Happy? I had no idea how happy being this happy could feel...
New? Almost every minute of every day of my new normal...
Year? It is going to be an amazing one...
I laughed while reading my last post (and hung my head in blogger shame for the lack of posts) because I was pregnant and I am sooo not pregnant now. I am the mother of a one month old. Wow. Let me type that one more time. I am the mother (pause) of a one month old (pause).
When people say, 'Time flies,' they are not kidding. And when people say, 'Time flies,' as it relates to becoming a parent for the first time and watching your child grow up, they are really not kidding. I can recall in great detail the first time I held her. And yesterday, she turned a month old. Time. Flies.
In the past month, I have learned the following:
1. What happens in the labor and delivery room should stay in the labor and delivery room.
2. Having a baby moves your heart to the outside of you for the rest of your life...and that is scary.
3. It takes a village. A big village. Yes, I am a single mom, but there is a village raising my sweet girl...and quite frankly, that same village is helping me survive the first few weeks of motherhood. (thankyouthankyouthankyou)
4. Learning to sleep when the baby sleeps is harder than you think when you've not ever been one to sleep in or take naps on a regular basis. The one time being lazy would be beneficial.
5. Breastfeeding is H-A-R-D.
6. Your round, hard pregnant belly is no longer round or hard, but it is definitely a belly.
7. All the food and beverage (read: alcohol and caffeine) restrictions during pregnancy are pretty much still in tact or there is a lot of planning and effort if you want to indulge. (See #5 above)
8. There is nothing wrong with wearing your hair in a ponytail every day.
9. Showering every day is overrated.
10. It is amazing what you can do one-handed, sleep deprived, (unshowered, wearing a pony tail, of course - ha!).
There is a big flashing neon sign - blinkety blink, blinkety blink - in all caps, in my mind,'WELCOME TO PARENTHOOD, ROOKIE.'
A big pile of love,
Rook-E
