20 Ways You Know You’ve Entered Motherhood

1. your cute hair style has morphed into a pony tail.
2. dangling jewelry is a thing of the past.
3. the characters in your dreams are all Muppets.
4. important things like washing your hair or shaving your legs have to be penciled into your agenda book.
5. you can’t remember the last time you ate a hot meal.
6. you no longer consider buying or wearing anything that’s dry clean only.
7. anything written on your “to do list” must be completed with one hand.
8. you now despise the alphabet song.
9. you no longer have blisters on your feet from wearing uncomfortable, yet stylish shoes just to make a good impression.
10. you don’t mind picking someone else’s nose.
11. it’s been so long since you’ve been to the hair salon, you forgot the name of the salon you've visited for years.
12. your idea of a prime parking spot is the one closest to the cart return.
13. you are convinced the most effective way to torture someone is depriving them of sleep.
14. you have an audience in the bathroom.
15. Cheerios are a staple food along with milk, bread, and ice cream.
16. if you only have enough time to stop at one store, you chose The Children’s Place over Ann Taylor Loft.
17. your pile of laundry has doubled.
18. you strictly observe meal times and nap times.
19. you smile until your face hurts.
20. all the troubles in the world seem to melt away with a sloppy wet kiss.

I Want A Crying Baby

No need to read the title again. I want a crying baby. There are times when Mercy is crying so loudly that I can’t even think and her tears seem to be for no apparent reason, then I may have a different tune. The words come to mind, stop crying!

I don’t have all the answers and it may take me many, many guesses before I figure out the root of her discontent or pull a trick out of the air that will calm her down. However, my baby cries! I celebrate that, because there was a time when a bump on the head wouldn’t even bring the tiniest whimper. Other mothers would be amazed and tell me how lucky I was that my baby didn’t cry every time she crawled into a chair leg, or lost her balance and tumbled over. The sad reality is orphans eventually learn to stop crying if no one ever responds to their cries for food, for comfort, for love.

Call me a first time mom, but upon hearing her first cry I run to my baby to make sure she is okay. In time, I’ve learn to distinguish the difference in each of her cries. She woke up and wants to play. She is hungry. She is frightened. She wants to be held. Perhaps the most desperate cry of all...she dropped her pacifier or baby doll out of her crib.

Now, Mercy will cry and tug at me. Why? She knows that I will make things better for her. Is she spoiled? I wouldn’t say that. Can you spoil an orphan child? Besides, how does a baby communicate? When a baby cries and we respond, are we spoiling them or are we are reinforcing trust.

Isn’t that what God does? When we cry out to God, He responds to His children. Is He spoiling us? When God answers, it creates a greater sense of faith and trust.

Even this old hymn reminds me of this truth.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

On the days of endless crying because of teething, discontent or I can’t figure out why she is crying I must remember--I want a crying baby. I want a baby that trusts her mommy and daddy to make it all better.

I am always amazed how God uses this tiny little person who can't say word to teach me more of God's Truth.


Shhh....... I just heard my baby crying. Nap time is now over, let the playtime begin.