has changed since having a baby??

ps...stay posted for Eden's 5 month photo shoot!!