I Really Am a Mom.

It's true. I have hit the world of Mommy-dom, and there is no looking back. I mean, I'm not yet sporting elastic waisted jeans, or driving a grocery-getter. I do have SOME standards. I realized the other night, that I really am an adult. How did I come to this monumental decision? Catching puke in my hand? Using my own spit to smooth down my kids hair? Sleepless nights due to teething? Nope. I mean, I've done all those things. But that wasn't what caused my revelation.

Last Wednesday was the 3rd annual My Omaha Mommies birthday party. It's a big shindig, and a TON of fun. Each year we throw a big bash to celebrate MOM being in existence. Anybody who is a Mom, and part of a Mom's group can understand this. When you first become a Mom, you are so overcome with joy at your tiny (in my case, ginormous) bundle of joy, you have no room to think of such nonsense as a Mom's group. You have your baby, what else could you possibly need??

Then the sheer exhaustion hits. You are rudely shoved out of the hospital where there are people to help you with everything. You are sent home with this tiny, still adorable thing, but.... either you whoo-ha hurts from squeezing said bundle of joy out, or you have been gutted like a fish to try and retrive above-mentioned bundle of joy. Your boobs weigh about 73 pounds each. You hurt, you are tired, and this baby needs your constant attention. It never sleeps, therefore, you never sleep. For several weeks you are too busy and exhausted to even care if there have ever been, or still are, other Moms on the face of the Earth.

But you settle into a routine. Your body heals up, the kid starts sleeping for more than 7 minutes at a time. And you realize that you are LONELY!! This was when I began my frantic search for other Moms. Thanks to my good friend Google, I found My Omaha Mommies (furthermore known as MOM). I joined up, and started posting! MOM is a local group of stay at home and working Moms. We have play dates, outings, Moms Night Out (and In, sometimes!), and even Couples Nights. It has been SO great to meet other Moms! You've seen lots of C's friends in my posts over the months. I love this group, it is FABULOUS!

So, getting back to the MOM party. We rented a room at a local community center. We had about 50 Moms in attendance! There was TONS of delicious foods, music, a group picture... TONS of fun! We also have a raffle each year. We collect donations from tons of local companies, and then at the party everybody buys raffle tickets. We set up bags in front of the donated item, and you just put your raffle ticket in what you want. We had TONS of great stuff. Children's Museum passes, hair bows, a birthday party at a local bounce house place, gift certificates to restaurants. There was an awesome cloth diapering basket from Top to Bottom Baby Boutique! I put a few tickets in that, but not too many. I figured I have enough diapers, and others probably wanted to share the love. I bought $40 in tickets, and put most of them in my coveted bag.

What was it? The spa pedicure? No. The Gypsy Mama baby wrap? No, but I did put some tickets in there. What was I dying to have SO badly that I threatened to run down anyone who won it in the parking lot after the party?

It was...... a $250 gift certificate. To get MY CARPETS CLEANED. No joke. It made my year. And THAT is how I know I am a Mom.

As soon as my name was called, Sarah and I got up and did a booty bump dance in joy and celebration. I really wanted to cartwheel down the red carpet (oh yeah! We had a red carpet set up!) but seeing as how I was wearing a dress, I didn't want to give anyone a peep show from hell, so I refrained. I know everyone's retinas thank me. Guess what else I won? A gift certificate to a local character company, to have Elmo come to C's 2nd birthday party! Guess we already have a theme!

The days of being excited about beauty products, shoes, nights at the bar.... they've all been replace by sheer joy over a carpet cleaning gift certificate. I have earned my Mommy badge.

Ah... who am I kidding? When the party was over, we hit the bar for karaoke. Cause that's how I roll.