Almost as soon as the wisteria blossoms appear, they start to drop their petals. They don't last nearly long enough, but that makes them even more special, I think. I spent lots of time outside admiring them this week. I even cleaned up the flower bed beneath them. It was in desperate need, and now it is nice and tidy and hopefully I won't have to touch it again for a few more years. I am more of an every-three-years-or-so gardner. I really wish it was something I enjoyed. Alas!
Have I mentioned that my little sister is having her first baby next month? I am so excited for her. We've been emailing back and forth for the past few days about baby advice. It has brought me right back to those first months when Mabel was a brand new baby. Oh, it was hard! But I know Julianne will be a much better first time mother than I ever was.
I'm curious, if your little sister was having her first baby, what would be your best piece of advice?
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A neighbor said to me, "You will have three things (or more) that you want to get done each day. Be happy when you get one done." I guess the greater message is that you have to shift expectations. xoxo
ReplyDeleteMy best advice is to be sure to take the time to enjoy this special time! Those babies grow up so fast and in a blink of an eye they are grown. Just love them and enjoy this exceptionally special (and sometimes challenging) time of your life! Congrats to your sister!
ReplyDeleteJust enjoy the little one, nap when he naps and don't worry about getting lots of other things done. Babies are only babies for a very short time so just relax and take the time to love and enjoy hime.
ReplyDeleteAs a mother you will come to realize what works and doesn't work for you and your baby. So do what's best for you and your little family and be confident in your decisions.
ReplyDeleteMy advice would be to not fret the small stuff. I remember worrying about everything, my daughter never ate much for instance, and was always tiny, and we made such a big deal about dinner time back then, and that's just one example. My daughter is now 18 and still very tiny but very healthy. All the small things I fretted for nothing. The time goes by so fast. My daughter graduates high school in May.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are beautiful. We don't have those here that I know of, or at least they wouldn't be blooming yet, ha. I, on the other hand, could spend all of my time in the gardens. That's what I basically do from the end of April until November. : )
Have a nice weekend,
Linda
sleep when your baby sleeps. so often said, but SERIOUSLY, take naps. Just do it.
ReplyDeleteMy MIL said that at first, your job is just to feed and clean you and the baby. that's it. after a couple weeks, you add ONE chore to it, whether dinner or one load of laundry. If you did that, you were super successful. And so on.
I would also say you don't have to take those carriers everywhere (church). We did that ONCE. Just hold the baby. Sit and enjoy it. If you have to run to the bathroom, guess what, there's like 37 women that would like to hold the baby for you. No big deal.
My advice would be - enjoy it! Take a step back, forget about the washing etc and all those baby books and just become in tune with your baby, enjoy your new little family. Those first few weeks are just a whirlwind of amazing blurry feelings x
ReplyDeleteI would recommend taking as many pictures of that beautiful baby as she can. Because (at least in my experience), try as you might, between the nervousness, the newness of the situation, the exhaustion, (maybe a c-section), and the many well wishers visiting, it is hard to remember all the details of those first few weeks and months. And as they get older, you really really want to! I honestly can't say I have a sharp memory of my first born's brand-newness, but when I look at the photos, I have all those details preserved for me. Thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteOne thing that helped me through those first few months was GETTING A LITTLE FRESH AIR EVERYDAY. I know most of the time it can be nearly impossible to leave the house (well, showered and dressed and such) but even the tiniest of walks made me feel so much better. Seeing a sunrise or sunset changed my tired perspective so much!
ReplyDeleteI think I would say, if you have a husband in the endeavor, be sure to find ways to get him involved (even if you're breastfeeding). My midwife told me I absolutely must sleep at night and have my husband feed the baby (because of all the health problems I had had); it was difficult to do because I was producing so much milk, thinking about my baby non-stop, and getting crap about it from other well-meaning people who thought it wasn't good for Addison. But I'm so glad we stuck with it because oh, that bond that formed between them! It was magical to watch!
ReplyDeleteI'd remind her that everything is a phase and it will pass - the bad and the good. So try to cherish the good and pray a lot during the bad. Sleep deprivation won't last forever right?
ReplyDeleteAw, man - how great is this?! And I love how everyone basically gave the same advice, to not worry too much about anything else but loving on that baby, and getting any rest we can. Ok! Will do! :) And we're so lucky to live right across from gorgeous Christ Church Meadow, where we can go out and get some fresh air, but then come quickly home and rest :) hehe Thanks, Steph! This is all so madly exciting and overwhelming. Can't wait! love you.
ReplyDeleteWe have five children (twins at the end) and I can say the first was the hardest. I discovered as I went on that there was a cycle at the early stages that I wish I'd known about with my first when I had so many expectations. You will feel completely overwhelmed until 3 weeks. After 3 weeks you'll rediscover your life will continue. At 6 weeks you'll want to get out and show off your baby, 3 months you'll wonder why you were so overwhelmed because you got this and at 6 months you'll want to stop time because you can't imagine your baby being one bit more beautiful.
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