Looking Back on the First Year

We did it! We made it through our first year as parents. We celebrated our son's first birthday with a quiet day with just the three of us on the day and then a bigger celebration with family and friends the following weekend. It was great and the best excuse to get your favorite people together. And our son did really well at the party. He loved his cupcake even though mommy unwisely chose a blue icing one that ended up in many, many places.

As I watch my son rapidly grow-- walking and running (and falling) around the house— I can't help but feel proud of him and ourselves and think back to where we were a year ago. I laugh when I think about what rookies we were! It is completely true that despite your best efforts to understand the joys and difficulties of being a parent without children, you truly do not know until you actually go through it. There's nothing like it. A gauntlet of parenthood, if you will. My dear Auntie C asked me this past Christmas how it was going and I thought for a moment and replied,"it's the best and hardest thing I've ever done." To that she smiled and agreed. As if to say, "welcome to the club!"

Last spring I was barely functioning on a few hours of sleep. I was delighted to have our baby boy, but found myself struggling with the inundation of child care information versus my own instincts. He didn't cry only for the main trifecta (food, sleep or diaper change) as some claimed were the only reasons babies cry. There is a fourth category that falls under the unknown to any first-time parents out there. It could be gas/tummy pain, discomfort or whatever you can think of. And trust, your imagination does run wild. I remember my husband walking him around the house in laps to calm him down, which would eventually work. I remember the confounding discovery that a bassinet was no good— he wouldn't sleep in it. Our son preferred sleeping on our shoulder, which despite doc recommendations, we did just to catch a few z's for him and ourselves. The couch was my bed for a couple of months. If there's anything I learned from my first run at parenthood it is this:

Go with your instincts and use common sense.

I let way too much get in my head, which lead to second guessing. I think I did a pretty good job despite this, but at the beginning I often questioned myself, which I like to believe is what most first time parents do. It's incredible how much information is out there on what should and should not be done in the realm of baby care. I am thrilled to be where we are now— more seasoned and enjoying life with our son. Every day is a new discovery for him and we love the little boy he is becoming. He has such a good nature and loves to laugh. We are never short on laughs in our family and I love it.