Munchie is sleeping and I just finished putting most of my clothes back into my suitcase. I can’t believe I’m heading home tomorrow! I have that strange feeling that I’ve been gone forever but I’ve only been here a moment. Sort of bittersweet, you know? Munchie loves it here. I mean, come on, she gets extra spoiling from the grandparents, beautiful weather, and the run of a huge house with new toys. But then there is poor Kevin who, as far as I know, is living on Top Ramen and old pizza while sobbing over Ofoto pics of his little girl.

But you know what? It sure is nice to have four extra hands to help out with Leina. I’ve actaully been eating dinner at 5:30! I don’t know how I’m going to go back to a 8pm mealtime. I get to take long showers, style my hair and choose matching outfits. I’ve watched movie with the sound turned up and caught up on my free reading. It’s been a real vacation I tell you!

So it’s with a bit of regret that I stuff my bags and get ready to fly north. I know Leina is going to go into shock when we get home to our quiet little house. Thank goodness for the dog! I’m sure he’ll provide some much needed entertainment.

And why is it that when you go to pack, it seems your stuff has expanded to twice what you brought???? I mean, how many bags to one mom and one munchkin need? Insanity I tell you, complete insanity.

Leina is turning out to be a tough little nugget. Don’t let the fair skin and big blue eyes fool you. This kid is sturdy. How do I know this?

Well, yesterday she fell off the table.

I know what you’re thinking. “What sort of crazy mom puts a rolly-polly eight month old on a table unattened?” First off, she wasn’t just on the table. Technically, she was securely strapped into her bouncy chairs which sits on the table. Now, Leina loves her bouncy chair. I cannot stress this enough. Almost from birth, she has pirched in the middle of the kitchen table, able to watch all the excitement from her first row seat.

Lately, however, bouncy chair has gone from a sedinatry existance to a major activity site. She leans over the edge to grab at toys, rocks back and forth to whatever crazy baby music she jives to, and lunges forward to take a swing at anything within her grasp. I’ve gotten so used to all this action, I barely even notice it.

But yesterday, I strapped her in the chair and began prepping her evening meal of boobie cereal and prunes when I heard it. That sound every mother dreads. A crash, thump, and scream. I don’t know how she did it but somehow she managed to tip the chair forward and over the edge of the table. She fell face forward onto the hard linoleum floor. My mom got there first and snatched her up. I was expecting a screaming, inconsolable baby but amazingly enough, after a few moments of rocking, Leina was all smiles and laughs. Both my mom and I have poured over her body and cannot find a single mark on her. Since neither of us saw the fall, we can only surmise that somehow the chair hit the ground first and broke her fall.

Leina still sits in bouncy chair only now, Elmo has quick clamped it to the table. That thing ain’t goin no where, thank you very much and I can now add to Leina’s baby book…survived fall off table.

Clearly, she has inherited her mother’s thick skull!

Another birthday is upon me. As I reflect on this past year, I realize that most of what I’ve learned has to do with babies. No surprise really since last April I was in my last trimester with Munch. So what did my 30th year of life teach me?

First, pee every time you get the chance, even if you don’t think you have to go.

I don’t know about you, but growing up, my mom was always telling us to use the bathroom “while you have the chance.” Before we walked out the door, we were shepared to the bathroom. After lunch in the mall, we were trundled off to the potty, protesting that we didn’t have to go. What I didn’t realize, until now, is that my mom was right. Alway take advantage to a bathroom break whether it’s needed or not. I can not tell you how many times I’ve found myself with Leina sleeping peacefully in my arms while I squirm and crunch trying not to think of running water or bursting dams. Before I leave for a store, I always hit the bathroom because it takes a contortionist to manuever a stroller with small child into a bathroom stall. And lets face it, peeing with someone watching (even your own kid) is kind of creepy. So bathroom breaks….good things.

Second, always keep Cheerios on you. I think they should rename them Happios. I have run out of fingers and toes to count the number of times Cheerios have managed to distract and engage Leina at a crucial moment. Crying in the carseat? Jam some O’s into her mouth and watch her munch happily away. Fussing in high chair? A liberal sprinkling of O’s in her tray will buy you enough time to load a few dishes or wipe down a counter. Stuck in the world’s slowest 12 Item or Less “Express” Lane? That’s right, it’s Cheerios to the rescue! I have a bag in my purse, a bag in the car and another stashed in her stroller. If you could buy stock in just Cheerios, I’d be a major share holder.

And finally, the last lesson this last year has taught me is to lower my expectations. Before Munch, a productive morning would be to call back four clients, draft a discovery request and haggle over the production of priviledged documents. Now, a good morning means I’ve brushed my teeth and eaten something. My goal for the day has been reduced from 8 billable hours to getting out of pj, a comb through my hair and the baby fed. Sometimes when Kevin comes home and asks what I did during the day, all I can point to is a pile of dirty diapers, a room strewn with baby toys and a stack to baby dishes in the sink. And that’s considered a good day!

So it’s only taken me 30 years to learn to pee often, eat cheerios and take my time. Am I a fast learner or what?