1. Sleep
Even though you are beginning to sleep through the night, I never feel well-rested. I don't think I've slept deeply since you were born, and I probably never will. Today I was able to nap when you napped, and it was glorious. Every night after you're asleep, I'm faced with the same decision: Go to sleep or stay up and read/blog/clean. Sleep usually wins...Unless I'm reading a really good book. (See number 3.)
2. Blogging
I've always enjoyed writing. In fact, I started college as a journalism major,but quickly switched to education once I realized how much I enjoyed children and teaching. As much as I love you, you can't provide me with the intellectual stimulation I need at this point. And I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but reading board books and singing nursery rhymes all day gets old fast. So, when I feel as though my brain is beginning to turn to mush, I write. It's a great outlet for me and I love that it provides me with the opportunity to record all of your major milestones during a time when you are growing and changing so quickly. As soon as I put you down for your morning nap, I am already looking forward to working on my newest post. Unless, of course, I decide to nap instead. (See number 1.)
3. Reading
Reading has always been my escape of choice. When I move to a new place, one of the first things I do is get a library card, and one of your first public appearances was story time at the Highlands Ranch library when you were three months old. About a week after you were born, I decided to take advantage of the fact that pretty much all you did was eat and sleep. One of my first solo-trip after you were born was to the library. (I also stopped at Target on the way home for nipple cream.) I stocked up on novels and parenting books, and I couldn't wait to read them. But when I opened the first novel, recommended to me by your auntie Whit, a funny thing happened. The words just seemed to blur together and I found myself reading the same first paragraph over and over. As a lifelong reader, this was quite worrisome. Had pregnancy and childbirth affected my ability to read and absorb information? Would I ever be able to focus on anything but you? Fortunately, within a few months, I was back to reading several books a week. I don't read as quickly as I used to because you demand most of my time and attention, but I look forward to those thirty minutes each evening when you are asleep and daddy is watching soccer highlights and I am able to just read. Most of the time I read several books at once. Here is a picture of my nightstand right now:
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| I still enjoy reading birth stories. They remind me of the day you were born. |
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| Books in waiting. |
4. Margaritas
Your dad makes really good margaritas...and when you are 21, you can enjoy them with me. Until then, it's juice for you, my friend.
5. Watching You Grow
Everyday you do something that amazes me. Just yesterday you learned how to sit up in your crib on your own. I looked into the monitor...and there you were sitting up and looking around, waiting for me to come and get you. It's such a privilege to be able to spend everyday with you and see you change and grow. You are gaining new skills on a daily basis, and being your mom has helped me learn to appreciate the little things. Before you, I was constantly focusing on what could go wrong. I was filled with anxiety about what the future held and I never took the time to enjoy the here and now. But now that you are here, I look forward to the future because I can't imagine it being anything but great with you in it.
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