The reality is setting in.
My little lady is going to be one. ONE.
I have been counting down her birthday all week. Mostly, referring to the last days of the week I have my “infant.” I am feeling so incredibly emotional over the thought that my baby girl will soon hit a milestone and launch herself into a new category. The toddler category.
December has always been my favorite month. I just love the holidays and the build up to Christmas. Everything about the season brings me absolute joy.
But, boy has everything changed, now that we are a family of three. And, by changed, I mean for the better. Having our daughter to witness the magic of the season, right alongside us has made December, a month, I never thought could get better, well, better. Seeing the world through a child’s eyes, there is nothing sweeter or gratifying. And, I count my blessings for her each and every day.
This weekend has been festive!
It all started with a trip to Daddy’s Christmas Trees. Baby Lo was thrilled with the layers. Thrilled.
This world is crazy. After the tragic and terrifying events from the past weekend in Paris, I find myself turning on the news often, just to turn it off because it disgusts me and scares me at the same time.
I really try to find the good out there. But, when the TV, radio, social media and chatter is ever consumed by the doom and despair, pictures of horrors, stories of sadness, it is hard. Yes, sometimes it is hard to find the good in the world.
Not to get all sappy, but when I look at her, I see it.
Tonight I missed you.
I had no intentions either. No plans for the emotional roller coaster that would take me on a tearful ride. But, I felt my stomach drop and a knot build in my throat as I carelessly scrolled though my Facebook wall. I merely was passing time. No real rhyme or reason. But, as I scrolled through my year, our year, the memories came rushing back.
I am a pretty impatient person.
It is my downfall and the one characteristic that I know I posses that needs a little love and attention. You know some emotional massaging. I did not become impatient overnight. It developed over the years as a result of my environment. Working in a “high-demand,” customer-focused position, sense of urgency is quite simply a protocol and necessary for success. With this “go, go, go” attitude and way of life, I have become someone who demands the same from my co-workers, peers and even family (oh, poor Nathan and Baby Lo!).
So, what does this mean? Well an impatient person translates into someone who is always mentally and physically rushing on to the next thing. Time shall not be wasted. When I am committed to a cause, in the moment and have a clear objective, a hiccup can frustrate the heck out of me.
Well we have a 9 month old in our home. She is successfully crawling which means nothing is safe. I remember I once said, “I can’t wait until she crawls,” and another fellow Mommy looked at me with a furrowed brow and said, “No, you don’t.”
“Cranky, much?” I thought.
What I did not realize was just how much chasing I would be doing.
You little lady, you rocked my world 13 years ago.
Finding out Mom was pregnant, well let me tell you… that was just so embarrassing. I remember the day she told me like it was yesterday. “I am pregnant,” she declared, with a smile on her face. Although, there was a definite nervousness too, as if she knew telling me could go one of two ways. Terribly good or terribly bad. I am so sorry to say, it went the latter.
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Well we successfully completed our first family vacation. I was very hesitant about the whole experience. I know, hesitant over a vacation? Yes. The factors of a young baby (she just turned six months), traveling 10 hours to our destination, gangs of sharks hovering the Carolina Beaches (have you seen the news?), plus, did I mention we vacationed as a FAMILY? One House + Eight Adults + Seven Children (under the age of six… let me repeat, under the age of six) = One nervous Nancy of a Mommy!
However, with what would seem like the cards were stacked against us, our beach vacation actually went pretty swimmingly (pun, so very much intended!).
Keep in mind the groceries tend to be more expensive in heavy vacation locations. You can save some money by buying supplies locally that you need and know will travel well.
Here, Baby Lo successful shows off her 1950’s inspired swimwear and one of the many baby contraptions we could not live without and threw in the back of our pick-up!
Kids have a way of putting things in perspective or maybe just exposing you to a whole new angle. Experiencing our baby dip her little toes in ocean waters for the very first time or sit her little bottom in the sand, made us giggle in joy, walking babies dressed in PJ’s in the wee hours or late evenings when the beach returned to a quiet state, was a great highlight and watching all the little cousins interact meant memories were being made.
Parent’s note: This is when you enjoy an adult drink, or two, or three. Actually just drink as must as you can until a child wakes up! 🙂
Bonus points if you can get multiple kids down at the same time!
I know the feeling Kid, the drive home from vacation is the worse!
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It happened. Just like that I turned my head and my sweet little swaddled baby has now graduated to a squirmy infant. Still sweet, though. Actually the thought of swaddling her now cracks me up as I think of my little Houdini grunting and breaking free from any restrictions. She is officially curious. I adore her and this stage.This morning I could not help but smile as I watched her for a few minutes moving her little fingers in front of her face, in pure amazement of her own hand and the movements she was creating. Her face was in awe as this small motion filled her with a sense of wonder.
When Baby Lo hit the three month mark, I celebrated with This Post. As baby grows, I have learned that so does her and my needs. That is why I want to share with my fellow parent and pregnant friends and followers some of the items that made our life convenient.
Baby Must Haves
1 – Braun Forehead Thermometer and while we are at it, a Digital Rectal Thermometer – Baby Lo had her first real fever and it scared me. Shook me up. The first fever does that to first time parents. I am what some like to refer to as a “worry wart.” So, I am sure it is really no surprise to close friends and family that this would be a top must have and ironically #1 on my list. Poor Baby Lo though, not only was she running a low grade fever, but she probably felt like groceries as I scanned her forehead so often through the night.
