Things That Make Having a Child More Concrete (hard to believe you would need anything more than the baby herself)

Loyal blog followers, may I present the list of things that catch me off guard every once in awhile and really bring home the idea that, Yes, I am a mother, and Yes I have a daughter named Penelope:

• being called Penelope's mom

• saying "My daughter Penelope"

• Labeling things with her name, and when I say things, I guess I mean everything that will ever go near her daycare, and when I say labeling, I mean waterproof labels, iron-on labels, etc...

• getting her Social Security card in the mail

• getting mail at our house addressed to Penelope Champa

• picking out an outfit for picture day and relatedly picking out a school photo package

• calling the dog by the baby's name for once, instead of the opposite

• beginning the life-long gauntlet of fundraising -- sure this time it is only a silent auction that you have to sell tickets for, as well as buy raffle tickets for, as well as bring a baked good for, as well as donate an item for (do I sound bitter?, I am not actually, I just didn't realize how soon all of this stuff would be coming, apparently 4 months is the magic number)