What I've Learned- Part Two!

Back in July you might recall, after being a mom for a mere 3 months, I decided to jot down a few things I had learned. Now that I have been a mom for 3 times as long, I think it's about time for an update.

Being a mom is an experience no one will ever be able to adequately describe and everyone embraces motherhood in their own unique nonreplicable way, so even if it was possible to accurately describe to a T how it feels to be a mother, it would most definitely be very different from one mother to the next. That being said, there are a few things I have learned over the past 9 months that I think a lot of moms out there would agree with. I would love to hear what things I might have missed or if these sound all too familiar, I would love to hear some reassurance! :)

For those breastfeeding mamas out there, at first it might feel very lonely when you're feeding and burping at 3am, when you can actually hear the cockle-doodle-doos and hubby's deep snores, when you are thinking it would be so much easier to make a bottle and enlist your hubby to help, but seriously enjoy it! It will get easier and all too soon they will be sleeping through the night and you will miss the middle of the night cuddles.

Rule of thumb, index, middle, ring and pinky, SLEEP WHEN YOUR BABY IS ASLEEP! Even the smallest nap here and there can make all the difference in your energy and patience levels!

Routine was essential for us. Get your baby on a feeding and sleeping schedule as soon as possible (i.e. feed every three to four hours, etc.) It will help you and your baby become more comfortable and know what to expect if you have a routine. If the baby is fussy and it isn't close to his time to eat or sleep, then you can start to go down the list of possibilities, but without a general routine you will be pulling your hair out wondering what is wrong and inevitably end up feeding them or trying to put them to sleep even if those are not the culprits.

Ladies do not feel guilty for asking your husband to watch the baby so you can take a shower, blow dry your hair, eat! I cannot tell you how easy it is to forget about yourself and feel like you are imposing on your husband who you know is going through a lot as well, with the whole new-baby-and-not-everything-is-about-him-anymore situation.... :) I don't say that because my husband ever voiced that to me, believe me he is the most amazing father, but I definitely conjured that situation up in my head. I am a woman, this is what I was made to do, but he must be having a hard time coping with the lack of sleep, changing diapers, fussy baby, stuck at home, blah blah blah. All lies. He is doing great and he can handle it. Go take a shower!

I had a love-hate relationship with nursing during the first few weeks. Latching was a huge battle even though I had tons of milk. I remembered taking a HUGE breath, while stomping my feet on the floor with grimace and pain, pinching myself as he nursed. Even though it was painful, I looked down at his little face and I know he was getting the nutrition he needs. It was priceless and completely worth it. Even so, I wish that breastfeeding could be easier from the get-go. So I salute to breastfeeding moms out there.

And well, time rolls along and you either get more sleep or you get used to not having any, but either way, life gets easier and more bearable. Just take each day moment by moment and cherish them and enjoy each moment to connect with your baby. I say this because sometimes it can feel like you're just doing a "job" taking care of your baby and always seem tired and rushed. Remember to slow down and just enjoy your baby. The infant stage is gone in a the blink of an eye. Take loads of photos!

Don’t worry what other people think of you. Being a mom is hard work and one of the highest pressured jobs out there. If you are constantly worrying about how your parenting will appear to other moms, you will get lost.

Being a mom is different than being a dad. Unless you are a mom, you will not completely get the entirety of this statement. You are in this together and yet your concerns for your child will always be a mother's instinct. Men do not feel what we feel or think what we think. God did not intend for your child to have 2 mothers, so let your husband be the dad and do things the way he is able to so that your child can have a mother and a father.

Don’t compare your inside to everyone else’s outside. Live your life in a way that makes you happy. You know the old saying: If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. It’s true.

Just try to remember…little people, little problems, big people, big problems. What seems insurmountable today, will be nothing in a few years. How many 20 year olds do you know that do not sleep through the night, have colic, or worse cannot sit, crawl, or rollover? This too shall pass.

No matter how tired I am, or how much I don’t want to, if they ask for another good night kiss, to read a story, sing a song, play a game, sit in my lap, “help” me with something, I will always say yes. Because I never know if this will be the last time they ask.

Your children will not remember how clean your kitchen floor was when they are older, they will remember the time you spent with them when you wanted to clean the kitchen floor.

All of those “milestones” checklists you find in every parenting book, ignore them! Leave it to your pediatrician to tell you how your child is doing and stop reading the books. The stress it places on you and your child is ridiculous. Every child is different, period.  I still jot down Mason's milestones but strictly for memories' sake.

I've learned that time passes 100,000 times faster once you have a child. What did we use to do in all of our free time?

I've learned that the way you planned to do things before you were a mom - and the way you actually do them after becoming one - are two very different things. Accept that things will change when you have children!

I've learned that God is even MORE awesome than I thought.

If you want your child to be in a "clean" outfit throughout the day, be prepared to change them a dozen times, literally. My definition of "clean" has been drastically altered after seeing the things this child can do to his clothes within an hour of a day.

And last but certainly not least, your child will put EVERYTHING in their mouth, this is not an understatement. You either have to try to keep everything out of their mouth, or just accept the fact that they will be eating dirt, leaves, and yes even dog hair that they find rolled up into a ball in the corner of your living room floor.... hey don't judge, at least it wasn't a dead roach... oh wait, he did eat that too. Okay, deep breath.

Mommyhood is amazing! No regrets, just living it out day by day, minute by minute. Such a precious gift.