The White Pages: A Baby Momma

As Addison's half birthday approaches (and as Danny has learned, I LOVE half birthdays! Only Child Syndrome strikes again), I can't help but reflect on being a 6 month old parent. In all honesty, I expected to have this thing down to a science by now. I don't. There's more than one baby in this household, because in all honesty, we're just babies at this parenting thing.

Hence, I'm a baby momma. Get it? Yeahhhh.

One thing I'm sure of is that I am so, so glad that Addie hasn't had any other moms to compare me to. So without delay, here is my list of 9 things I knew 6 months ago. Followed, of course, by their actual realities.

1. Natural birth is the only way to go.

This notion did not take into account the zillions of twists, turns, and complications that can happen during labor. I knew they existed, but they weren't going to happen to ME. It also did not take into account that my baby might not actually choose to be born on her own and at 15 days late, would need some COAXING. I am so grateful for the medical interventions that unfolded so that she could be born healthy and unharmed. Will I try for natural next time around? Sure, but I'll have a much more open-hand approach to it.

2. Babies, especially newborns, sleep all the time.

I think this might be the only asleep newborn picture I have. And her eyes appear to be opening. OK so there are a few others, but they're few and far between.

The rest are more like this:

3. Babies must be put on a parent-directed schedule.

Babies are apparently about the last thing I can put on a schedule, and trust me, it's not for lack of information or effort. Give me a week with a classroom of 30 teenagers and we'll be working like a well-oiled machine. Give me 6 months with my own offspring and I'll still be as clueless as I was at the beginning.

4. I won't use pacifiers.

....riiight.

5. As a stay at home mom, I'll have lots of "free time" for things like cleaning, adventurous cooking, crafting, and the like.

LOL. Case in point: this post has taken me 3 days.

6. I've been fairly successful most of my life, and therefore will be a successful, good mom.

Ok, so in the realm of health and happiness, Addison ranks at the top, for real. However, I am coming face to face right now with the fact that I don't have ~~all~~ any of the answers. I know, big surprise. When she was a newborn, sometimes she cried even when every need was tended to, and there was nothing we could do about it. As an older baby, she often confounds me with her naps or lack thereof. Additionally, in my new "career" as a mom, there are very few benchmarks of success, or voices of feedback and affirmation. While I love it every day, some days I spend a lot of time second-guessing and doubting myself.

On that note, I dare you to watch this without crying. I'm pretty sure Ashley posted this a while back and it gets me every time.

7. Moms who yell at their kids in public places like Walmart must be barbaric, uncivilized, and downright mean.

No, I haven't yelled at my infant (yet), especially not in Walmart (she actually loves shopping there, weird), but I have seen in myself every ounce of selfishness and impatience that would cause me to. Thank God for His grace and mercies that are new every morning. I'm definitely first in line.

8. Danny will be a good dad.

Check that. AWESOME dad. He goes out of his way to connect with her, play with her, and listen to my tearful phonecalls during the middle of his hectic workday. He is such a great balance to me and I'm so thankful for the other half of this parenting team. Couldn't do it without him!!