2 – Sophie the Giraffe – I registered for Sophie because EVERYONE registers for Sophie. You could say, I joined the Baby Stroller bandwagon. Although, I now can say, I underestimated the power of Sophie. She is a life saver, no, actually a pain saver, as those nasty teeth rear their heads and cause your sweet little baby to turn into a whining, not quite their self creature.Yes, creature. Sophie seems to do the trick though. This is a teething toy I definitely recommend! Come join the Baby Stroller Bandwagon with me.
3 – Brica Day & Night Light Musical Auto Mirror – This may seem minor in the grand ole scheme of things but let me tell you when your child looses it as you are driving home and proceeds to cry so hard for their dropped binkie that they hold their breath, forcing you to abruptly pull over for fear they are not breathing because again, you are a “worry wart,” you will wish you had a mirror. I quickly installed ours and learned it has been so helpful when checking on the baby while driving. Plus, our little miss loves seeing her reflection, so she is much happier on car rides.
4 – Graco DuoDiner LX High Chair – When baby hits the four month mark, most pediatricians will give you the “go” on starting solids. We waited a little longer with Baby Lo, but regardless a high chair is necessary for this next step. I love this Graco version. I truly had no idea just how great it would be when I nervously registered for one, and am so glad this one caught eye. One perk is that this high chair grows with baby and is super easy to clean, which let me warn you, is an absolute must for feedings.
5 – Gerber Graduates Rest Easy Spoons – You have a high chair, now you just need the spoons. Once you move to rice cereal and solids, well, it is quite obvious why you need spoons. I am a fan of this kind because of the built in rest. Baby Lo is a fan of holding and throwing spoons onto the floor from her high chair and I am the sucker who picks the spoon back up and plays this game.
6 – Pacifier Wipes – I am a “worry wart.” Do we have that established yet? With that, add in “germaphobe.” At six months your baby starts to learn cause and effect. Congratulations! This means lots of toys and binkies will be thrown, no chucked, across the room and sometimes land on the floor of a public space. Yuck! These wipes are so helpful for crazy Mommas like me who don’t want to go hunt down the nearest bathroom, yet are not crazy enough like Mommas of two, three or more children who “clean off” the binkie by sticking it in their own mouth before handing it back. I am just being real!
7 – Oball Bounce-O-Bunch Activity Center – Now is the time when baby wants to touch everything and explore their surroundings. An Exersaucer or Activity Center allows for baby to see the world from a new angle, hone in on new skills and allows Momma and DaDa some time to tackle things around the home with free hands.
8 – Baby Bibs – One word… teething! When teething arrives so does the drool. It is water works city and you need to protect your Saint Bernard, I mean, baby! A bib will help minimize chapped skin or rashes that can come from drool. Plus, once you start feeding your baby solids you will quickly learn that more food will make it on your baby’s shirt than in you baby’s mouth, so a bib will protect those pretty little clothes.
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I have an amazing Dad myself. I have told you before. To me he just gets better with time, because as our memories grow, so does my appreciation and love. Although, today, I want to also celebrate my husband, because today is his first Father’s Day. I tell him he is a great Dad, and maybe he knows. One look at our Baby Lo as she grins at him and we all can see her love for her Daddy. While she can’t quite tell him how she feels, if she could, I think it would go like this.
I came into this world like a flurry. I am pretty sure you and Mom were scared, because so was I. All of a sudden the only world I ever knew changed. We had never set eyes on each other before, but I heard your voice so much that when I entered the world and saw those bright shining lights, scary equipment and strangers with masks mumbling, I screamed, no I wailed, until they handed me to you.
I could hear Momma and your voices and I scanned a room full of people looking for you. Wanting to meet you both. When you came to my side while the nurses weighed and cleaned me up, I immediately felt okay. You were the first one I locked eyes with.
Since Momma could not hold me, you were the first one in this world to do so. Others in the hospital room passed me around until the nurses placed me in your arms, it was you who truly, lovingly held me, because I was your own. Soon, you took me to Mom and I could finally place faces to the voices I heard for so many months. You and Momma. I was home.
Thank you, Daddy. You were the first one by my side before I even could comprehend that I needed someone. When they took me from Mom to the nursery, you followed and waited patiently and carefully alongside me. You took me to the window, so proud, and held me up to meet my family, our family. And, when we finally got the okay to go you took me back to really get to meet my Momma and so willingly handed me off for her to cuddle and love, even though I know you equally wanted me in your arms.
You took me on my first car ride, as we left the hospital a few days later to head to our home. I am sure you were nervous as you drove just two people in that car days before. You were patient, gentle, kind and loving as together as a family of three we learned and defined our new world. From my first Christmas, to my first bath, from my first snowstorm to my first laugh.
As your first born, you have become a pro as you learned to feed me, change me, bathe me and put me to sleep. It has been six months since the day I first laid eyes on you and I have not stopped. If my first words, “Da Da” are not enough, it is pretty obvious that I am your girl. Just like the morning when I was born and I searched through strangers to find the face to the voice to whom I belong, to this day, when I hear your voice in a crowded room, I stop and look for you.
Today is your first Father’s Day and I just want to thank you for all the firsts you have given me. You are a caring Daddy and I am a lucky little girl. Since, I can’t really tell you how I feel, please know that my morning smiles and late night snuggles will have to do until the day I can finally say, “I love you,” for the first time.
Happy Father’s Day! Love your, Baby Lo.
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