A Long Overdue (and highly anticipated) Motherhood Update

I realize I haven’t written in a long time.  And I have also come to realize that there were several expectant mothers reading my blog who I may or may not have caused some level of distress.  Allow me to do a short(ish) motherhood update to get your heart rates down and your breathing back to normal. 

Life is good.  Baby girl is still challenging in new and exciting ways – like high pitched screaming all day for no apparent reason, but we have entered a new challenge level.  One I find to be a little more my speed. 

I am not sleep deprived like I was the first four months.  I am not worried about every possible medical problem she could be having but might not be having.  I finally relaxed about the 30 minute nap, and lo and behold we have through trial, error and a blessing from God finally gotten to two naps a day lasting about 1 hour and 15 minutes each.  Ah, sweet joy.  She is no longer colicky.  She doesn’t terrify me (as much) which I guess may have been the root of many problems.  Her first two teeth finally came in after six weeks of trying and that solved many a sleep and crying problem.  She is starting to become a real little person which makes her much more enjoyable and engaging. 

Yes, I do sometimes still think being a mom is pretty hard.  I definitely still go stir crazy at times in the 3 hours between naps when I have to sit and entertain her by doing mentally stimulating things like handing her toys.... because she has very little ability to be alone and happy.  She also is in a phase where she wants to stand all the time, but can’t on her own so she wants me to sit and hold her in a standing position or she screams bloody murder.  So yeah, that’s fun.  She is starting to grab everything and wants to see everything and be everywhere, so it’s sort of like wrestling an octopus everywhere I go, but I can handle it.  We're O.K.

One more thing, my dear future mommas.  Not all babies are like Cora.  And not all mothers are like me.  So you may love the first 5 months and you may even have an angel child from heaven.  But if you don’t, I can offer you this hope:  you may like the next phase better... so be patient.  It’s only been 8 months, but I have learned over and over again that the phrase “this to shall pass” is true.  So true.  It feels like forever, but it won’t be.  So just sit quietly, try to find something to love in what is happening (I say that with a smile) and breathe in and out.  Follow my mom’s advice which she happily gave me every day after I called wishing we were at two months and three months and four months....  don’t wish your life away.  I’m getting there.