Ten signs you are out of the Newborn/New Mommy Phase

1. Your back is getting out of line from carrying baby on your left hip.

2. Instead of rushing over when baby cries, you spend ten minutes trying to get a picture of her temper tantrum face because you think it's funny. (Still didn't get it, but see picture at right.)

3. You actually look in a cook book for a new recipe instead of wishing you had bought more frozen food when you last grocery shopped.

4. You actually follow through and cook the new recipe (maple roasted pork ribs).

5. When you sit down with husband to enjoy the meal, the sounds of the baby crying in the swing along with the swing's canned classical music have become normal background noise to a "nice" dinner together.

6. Dad has figured out how to make the Baby Bjorn into a beer holder. (see picture below)

7. You sometimes forget to change a diaper and are amazed they really can hold about a gallon of liquid!

8. Instead of trying to keep the dirty ol' dog away from new baby, you are trying to get the dog used to baby grabbing handfuls of his hair. (Dog isn't particularly excited about this new experiment.)

9. You no longer feel obligated to dress baby in pink when going out so strangers will know you have a "cute little girl." Instead, you reply to their questions about gender with, "Girls can't wear pink everyday."

10. The only clothes that don't have spit-up stains are the ones that you still can't fit into because those last stubborn 5 pounds haven't gone away yet and your resolve to do crunches until they do never matches your craving to sit on the couch when you get a minute to yourself.