I have always been the type of girl that was looking forward to whatever was right around the corner. I couldn't wait for Friday, or the next concert, or the next weekend getaway that Joe and I would take. During my entire pregnancy, I drove Joe nuts with my impatience. I couldn't WAIT for Baby D to be bigger than the size of a grape... and I couldn't WAIT for us to find out if Baby D was a girl or a boy... and I couldn't WAIT until the nursery was complete and Miss Adaline was in our arms. Now, I can't WAIT for time to slow down... It is all going by so quickly.
I have not been a very good blogger since I have had Addie. My days fill up quickly and in the blink of an eye, life at Irwin has become a whole lot better with friends and different social groups. There isn't a whole lot of "me-free" time but documenting our life is important to me and something that I really want to get back into. So, here I am! Back at the computer and ready to share our experiences.
Instead of going over the entire past six months (I know you are all dying to hear every single bit), I thought of sharing some of the lessons that I have learned since I have stepped into my mommy role...
Lesson 1: Traveling with a baby is totally possible
It really is. Joe and I were so worried before Addie was here that we wouldn't be able to do as much. We are the couple that loves to get up and go away for the weekend and we wondered if this was possible with a baby. It is.
Adaline has been cross-country twice (all road trips) and we have gone camping with her several times. I think the best advice that I can give is PATIENCE. Everything takes a lot longer to get done with a baby... packing, traveling, setting up. Joe and I both get pretty stressed when getting ready to leave and even though we may have tiny moments of snapping at each other, we are quick to apologize, forgive and move on. And, even with these times of stress, getting these amazing family experiences is SO worth it. I mean, really, our child can say that she went cross-country before she was four months old... How cool is that?!?!
I could do a whole blog on this topic alone but I will wrap it up by adding that when traveling with a baby, make sure to bring the necessities... leave the rest at home. I bring her pack-n-play, her Cloud B Gentle Giraffe, monitors, and of course, clothes, diapers, etc, and that's it. I have fed Addie in her car seat instead of bringing the high chair and have given her baths in a sink. Babies don't care and they are totally portable... that's why God made them so little! ;)
Lesson 2: It's all about perspective
Just the other day, I spent the entire afternoon making two different soups that were baby friendly. I was so excited to be making a good meal for us, as well as giving Addie new flavors and healthy food to try. She was a doll all day! She played and laughed and taste-tested as I worked away to make a couple of nice meals for my little family.
Dinner time came around and oh my good Lord, the child lost it. I had a hot mess on my hands. I would give her a bite of soup and she would eat it while screaming and acting as if I had created the world's greatest torture device.
I could have been upset. I was exhausted, she was exhausted, and we both were so done. Instead of choosing that route, I grabbed my phone, snapped a pic, and laughed because I knew that she would get amusement from this pic when she was older.
I feel that once I became a parent, I have been much more aware of my mood and my reaction to situations. Life is far from perfect but if I'm having a shitty day, is it really fair for my sweet and innocent child to have to deal with my shitty attitude? I don't think so. This isn't always easy to do. Sometimes Joe drives me nuts (and I know that I do the same to him) but the last thing that I want is for my child to be living in a negative environment. Realizing this and being a bit more introspective on what's important and what's not important, really does make life a lot better... and situations a lot easier to deal with. And I find that once I fix my attitude for her, internally everything seems to settle and become better.
Like I said, this is not always easy to do but it is definitely something that I strive to work on for her sake, for mine, and for a healthy family environment.
Lesson 3: Priorities change
I remember that back in the day (ha! ha!), I'd get so excited about new clothes. I'd get dressed up for work, heels, make-up, and all. Every week, I'd pop over to Target and get something new to wear to go out on Friday night.
Most days, jeans are way too dressy now, I am in love with my yoga pants, my hair is usually in a ponytail or baseball cap, and my kiddo is dressed way cuter than me.
It just doesn't matter anymore.
I still get dressed when we go somewhere but I'd rather have that hour of primping to spend time with my kiddo. Naps and cuddling are a necessity. And a really fantastic Friday night is pizza, a bottle of wine, and a movie with my hubs. Life is so much simpler but I have never been happier.
Lesson 4: Marriage is more important than ever
One of my good girlfriends here at Irwin said that when she had her baby, she kind of mourned that it was no longer just her and her husband anymore. This totally resonated with me because I completely understood the feeling.
Since we got pregnant, Joe and I have had to redefine our relationship. I'm sure that many mommas can agree that becoming a mother is all-consuming. It completely takes over your body and depletes you of your energy... and if you breastfeed, your child continues to have a hold of your body. It can be absolutely exhausting and at times, I felt like I had no more to give to Joe.
I am so lucky. He has shown an incredible amount of patience, love, and understanding. We have had to communicate more than ever... and I know that most men cringe from that word: "communicate"... but that is the only way that we are making it through and still laughing.
Life will never be perfect but I have never felt more full, content, blessed, and exhausted at the end of each day. While falling asleep, I find myself throwing up a quick prayer thanking God for blessing me with Adaline, letting me be a witness to this beautiful child's life, choosing us to be her parents, and being so grateful that Joe is the one next to me in this journey. Wow. So blessed.
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