Happy Birthday Junebug!

Dear Sadie,

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