As I’m coming up on one year of momming, I’m feeling extra contemplative. This last year has been filled with trials and triumphs, happy tears, sad tears, and just-because tears. It’s been a roller coaster! And, sometimes, I feel like I might not have been tall enough to ride.
Through it all, I’ve learned a lot. So, as I’m exactly two weeks away from my baby girl turning one year old, I wanted to share with all of you what being a mom means to me.
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I couldn’t wait for Norah to start crawling. And now, I wish she would just sit still for a minute! So, soak up the moment. Even through the sleepless nights, the obsessing over solids, and the eagerness to watch them grow, take a moment every single day to consciously contemplate your little one. They really do grow up so fast.
When Norah was little, I used to think, “When she gets a little bigger, when she starts sleeping a little better… it’s going to be easier.” I foolishly thought that all of my mom problems would be solved once she started sleeping through the night.
I. WAS. WRONG!
One thing no one tells you about the miracle of baby sleeping through the night is that it will probably start happening because they spend all day running around like crazy people and they’ve finally worn themselves out.
The older she gets, the more exhausted I feel. But please don’t get me wrong! I’m not complaining. I’m really not. I can honestly, with 100% sincerity say, I am more exhausted than I’ve ever been in my life– but I’m also happier than I’ve ever been in my life.
A lot of this moving and shaking started to happen around 6 months–maybe that’s why I stopped blogging around the same time? I was too busy chasing Norah around?
I’ll let you decide the correlation for yourself.
What I want to do here, dear reader, is make all of that time up to you. I want to give you one, quick down-to-brass-tacks post containing my top 3 tips for surviving months 6-11 with your little wiggly, wobbly, into-every-loving-thing bundle of joy.
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What just happened? Did you see it? Did you feel it? Time just whooshing by! I don’t know about you, but I missed it.
How did my baby girl get to be 5 months old? How did my little Squish turn into a rolling, grabbing, babbling baby? I talked in my 4-month post about how quickly Norah seems to be changing these days. Well, if I thought she changed a lot from three to four months, I had no idea what was in store for me from months four to five.
I had a friend tell me that around three months, their little one turned into a person. She was right! That’s exactly what happened last month. This month, Norah has not only grown more physically, but that personality she started to exhibit before has really started to shine through.
It was a fun month. So much happened. Looking back on it all, I have a few tips to pass along to any other new mamas out there with babies on the cusp of hitting this very exciting age.
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And as I’m sitting here, watching my baby on the monitor, I can’t help but think, “wow, this is going by so fast.”
Currently, Norah is perched up on her left side, so so so close to rolling over from back to front for the first time. She’s been doing this for about a week now, taunting me and my husband, getting a little closer each time, and then flopping back to her starting position.
She’s also hitting the four month sleep regression. Hence why she’s back in her crib, supposed to be napping, at 7:30am. I think we’re lucky, though, because she’s only getting up twice a night (so far). So, I won’t complain… too much…
She’s also started this thing where she yells at the top of her lungs. It’s adorable. I’ve read where some moms want to stop their babies from doing this, afraid it will cause “bad behavior.” Not me. I absolutely love it. And you know what? I yell right along with her. And we laugh. And a great time is had by all.
It’s crazy to think that one year ago tomorrow we found out I was pregnant. Father’s Day 2018. It’s been such a whirlwind of a year. There have been lots of ups and a fair amount of downs. But, at the end of the day (or the beginning of the day, I suppose) as I sit down and reflect on all of it, I can’t help but smile. I love my life right now. I love my family.
So, while I usually try to have some “point” to my posts, or accomplish something, I guess all I’m really trying to accomplish with this one is to freeze this moment. To remember what she’s like right now, at 16 weeks 3 days old. Because tomorrow she’ll be different. And next week she’ll be doing something new. And it’s all going to go by so fast. It’s already going by so fast.
Just a little bit’s enough…
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. But no, this isn’t a tribute to a Pink song. The title is very fitting, though. So, I’m going to borrow it.
