I recently made a shocking discovery. It's a big one.

I haven't bought a purse in 8 1/2 years!

The last purse I bought was before my oldest son was born.

Since that time, I have only carried a diaper bag.

Now, pregnancy changes a lot of things, including your body. But we'll save that for next Halloween because it's too scary.

What it also changes is what kind of bag you carry.

Before kids, I carried cute little bags and big fabulous bags. I used to be the girl with the cute bag and shoes.

Then I had a baby.

Now I did try to maintain a sense of "style" with my diaper bags as much as one can. I had black back packs, red sequin totes and some with frogs (yes,I am serious).

The other shocker was how little I carried for me in these bags.

 Before kids, I needed a whole bag just for me. But after kids I was reduced to one single tiny zippered pocket.

 I used to carry a couple of lipsticks, gum, keys, wallet and anything else I wanted to brighten my day.

Now in a diaper bag, I have been know to carry everything.

The following has at one point or another been in my diaper bag:

 Diapers, wipes, sippy cups, bottles, baby snacks, toddler snacks, band-aids, children's Tylenol, hand sanitizer, first aid kit, plastic bags for dirty clothes, bibs — and in my sad little pocket one lipstick and my wallet.

 Does the lipstick even match what I am wearing? I am not sure.

All moms know that the ultimate diaper bag bummer is when you reach into your bag and discover the hard, gross way that a sippy cup or bottle has leaked all over everything and now you have soggy snacks in a puddle at the bottom of your bag.

I have loved the years of diaper bag carrying. But as my children are leaving the baby stages, I am a little sad that the time has passed so quickly.

 The good news is, as they become more independent, I also get to become more independent. And, now, it's time for a big-girl bag for me.

Which leads me to another problem.

 I have no clue what kind of bag to get.

 I have always wanted a Coach bag, but I haven't even ever looked at one or have any idea how much they cost.

 I'm not even sure I remember had to shop for a new purse. Help!

Alas, since I have been reduced to little zippered pocket for so long will it really be that difficult to make a mistake in the purse department, especially in a Coach store?