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I try to be enthusiastic, energetic and at the very least, entertaining for Baby Girl. Sometimes I'm wildly successful and am rewarded with laughter that sounds like it's filled with helium. Other times, not so much. Despite my antics I get a blank stare as if she were thinking, "is that all?".

Entertaining a baby can be as challenging as much as it is fun. My friend once told me that my life will be broken up into 15 minute increments rotating from the bouncy chair, to the swing, to the play mat and so on and so on. But I've found that some of the most enjoyable times happen in the most unexpected places. For me, it's on the changing table. Perhaps because we're not distracted with toys, books or other things that light up and make noise. Or she doesn't feel restricted by a big bloated diaper. Or perhaps it's because big brother is not around making funny faces or just being silly.  It's just a few minutes of uninterupted mommy/baby time. Our time spent on the changing table has generated lots of smiles, coos, squeals and laughter. But most importantly for me, it's created memories.

The other day I was looking in my purse for something when I pulled out a pair of pink socks belonging to my baby girl. My mom noticed them and said, "you can tell you're a mother".  I smiled.

Later in the day I started thinking about that comment and several other thoughts came to mind about being a mother.

You can tell you're a mother when...

- you find a pacifier in your coat pocket

- a spiderman action figure is sleeping  in your bed

- it's normal to have more food on the floor than on your child's plate

- you have melted crayons stuck to the front seat of your car

- you plan your day around nap time

- spit up is an accessory you wear every day

- the big news around the house is that your child went #2 in the potty

- you feel victorious when both kids are napping at the same time

- your right arm is flexible enough to pass toys, snacks and sippy cups to the backseat (while driving)

- the last concert you went to ended at 3:00PM in the afternoon

- you know all the names of the little Einsteins

- you understand the severity of the situation if you can't find your child's favorite blanket or toy

- you know what a boppy pillow is

- you're interested in the consistency of your baby's dirty diaper

- you know who The Wiggles and Doodlebops are

- your patience has been tested like never before

- you truly understand the expression, "to see things through the eyes of a child"

- you start believing in Santa Claus again

For me, motherhood has been the most rewarding, challenging and emotional experience I have ever had. I look forward to adding to my "you can tell you're a mother" list.   

I gave baby girl her nightly bath and then rocked her to sleep. Once I knew she was snug in her crib, it was time for Jakey and I to have some quality time together. Just the two of us.

"Jakey, wanna go see Christmas lights?"  A resounding and enthusiastic "Yeah!" came from my 3 almost 4 year old boy.  We put on our shoes and jackets and were out the door in a flash. This meant my husband had a few quiet moments to himself. I think as soon as the front door closed behind us, the TV was turned on and a football game lit  up the family room. Daddy's need their "daddy time", too.

Nonetheless, Jakey and I were on a mission to find the area's best Christmas lights. I wished I had a Christmas CD in the car because I had to default to the Wiggles. I didn't mind, we hadn't listened to them in a long time. (I still know all of the lyrics.)

As we drove down T street in East Sac, we saw patches of houses with bright lights, inflatable snowmen and white deer in the yard. We parked and then walked to "the main attraction". Thousands of lights canvassed houses in a three block area. Dozens of people walking around captured the displays with digital cameras, camera phones and video cameras. Cars slowly drove by with their headlights off. I was enjoying the moment  too as Jake and I held hands. "Look Momma! Cat in the Hat! Frosty! Look Momma, nuts!" (Jake refers to Charlie Brown as "nuts") But little did we know that Santa himself was sitting at the base of a driveway handing out candy canes and posing for pictures. Jake didn't have the nerve to wait in line and actually talk to him, so we just waved from a distance.

As we headed back to our car after oohing and ahhing,  perhaps I got lost in the "magic of Christmas".  Or maybe it was Jake's enthusiasm and his unwavering belief in Santa Claus because for a brief, fleeting moment, I thought, is Santa really coming?