Thoughts from long ago

I found a couple of blog posts I had written around the time of Emerson's first birthday.  As my blogging fell to the wayside, I never published them!  The following words perfectly summed up my feelings of her first year...

March, 2013
Emerson woke up with a fever yesterday, and congestion hit shortly thereafter. She has been a fussy, sleepy crankypants for the last 24 hours. Her sweet eyes are red-rimmed and watery, and she was up almost every hour last night wanting to nurse...probably to ease a sore throat, if my symptoms are an indicator of hers. So today we are both exhausted and a bit out of sorts. Poor baby girl screamed and screamed when I put her down for a nap...long enough that I went to get her. But the minute she was in my arms, the screaming stopped, her eyes closed, and her breathing became deep and even. And even though I probably could have put her back in bed, I'm sitting in the rocker with my little girl against my chest, prepared to let her sleep as long as she needs. These moments are almost nonexistent these days...a little girl has too much learning and exploring to do to stop and snuggle with mommy...and is old enough to take a nap without being rocked to sleep.

Everyone warns you that time with your baby goes too quickly, but--my goodness--I was unprepared for how rapidly this year flew by. I'm so grateful for every single moment I've had holding, rocking, nursing, and snuggling this (not so) tiny bundle I've wanted for so long. This past year has been absolutely the best year of my life. God has given me the most beautiful gift allowing me to be a mother to this baby girl.

What I've learned in 8 weeks

This post could also be an excerp from my imaginary book called The First-time Mother's Handbook.  It is the chapter on baby's bodily functions.  Enjoy!


If you are planning on welcoming a newborn baby into your home, beware of the following:

You will be pooped on, peed on, and puked on.  Get used to the idea and embrace it.  It means your baby's systems are working.  And buy lots of laundry detergent.

When trying to leave the house, put your clothes on at the VERY. LAST. MINUTE.  I'm not joking.  Otherwise, see above with the poop/pee/puke.

Use caution when changing diapers.  Newborns can poop with surprising power and distance.  Be sure you have an extra changing pad cover (or two) and an extra change of clothes. Are you sensing the theme yet?

Put the burp rag over your shoulder, even if it's just the quick jaunt from the living room to the nursery.  Because if you don't, the baby WILL spit up.  All over you.

The good news is, as a mom, you will quickly become desensitized.  When you carry Baby to her bathtub, you'll barely notice when she pees on your arm.  You'll be able to change a diaper with all the poo staying in the dirty diaper...usually.  And before you know it, your baby will burp a half gallon of curdled milk right down your shirt and you'll hardly blink an eye.  Seriously.

And, for the record, the smile of an eight week old that just had a HUGE burp is pretty priceless.  Definitely worth the dirty shirt.

Growing Up...

I snapped this picture earlier today as I lay Emerson down for a nap...in her crib...for the first time.

For her long nap I usually put her in her Rock 'n' Play Soother in our room, where she sleeps at night.  But she's been napping so well that I thought I should try out her crib.

I fully expected her to wake up immediately.  Or at least the first time she twitched and realized she was flat on her back, that she wasn't held in at all sides like normal.  But Baby Girl slept for two hours.  Peacefully. 

I think she's more ready for her crib than I am.