Lessons in Motherhood

Most of the posts since Bella's birth have been limited to short notes and pictures, mainly because the available time I have on my hands has been devoted to her for the past 11 weeks. But with my maternity leave drawing to an end, I am realizing that I will soon be taking back my role as a professional, and working hard to balance that with my new found role as a mom.

With this in mind, I find myself reminiscing about all that I've learned over the past 11 weeks. These lessons have been plentiful, and I expect there to be many more to come as she enters her years of toddler-hood and heads off to school one day. Out of all the lessons, there are three very important ones I want to remember.

1. Parenting is really about trial and error.
While some parents may claim to have skills that prepare them for these parenting moments, the truth is it really is all about trial and error. Which is reassuring for someone who has little experience with a newborn, but frustrating for someone who spent years babysitting. =) In the end, you try something, it doesn't work, then you try something new. I have learned that our little girl will quickly tell you if she doesn't like something and her lack of cooperation in the matter is usually a sure sign that as a parent, we need to try something new. Right now the trials and errors are small, but I expect that is God's way of preparing us for what's to come. Giving us a chance to perfect our methods as parents now, will surely come in handy during her teen years.

2. Parenting is about what feels right to YOU, and no one else.
I have struggled throughout these past several weeks with what is the RIGHT thing to do? What is going to give our little girl the best opportunities for growth and development? You can blame this on the teacher in me. I have read endless books about parenting and napping, asked all of my friends what they did with their kids, and in the end, I realized I have got to follow my heart. While an author of a book may guarantee a good night's sleep if you try their method of sleep training, or a friend's baby has mastered an eat, wake, and sleep schedule, in the end, this is Bella. And what works for her, works. It may not work for the baby that lives down the street, or the newborn of a friend, or even our next child, but it works for her. And I have learned to stop questioning it.

3. If it makes you happy...
So this rule may not hold true all of her life, but for now we have found it to be a great relief. At this point in time, our little girl is content with the smallest things--a snuggle session from mom in the middle of the night, tummy time with dad, or naps in her swing. No, mommy will not always be able to snuggle with her girl, nor will Bella always be able to have tummy time with dad or naps in her swing, therefore I believe this is reason enough to enjoy these things right now. Because a time will come soon enough when our little Isabella sleeps through the night, is too big to lay upon her dad's chest, and we are begging her to just get in her swing! It has taken a lot of trial and error, =) for me to come to this conclusion, but I am so glad I finally did. It sure makes parenting a lot more enjoyable!

There isn't a day that goes by where I don't look at our beautiful daughter and think in amazement that WE created this beautiful being! There are still days when parenthood seems so foreign, but at the same time I am reminded, it all is such a blessing! Thank you God for the lessons you are teaching us through Isabella, and may she continue to push and motivate us to be the parents you are molding us to be.