You had a full 2 weeks of birthday celebrations and your dad and I are still compiling the photos of all the fun. In the meantime, I've been thinking/working on a post about what you have taught me.
Some things I learned this past year, in no particular order:
- The sweetest thing in the whole world is a soft warm baby falling asleep in your arms.
- A good cup of coffee in the morning can go a long way to ameliorate a really rough night.
- Babies grow and change so quickly that all you can do is try to absorb and appreciate what you've got at any given moment.
- It is good to hang out with other moms.
- Pampers Swaddlers are the best disposable diapers (so soft) but wipes are wipes (so buy the cheapest ones).
- It is impossible to be in a bad mood when your baby is laughing.
- The constant state of being overwhelmed slowly fades into routine.
- It is surprising how much you do not mind your own baby's slobber, wet diapers and other gross stuff.
- No matter how busy things get, it is important to learn new things and do creative projects and tasks.
- Even after a year, I still go peek at the baby when she is asleep and make sure she is still breathing.
- Most things you can fix with some food and/or a cuddle.
- Newborn babies sound like little pigs when they breathe.
- When you are out in public with a baby, you instantly have a connection with strangers. Usually this is good.
- When you first bring a new baby home, you go through a brief mourning for your old life. But after time, your life before baby just seems shallow and insignificant.
- Every developmental milestone is exciting, but the moment babies start to crawl and explore beyond what they can reach is probably the time when everything changes the fastest.
- It is always good to go for a walk outside.
- Some things are more stressful than fun with a baby. Like going to the beach or out to dinner.
- I never knew there would be so much suspense in watching your baby fall asleep.
- My instincts are usually right and the internet is more useful than detrimental.
- Having a baby creates whole new dimensions in the relationships I have with my parents, my in laws, and especially my husband.
There is so much more, I'm sure, but I hear you waking up from your nap so I'm going to go ahead and end this post. You wake up chattering cheerfully and it is the sweetest sound.
Love, Mama
