Things I've Learned in My First Year as a Momma

Ahhhh...my baby boy is ONE!! I just can't seem to wrap my brain around it. I teared up no less than 85 times on Saturday! What a little miracle he is and what joy he has filled our lives with. Saturday was a perfect day. His party was just as I had envisioned it. He had the best time!!! I was so excited at how happy he seemed all day. We celebrated with tons of family and friends, including what looked like someone's entire future kindergarten class. People kept commenting on how many babies there were at the party. I cannot wait to see all the pics Chris Stinson took (sidenote: one of the absolute best things you can spend your money on for a birthday party is a photographer. You do not have to worry about making sure all the moments are captured. I highly highly recommend it). On Sunday I felt like I had a little bit of the wedding blues: first birthday style. I couldn't believe it had gone by so quickly!! The great news is we have lots of our buddies' birthday parties coming up so I can get my party planning fix in with theirs. This year as flown by faster than any year I can remember. As a teacher my greatest hope for my students is to learn things in my room they can take with them as life tools. This year I have felt like a true learner. Here are a few things I have learned in my first year as Miller's momma:

1. This lesson I think has been the most important: Every family is different, do what is best for your's. It's seems like there is always a battle with moms over co-sleeping vs. putting baby in their own room, working mom vs. stay at home mom, paci vs. self-sooth, when to feed a baby , the list goes on and on and on. It's funny because we constantly remind our world that everyone is different, unique, but we sometimes forget to apply that to raising a child. I have learned not to judge moms for the choices they make (well, I don't think I will ever agree with breastfeeding at the point a child can ask for it, ha!). We all do what is best for our family and our children will benefit from that.

2. Read, pray, sing and dance with your baby from day one. Do it daily, do it often. Miller loves to bust a move with us, he has quite the booty shake. Praying nightly not only shows him important habits but reminded myself and Andrew the importance as well.

3. Celebrate everything!! Everything: big or small!! It's okay to tear up in happiness over all the little milestones.

4. Travel with your baby...it will wear you out but is completely worth it. Take your baby places you might think would be too noisy or too busy (well maybe not Walmart on a wintery Sunday). It can be stressful to get a baby packed up and interupt a nap or bedtime but watching Miller enjoy sporting events, the beach, a restaurant has be so fun. We love watching his face as he takes it all in.

5. There is nothing wrong with asking for help from family and friends. They want to help! I have always felt guilty asking friends and family for favors, don't want to put anyone out but I realized they hope you will ask. I worried about taking up my dear friend Steph's Sunday afternoon to watch M while we took the 4 hour class to join our church. I laugh now thinking about it. She said "I got to snuggle with him for hours while he slept, gave him a bottle and caught up on some good shows." Who wouldn't want to spend some time with a sweet newborn?! I worry about asking my mom or MIL for help...duh, he's their grandson, they want to.

6. Not all pregnancies are normal and not all babies arrive healthy. I did not realize how often this was the case. I learned a lot during our stay in room 20. Our media and government spend a lot of time bashing our medical system but my goodness we are lucky to have the health care we have in the United States and if you live in NWA, we are extremely blessed to have the amazing doctors and nurses of Parkhill, Willow Creek NICU and Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics (and there are a lot more we hear great things about). I also learned a c-section is not so bad, in fact if you know in advance it's pretty awesome!!

7. My fabulous husband is an incredible father! He and Miller are peas in a pod. I love watching them together. He has been our rock this year. PTL for him!!

8. You will receive lots of unsolicited parenting advice. If you like the advice, use it. If not, nod your head, say thank you and continue what you were doing.

9. God is good. It's hard to imagine how people can remain non-believers when they see an ultrasound and hear a baby's first cry and giggle.

10. Lastly, there are never too many kisses, hugs, snuggles, tickles or I love yous. Never, never, never too many!!

I am sure there are lots more lessons I have learned this past year but I am crashing from lack of sleep from party planning. Hopefully I will have pics to show later in the week.Ali - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone