Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Six months in...

Alice's first-day-of-school outfit. Sept 2012.    

It's funny to look back at those first few weeks of new motherhood.  Those early days after Alice was born and we started our journey as new parents.  It all seems like a dream!  I was so emotional and sleep-deprived and uncertain.  And it was a given that I'd be in tears at least once a day.

Obviously having Alice turned my world totally upside down.  At 33 years old, I'd spent the majority of my life being responsible for only myself and here was this pink and squirmy little baby that was now my responsibility.  To say that I felt an immense amount of pressure is a bit of an understatement.

So many things stressed me out back then.  Is Alice eating enough?  Will I be able to solely breast feed?  Is she peeing and pooping enough?  Is she too warm?  Or maybe she's too cold?  Does she cry more than other babies?  How will I ever leave the house again?

And that was just the tip of the worrying and fretting iceberg.  

Things have gotten so much easier since those early days.  I am not suggesting that I know it all at just six months in, but I feel much more confident in caring for and understanding what this little human needs from me on a daily basis.  And that is such a good feeling. 

I've always heard and read that babies thrive on routine.  And I think the same can also be said for new parents.  Those early days of feeding on demand and sleeping in increments of two hours or less made being rational and seeing things clearly a bit difficult.  Now, though, we have found our groove and my days with Alice are predicable.  There may be a pediatrician's appointment for Alice or a mommy/baby class sprinkled in our week but mostly one day mirrors the next.  And we both thrive on that.

Now I see why couples decide to have more than just one kid. 

How long did it take for you to get in the groove of being a new parent?  I loved Alice from the second I met her but, I'll admit, there were times in those first few days after the new baby rush wore off and the sleep-deprivation set in where I wondered what the hell we'd gotten ourselves into.  Now?  I can't imagine my life without her.

5 comments:

  1. your FLOR is still looking great!
    Oh, and that baby isn't so bad, either ;)

    I love her shirt. She is really chunkin' up these days!

    Hmmm, I am still not fully confident at this parent gig, but maybe around 5-6 months I would agree, it was easier.

    I think the tough thing is just when you think you have something figured out, they go and change it up on you!

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  2. The early days are really wild, and your also recovering from pregnancy and childbirth, learning how to breastfeed, dealing with crazy hormones... it's definately the toughest. At about three months we started to have a routine and it was a massive shift and relief for me. Of course it just keeps changing!

    She is too cute :)

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  3. i am in love with her shirt! how cute is she.

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  4. She is beautiful, as are her parents. So glad things are going smoothly for you. But as the ladies have said, it will keep changing.

    Every stage in Ms Alice's development will be special. Some easier to deal with than others. She looks so grown up. It's scary how time flies past so fast! xoxo

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  5. I have to say, we've found the last few weeks really tough. It all got easier then BAM teething and disrupted sleep again. A routine has helped, especially in the evening. But I'm still not quite at the stage where I can imagine having more than one. I love this one & wouldn't change it for the world, of course. I totally get you about the initial what have we gotten ourselves into & I most certainly am glad we waited as long as we did to have kids.

    I am so happy you've found a groove. Alice is so adorable xx

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