Before I was a Mom...

I got this poem from my Aunt Paula today, and sadly, I wept as I read it. My hormones must really be out of whack! Anyway, I thought I'd share. More importantly, though, I wanted everyone to know who the beautiful, wonderful lady is in this picture holding Davis. She's MY MOM. If I turn out to be only half as good as a mother as she is, then Davis will be the most fortunate kid in the world. Mom, I love you. Now that Chris and I have Davis in our lives, I finally realize why my mom continues to be right there by my side, day or night, through good and bad times, as the love a mother has for her child is infinite and surpasses all people and things. Happy Mother's Day to all of you mommies.

Enjoy the poem...

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.