I have always told my Mom that becoming a Mom was the strangest sensation of my life.
{Not referring to uh, ^that^ sensation}
I suppose I expected some sort of switch to flip as soon as I birthed my daughter that would suddenly turn me into my Mom.
You know what I mean? Like, my Mom. The woman who knows everything. Who would do anything for me. She knows where everything in the grocery store is{and what it can be used for}. How to treat any sickness. Where to find that bible verse you are looking for.
And I was so confused laying there in that hospital right after Abigail was born and the realization dawned on me….that I was still just me.
No magic switch had flipped.
No overnight change happened in me.
But my Mom has always disagreed.
She would say, “Courtney. You don’t see it. But I can. You are an entirely different person now than you were before you had Abigail.”
And I didn’t believe her. Ever.
Until now.
My very best friend in the whole world had her first baby girl almost two weeks ago. Sweet little Brecken Marie. And while I’m sure she feels like the same person as always{plus a sprinkling of post partum hormonal roller coaster}….just with another human depending on her entirely for their survival.
I see something much, much different.
She is beautiful.
 She is strong.
She is strength embodied.
She is fierce.
She has blossomed into something altogether new and lovely.
She is worry.
She is new.
 She is love.
And you know what? I realize now that what I see when I look at my best friend, my Mom saw it when she looked at me too.
Ok first of all. You look amazing in that first pic for just birthing a baby. Your makeup! Second-this post is beautiful! I love it! And that baby is a doll!
I love this post. I felt the same way as you as I looked down at my newborn daughter. It was a bit nerve-wrecking (I had never changed a diaper before), yet blissful at the same time (she had the cutest button nose). 😉 It made me look at my mother in a completely different light, and it really made me appreciate her so much more! #SITSBlogging
Aw, this is so sweet. It's funny how you didnt feel any different, but your mom could spot it straight away. It's pretty amazing. How do you and your best friend look so gorgeous after giving birth!? 🙂
I definitely noticed that with a friend of mine that had her son a few weeks ago. She is so different now that she has a son, not in a bad way, but it's just different. I love your perspective on this, that it's not like a switch that goes off. I think that is what we expect when we're expecting.
My grandson is 18 months and I am just amazed at how great she is as a mother. All of the natural mother instincts came out as soon as he was born. You have a great blog #SITSBlogging
And I'm willing to bet she didn't feel like they did 🙂 But, it's amazing how nature works isn't it? I don't doubt that she was amazing from the second he arrived.
I've read this about 100 times today. I'm so glad you wrote this so I can have it forever. Being a new mom is so overwhelming and this makes me feel like I'm normal. I love you so much!
Wow, that was beautiful. I too was in shock with my first. I didn't think I felt any different. To tell you the truth I was scared as hell! For my daughter, not for me. I thought "Wow, this kid is mine and I have no idea how to care for her." Ha-ha, we learn though, don't we? I'm on #4 and still learning!
(Visiting from #SITSblogging and spreading the comment love)
This rings so true. Except I see it in myself. I was a different person the moment I started IVF, then I was a different woman each time it failed, I became a different woman the moment I gave birth and even different again when I gave birth a second time. With each and every thing that has to do w/ children, I have strengthened and weirdly become more confident with myself. Motherhood is an amazing thing.
Can I first say how beautiful and peaceful you look right after the birth?? I don't have any children but I hope to look half as put together as you do in my hospital pics. You and your daughter look so beautiful. Congratulations on your addition to your family.
I LOVE this post. So sweet and so true! Well I mean I don't see it in myself at all but I totally know what you mean. My best friend has a daughter just two months younger than mine – I see it in her. Thanks for sharing this!
Hey Christina! Better tell your BFF to get to blogging! I've been trying to convince Lauren to start blogging for months now and she just won't do it 😉
Wow. Beautiful! I have never thought of this..! Glory to God!!! xx
Watching my best friend since the 3rd grade become a Mommy? Best thing ever. Truly.
Ok first of all. You look amazing in that first pic for just birthing a baby. Your makeup! Second-this post is beautiful! I love it! And that baby is a doll!
Ahhh, you are stroking my ego. You're too sweet.
She was the most precious little thing! I got to hold her all afternoon yesterday! It was bliss.
Oh Courtney, you always make me cry … usually in a good way. 🙂 I love you! XOXO Auntie K
It's not ever the goal, but I can't say I'm much disappointed when I hear that my post was good enough to move someone to tears 😉 Love you so much.
BEAUTIFUL reminder! Love the words, love the pics! #SITS
Thank you, Christie!!
Such a good post.
I think it is so true.
Plus your mom sounds like the best. Lol
Oh girl. My mom IS the best.
This is the sweetest, Courtney!!!!! And that first picture, you looked amazing after giving birth, girl!!!! Amazing!
wordsaboutwaverly.blogspot.com
Aw, thanks 🙂 You are being way generous! But, thank you!
I had the same thing happen last year to me when my bff had her 1st child! #SITSBlogging
It's amazing! I'm kind of jealous that she got to experience before me 😉 it's so much better than I ever could have predicted!
What a beautiful post, Courtney–and so very true! Visiting from SITS 🙂
Thank you, Dee. xo
This post is so, so sweet. Wow. Gives me chills thinking about all that is to come in the future. Xx.
