My friend Adrienne just gave birth to a little boy name Abram yesterday, and when I looked at the photographs of that tiny little guy it suddenly hit me that Poppy will be 11 months on Thursday - it seem just seconds since she was such a tiny wee thing. It has really been a whirlwind since she was born, and although I plan on writing again when she hits a year the arrival of Abram prompted me to jot down a few little things I have learned....
1. I am not a bad mum if she does not get a bath every night
2. I am not a bad mum if she sleeps in the same pajamas 2 nights running - if they are clean she really doesn't care and it saves on laundry
3. It took me 9 months to pluck up the courage to clip her finger nails and now that I clip them I swear they grow faster than ever
4. I am still horribly judgemental but only in certain instances - like when I see toddlers drinking soda, eating Doritos and junk food or when I see (and this happens often) parents smoking over the stroller
5. I do not need to change her on a changing table (believe me Boston's North End has no changing tables) I am very good at adapting...
6. I was probably one of the most reluctant breast feeders in the world yet here I am 10 months later and still only making a half assed effort to start weaning. She will likely be off formula before she is off breast milk
7. Costco's own brand formula is exactly the same as Enfamil and costs half the price - I wish I had known that 10 months ago
8. If you have a dog the baby will eat dog food at some point there is nothing you can really do to avoid it - it doesn't make you a bad mum
9. A good mum and baby group makes a huge difference
10. I can do anything on 4 hours sleep (or less)
11. Letting Poppy cry it out does not make us bad parents (we do actually love Dr. Ferber)
12. Babbling back at Poppy and having silly conversations with her in public are only embarrassing for other people - we don't care
13. I understand why J.M Barrie said that whenever a baby laughs a new fairy is born
