You Know You're a Real Mom If...

Since having my third child, I have really felt like a "real mom." For me, feeling like a "real" mom has been a long time coming. My first child was a lot like playing house. We spent many days with just the two of us (John was in school and work all day) and now that I look back, it was so easy! When I had my second, John was out of school and running his business from home. So I had lots of help. I didn't even take two to the grocery store for a few months. Now that I have three, even with John's extra help (not only is he super dad, but he is still running his business from his home office, so he is around A LOT) I still feel over-whelmed and slightly commitable sometimes.
I must say, I absolutely adore each of my three sweet children. At times, when my life has seemed like a circus and I tried to send myself to my "happy place," I have found that my happy place is at home with my three children and my husband. So I write this post with the deepest love in my heart for my family. I hope some of this rings true in your life too (or I'm in trouble).
So, here you go...You know you're a real mom if...

• You have ever closed and locked the bathroom door (just to pee) for 3 minutes of silence (which usually never works because you still have a toddler banging on the door)
• Rice Krispie treats are a great breakfast- it's cereal! And fruit snacks are considered a serving of fruit
• You can barely keep your eyes open after 10pm, but you force yourself to stay awake because there's nothing more appealing to you than a quiet house.
• Four letter words that make you flinch are now: FART, BUTT, MINE, HATE
• Your favorite recording artists are The Backyardagains and The Wiggles
• You can't remember the last time you slept through the night
• You think at least once a day "I am so my mom"
• A baby has to cry for at least 5 minutes before you actually hear it
• Your toddler eating off the floor is great for two reasons: She's building immunities and there's less sweeping for you
• You've ever tried to figure out a way to keep hot dogs and chicken nuggets in your food storage. Oh wait! Mac and cheese stores well and is the same difference.
• A date with your husband consists of dinner under $15 and walking around Home Depot (and that's exciting!)
• You are on a first name basis with the greeters at Wal-mart, the cashiers at Target and the receipt checkers at Costco
• You truly don't find Barney annoying
• The only way you stay up on pop culture is by scanning the magazine covers while standing in line at the grocery store
• Your own mom is no longer embarrassing and weird. She's actually the most amazing woman you've ever known
• Inventions that have changed your life include DVR (Dora 24 hours a day!), hand sanitizer, the drive-thru window, and $5 hot and ready pizza (if only they had a drive-thru window)
• You drive a mini van AND you love it
• You have crawled to the top of a grimy playplace to rescue a "lost" child (man, those places are gross. That's where the hand sanitizer comes in)
• You're planning your next pregnancy around your high school reunion (that's for you, Michelle)
  
• Your idea of romantic is putting on a little Bath and Body Works lotion before climbing into bed (and your husband may or may not say "What's that funky smell?")
• You can do almost anything one handed (with a baby in the other one)
• The time it takes you to get out of the house is always longer than the time you are actually out of the house

I'm sure I can come up with many many more, but I have a 1 year old in my lap needing attention. Please Please leave a comment to add to my list. This could be really funny. I sure love being a mom and hope you do too!