In this post I want to discuss something I am so very guilty of: trying to explain everything. Everything happens for a reason right?
That’s what I used to think, at least. And then I had a baby…
Keep ReadingIt’s been about a year since the events that led to my baby girl coming into this world took place. It’s funny to think about that. Things were so different for me in May of 2018.
Keep Reading“My baby is sleeping through the night.”
“My baby is grabbing onto toys.”
“My baby is rolling over.”
Well, MY baby isn’t doing any of those things.
So, what does it mean?
Absolutely nothing! It means nothing. And I’ve had to remind myself of that. I can’t compare my baby to other babies. And I can’t compare myself as a mom to other moms. It’s okay if Norah’s not sleeping through the night yet. That just means more snuggles and more time together–just the two of us. Maybe she’s not grabbing at toys just yet, but man! she loves books. She has her own personality, and I just love seeing it come out a little more every day.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that I want other moms to stop bragging about their little ones’ achievements. Believe me, as soon as Norah sleeps through the night for the first time every single person in the blogging/ facebook/ social media world will know about it.
I think it’s great that we share our victories with each other. I think it’s important that we celebrate them together. But, in order to do that, we need to come to a place of complete understanding and acceptance of one very important fact: my baby is not your baby, and that’s okay!
Don’t be discouraged if your baby is still waking up two, three, four times at night. Don’t panic if your baby isn’t rolling over by this time or crawling by that. Let your baby be who they are. Love them and encourage them. And, while you’re at it, encourage the other mamas around you. Celebrate with them. Cry with them. Feel their pain and their excitement. Because being a parent is hard and there’s no one-size-fits-all guide to raising a baby.
Your baby is perfect for you, and you are perfect for them. That’s why they’re your baby. I am the best person in the world to care for Norah. And she is and always will be my little girl. She’ll hit her milestones and in the blink of an eye, she’ll be walking, talking, running, going to school… If she wants to take her time, I’m okay with that. I’m just going to soak up every moment and be in that moment completely.
So, tell me mamas–What awesome thing did your baby do today? I want to celebrate with you!!
So, I’ve been back at work full-time for 2.5 days. Thursday, Friday, and now Monday. How has it been going? It’s interesting you should ask. Because I’ve just been trying to figure that out myself.
On the one hand, it’s going pretty well. Pretty well for me, that is. Well, pretty well for me in the professional sense. Emotionally, I’m a wreck. And hubby? Well, poor hubby has his hands full. Oh, and, of course, the baby! She’s been struggling, to say the least.
So, as I sit here, pumping in my designated “lactation space,” I can’t help but reflect on my new life as a working mom. Here’s how I feel it’s going so far.
All you working mamas out there, let me know if this sounds familiar, please! Am I (we–my family) alone in our struggles? AND, as always, any advice you can share is so appreciated.
Keep ReadingThis weekend was my first weekend since being back at work. Man! Weekends as a working mom are very different from the weekends I’ve had throughout the rest of my life.
No staying up late with wine, pizza, and Netflix. No staying in bed all day Saturday. No relaxing Sunday curled up with a book.
Nope. My weekends are now split between playing catch up with the housework and (more importantly) catching up on snuggle time with my baby girl!
Keep readingBeing a mom, I learn something new everyday. For example, yes, it does matter if baby’s diapers are on well. Cleaning poop off of her, her onesie, and let’s not forget the swing, is not fun.
It may not always be fun but it is always an adventure learning with my baby girl. It’s been amazing watching her grow. She really does change a little every day. She can do more now than she could a week ago. And don’t get me started on how different she is from the last time I wrote a “Tips From A First Time Mom” post (which you can find by clicking HERE).
Her needs are different now. So is my ability and capacity to meet them. I know her better. I’m more confident. I really feel like I’m getting the hang of this. Do I still have a lot to learn? Heck yes, I do! But, for now, I’m going to share what I’ve learned in the last month.
Here are my Tips From A First Time Mom: Two Months In
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