12 Lessons I’ve Learned Since Becoming a Mom

Wednesday, June 2nd is Archie’s first birthday. You all KNOW I had to dedicate the blog to Archie this week. Looking back on this past year, a lot has changed. I’ve become more introspective, really focusing on my feelings and slowed down a bit. I’ve stopped and tried to learn life’s little lessons along the way.

With that being said, I wanted to put together a list of different lessons I’ve learned in the past year after becoming Mommy to Archie.

• There’s usually a reason for the meltdown – Unfortunately, that’s not the hard part. Finding out why the meltdown is occurring, that’s the hard part. If something’s not working, try something else. Move on, go into a different room, distract with something, ANYTHING else. Try not to lose your patience because these little can buggers sense that and it only makes matters worse. If you feel you’re going to lose it, place the baby down, walk into the other room and take a deep breath. Refresh yourself before you walk back into the room to deal with whatever it is.
• You need stuff, sooo much stuff – If you know me, you know my love for organization. Everything has a place and if we’re not using it, it’s tossed. Before Archie was born, I remember saying “we’re just going to keep it minimal”. A year later, he has toys in every room of this house! It’s just been inevitable! We still try to keep it organized, but when his favorite past time is pulling every single item out of the toy box or bin, it can get tough.
• Pack Extra – When you’re heading out, plan for the worst and hope for the best. Pack a diaper for each hour you’re going to be out of the house, extra wipes, toss some toys in the diaper bag and SNACKS! Always have snacks on hand to occupy little in a time of desperation.
• Take the pictures – I’ve never regretted this. And don’t forget to print them every few months. I keep my photos in folders on my phone and every few months I print them on Shutterfly. Shutterfly makes it so easy too. I love looking back on actual physical pictures and it’s so much better physically looking at them than looking at them on my phone.
• You forget the hard parts – Several friends have newborns or are pregnant. Having conversations with them, brings back memories of the nausea and sickness of pregnancy and the memories of the sleepless nights the first few days home from the hospital. These conversations bring the memories back, but momentarily. What I do remember? Archie’s first few smiles, the way he looked swaddled and cozied up in his doc a tot, the SNUGGLES. My advice, if you’re hitting a rough spot – these are brief and fleeting moments. A few months from now, you will have survived and the hard times won’t matter anymore.
• Every Baby is Unique – Never compare your baby to another. The milestones are ranges for a reason. He/She will get there on their own time. Just enjoy the phase or stage you’re in right now, in this moment because you won’t be here forever.

• It’s true what they say the days are long, but the years are short – Matt works long hours and sometime’s I will look at the clock, wonder how it’s only 11 a.m. and how am I going to get through the rest of the day by myself with this fussy, teething baby?! Now, I’m looking back as I’m writing this wondering, where has the year gone?
• So Many STRONG Emotions – I mean, what a rollercoaster. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried. Some days, my fuse has been SUPPPER short. The joy you feel when your baby laughs at you or giggles for the first time, that joy is almost too big for your heart to handle. I remember the first night away from Archie. I cried the whole way home. Like, uncontrollably for two hours (lol).
• Sometimes You Need to Sleep When the Baby Sleeps, but Sometimes You Don’t – During the very first few months, if I had a dollar for everyone who told me to sleep when the baby slept! And I did and it was special. We would take an afternoon nap together. You’re also just so tired from waking up every night every 3-4 hours, that you truly do need that afternoon nap. Once we got into a routine, I found it was actually better for me to not take this advice. I wake up every morning before Archie and it’s my me time. By the time Archie wakes up, my “me” battery is charged and we’re ready to take on the day. I know this advice is not for everyone, but this really did help in the self care department.
• It may take you twice as long to get out of the house, but I promise you it’s worth it – Some days, the simple thought of getting myself and Archie ready to go, just makes me want to stay home. Sometimes the thought is simply DAUNTING, but once we’re out and about, I’ve honestly never regretted an outing. It’s so great to get outside of your four walls for some fresh air and socialization. It’s also great for your little one.
• Do what you can while they’re awake and save the nap times for yourself – I would always wind up doing housework while Archie was napping and sometimes I still do, but there’s no reason why you can’t park the baby right next to you while you’re folding laundry on the floor!
• Really soak up the newborn cuddles. I mean, really soak them up because someday soon, they’re going to be too curious with the world around them and will not want a snuggle. Get those hugs and extra kisses whenever you can!

Well, Archie, hopefully you’ll read this some day and Happy First Birthday! To the little boy who made me a Mama – we’re so proud of you already. You have so many people around you who love you unconditionally. You have your whole life ahead of you and I know you’re going to do something absolutely SPECTACULAR.