Thanks 🙂 Your future is so bright, Hope!
Beautiful post! 🙂 Visiting from SITS!
Thank you, Crystal!!
Oh, Courtney. This is such a beautiful post & so true! Your best friend will appreciate this so much!
Thanks, sweet Amy. We've already shed a tear or two over it together this morning 🙂
Thank you for your comment, Corrie!! xoxo
what a little sweetheart! and that hair is awesome! What a great post and yes, you can see something different when you become a new mom!!
Oh her blonde hair. I can't get over it. Sweetest thing ever.
sweetest post ever. and its true. . . i mean not for me. but for everyone else (crazy how we see it in other people but not ourselves?!).
Exactly! You totally get it 🙂
I love this post. I felt the same way as you as I looked down at my newborn daughter. It was a bit nerve-wrecking (I had never changed a diaper before), yet blissful at the same time (she had the cutest button nose). 😉 It made me look at my mother in a completely different light, and it really made me appreciate her so much more! #SITSBlogging
Absolutely! Thank you for your comment, Denise!
Aw, this is so sweet. It's funny how you didnt feel any different, but your mom could spot it straight away. It's pretty amazing.
How do you and your best friend look so gorgeous after giving birth!? 🙂
Those moms…they can spot anything from a mile away 🙂
Ha! I can't speak for Lauren, but for me? Extreme levels of vanity 😉
Those little guys have a way of stealing your heart and rocking your world. Very sweet sentiments. I'm popping in from SITS.
From the second those two lines pop up. You got it.
I definitely noticed that with a friend of mine that had her son a few weeks ago. She is so different now that she has a son, not in a bad way, but it's just different. I love your perspective on this, that it's not like a switch that goes off. I think that is what we expect when we're expecting.
Very true. It wasn't anything like I expected…and yet it was all at the same time. Like I said, a strange sensation. The strangest. 🙂
So true. I think we are too worried about everything at first to realize what great moms we are right from the start. Beautiful pictures!
I suppose that's true 🙂 We are a bit crazy crazy at the beginning!
How completely beautiful!! Beautiful photos & sentiments. Congratulations to your best friend 🙂
Thank you, Angie. I hope she thinks to pop back in here this evening to see all the love she's getting 🙂
My grandson is 18 months and I am just amazed at how great she is as a mother. All of the natural mother instincts came out as soon as he was born. You have a great blog #SITSBlogging
And I'm willing to bet she didn't feel like they did 🙂 But, it's amazing how nature works isn't it? I don't doubt that she was amazing from the second he arrived.
I've read this about 100 times today. I'm so glad you wrote this so I can have it forever. Being a new mom is so overwhelming and this makes me feel like I'm normal. I love you so much!
Print it, frame it, bookmark it, read it every day 🙂 You are normal. You are more than normal. You are amazing. I love you!
What a great post to write about your bff. I agree with you, you can't tell that you've changed but you have in every way!
Exactly!!
Wow, that was beautiful. I too was in shock with my first. I didn't think I felt any different. To tell you the truth I was scared as hell! For my daughter, not for me. I thought "Wow, this kid is mine and I have no idea how to care for her." Ha-ha, we learn though, don't we? I'm on #4 and still learning!
(Visiting from #SITSblogging and spreading the comment love)
Lol, true! I was more like, "Mom? will you come move in with me? cuz I'm so lost" But really, I wasn't 🙂 And we did just fine!
I think the first time I looked in my baby's eyes I thought, "ew. can someone go clean her off and then bring her back to me?"
Ha! But seriously, a few days….or weeks later, the love was definitely there for sure. Mama bear was present from day #1 though!
So true! It's just so hard to see from our own perspective, and I don't think the emotional roller coaster helps at all!
You're absolutely right!
This rings so true. Except I see it in myself. I was a different person the moment I started IVF, then I was a different woman each time it failed, I became a different woman the moment I gave birth and even different again when I gave birth a second time. With each and every thing that has to do w/ children, I have strengthened and weirdly become more confident with myself. Motherhood is an amazing thing.
YES YES YES. I am so not the person I used to be, but I think that's how it's supposed to be anyway 🙂
Can I first say how beautiful and peaceful you look right after the birth?? I don't have any children but I hope to look half as put together as you do in my hospital pics. You and your daughter look so beautiful. Congratulations on your addition to your family.
Oh you're so sweet. Thank you for your {overly} kind comment! I'm blushing!
I LOVE this post. So sweet and so true! Well I mean I don't see it in myself at all but I totally know what you mean. My best friend has a daughter just two months younger than mine – I see it in her. Thanks for sharing this!
You get it exactly! I'm so thrilled to hear that this post is resonating with so many people 🙂
Tears… "She is worry." Amen and amen. 🙂 this is beautiful!!
Thanks, Ash 🙂 Sorry I made you weepy!!
Hey Christina! Better tell your BFF to get to blogging! I've been trying to convince Lauren to start blogging for months now and she just won't do it 😉
Such a sweet post! Love this!
Look at all of that blonde hair! #SITSBlogging
Congratulations to your friend! Her baby is so precious!