Browsing Category: Parenting

It takes a village

I am so incredibly in love with my baby. Harley and I have bonded so much and I am loving being her mom. I adore her little smiles and all the sounds she makes, and we are having tons more fun together. Of course, it’s still a lot of hard work, and that’s where our “village” helps so much.

I’m lucky enough to have awesome friends and family who want to play an active role in Harley’s life. It is so great to be able to pop over to Stacey (her god mother) for a glass of wine – not only do I get to drink a glass of wine, but I don’t have to worry while Stacey holds the munchkin. The same goes for when we visit Dean’s family – they are all so madly in love with Harley, all I have to do is feed her and they are happy to take care of the rest. And now my mom is finally coming on Wednesday; I am so excited to see her, and so excited to see her with Harley. Continue Reading

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The moment it was all worth it

Maybe it was the postpartum depression, but I didn’t have that feeling of falling madly in love with Harley from the moment she was born. I loved her, but it was really hard in the beginning because I was so sick and she was in the NICU. Then we got her home and she was really difficult and it was a huge adjustment. But things have been getting easier with her, and she’s starting to show her personality, which is just such fun. Yesterday was a really hard day with her, and yet it was the day I finally had that feeling of being overwhelmed with love for her.

For those who follow the Wonder Weeks, Harley was in a leap week. She still sorta is, but yesterday was the worst of it – she was uncomfortable and upset and just seemed to cry the whole day. I had a lunch meeting, and normally I’d take her along with me, but I knew she would just scream and be a distraction and I needed to be at the top of my game. So I left her with her granny, and I felt horrible for doing so. Oh the joys of motherhood – so much guilt no matter what I do. Continue Reading

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The perils of the vaccine debate

Last week, Harley finished off her first batch of vaccines. She is sorted until she is nine months old, when she gets the next round, but at least now she is protected against polio, TB, diphtheria and hepatitis. She only had one bad day following her inoculations, one time when she came down with a fever and generally felt miserable. One poorly day compared to the risks of diphtheria? Sounds like I’ve come out ahead!

Harley’s next vaccine includes her chicken pox shot. I have vague memories about there being some issue with that one – something I heard when I was a teenager or something about kids who got that vaccine as babies ended up contracting chicken pox as adults when it was far more dangerous. I wanted to read up on this to see if it was just the dawn of anti-vaxxer stuff back then or a real concern, but thanks to all the anti-vaxxer sites out there, I can’t trust anyone who claims to be a source. I like to think of myself as informed about medical things, especially for my little one, but here it’s become pretty much impossible to read up on things without taking everything with a grain of salt (which isn’t a bad way to take all things read online anyway). Continue Reading

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Baby also wants a break

Harley is finally big enough and has a strong enough neck that she can sit in her little seat or her walking ring. While her feet don’t quite touch the floor yet in her walking ring, she’ll lean to one side or the other and kick her little legs, pushing herself backwards. She thinks it’s great fun until she can’t push anymore, at which point we need to bring her forward again so she can push backwards again. It is absolutely adorable, and is a much needed break from holding her for me.

I am really enjoying this phase she’s in at the moment. Yes, she’s currently in a leap and not sleeping that well, but she is adorable when she’s awake and much more interactive. Plus, she clearly loves her chair and her walking ring, as well as tummy time and being nestled into the couch next to me and Dean. It seems that just like I love my cuddles but also get tired of holding her, she loves being held but also gets tired of it and wants to be on her own a bit. Continue Reading

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Does my baby like me?

Harley has started smiling, and it’s about the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen. She is so cute, and that toothless smile is so pure and genuine – it’s amazing to see the most innocent joy cross her face. She loves to smile and is doing it more and more these days. I find myself acting like a circus act or something, willing to make all kinds of silly faces or sounds if it will make her face light up with a huge grin.

It also means that it’s becoming more clear what she likes and doesn’t like. She doesn’t just stare at things that interest her – she can now smile at it. She loves to smile at the TV, or my beer bottle, and she gives the biggest grins to her daddy. She does smile at me, but I often find myself trying to gauge how much she smiles at me. Does she recognize me? Does she like me? Continue Reading

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