10 Ways Having a Baby has Enhanced my Life.

There are a lot of blog posts out there that expose the ways having a new baby effects regular life. Whether that be a snarky or sweet article, I've found none that actually share how having a baby has made life better. I've even written about ways I've grown, and things that have changed since having a baby, but I just feel like things like that make babies seem like a total nuisance when they're actually the opposite.

So, I just want to share a simple list of ways having Greyer have completely made my life better!

1. I'm a morning person! Never in my life have I enjoyed waking up early. I still don't enjoy it, but I do it. Even when I'm away from Greyer, I still wake up early because my body is just used to rising by 8. This is a good thing because I am way more productive in the early hours of the day than I am at night time. And I love being productive.

2. I get to experience EVERYTHING again for the first time! Birds, airplanes, sunsets, wind... all things that Greyer finds mind boggling, and truly they are. He keeps me in constant awe and wonder!

3. I'm more patient! Sure this could be considered a way I've grown, but I am seriously grateful for it. I've just learned that things take time with a little one around and I don't need to be rushing around all over the place because that stressed out energy transfers over to him.

4. I'm more flexible! Like I mentioned above, having a little one in tow can throw off any plan you have set in your mind, but realizing that has helped me be more laid back about things.

5. I have a deeper appreciation for my husband! The man's incredible, really. He works so hard all day so that I can hang out with our son. Also before baby, every night was date night. Like it was always just the two of us no matter what the heck we were doing and yes we enjoyed each other then, but now that our dates are more intentional and rare, I just appreciate them/him all the more. I get giddy about going out with just Ian and I day dream about it in the following days.

6. I don't worry about the little things! When you're a mom, you just don't have energy to stress about the little things. Like who did what and what appliance in your kitchen just broke... it's much easier when you remember that you have a full nest with a happy and healthy baby. Nothing quite matters as much when you remember how blessed you are.

7. I smile more! Greyer is seriously the funniest ever. Not only does he make me laugh, I have all sorts of other smiles these days including the "proud mom" smile, the "my heart is bursting" smile, the "oh gosh he's perfect" smile I exchange with Ian when we sneak in his room at night... the list goes on and on.

8. I get more sleep! Sure the first couple weeks were a little rough, but it was literally only the first four-ish weeks that I was waking up in the middle of the night to feed him, but man I miss those times! I swear there is nothing sweeter than rocking your newborn back to sleep when the house is dark and still... (tear!) Now I go to bed earlier which is great for me because I get up with him anywhere between 7-8am. Before him I had such an unhealthy sleeping pattern. Ugh.

9. I go on more adventures! Yes, you do have to pack up the whole house (kinda) whenever you go anywhere with your baby, but before him I hardly did anything outside my living room. I would just sit on my bum and watch TV. Having an active toddler helps me get out of the house more often and try new things. Life is way more fun that way.

10. I never feel lonely! As an introvert, I love my alone time and crave it after endless hours with baby. BUT when I'm at church, running errands, exploring, etc. I always have a little buddy in tow and it is seriously the best thing ever!

I hope this encourages those of you without kids yet. Being a mom really isn't as gross, boring, or isolating as I imagined it would be. I wish I had known how wonderful motherhood can be before having Greyer-- people always just seem to share the scary stuff!