Saturday, May 31, 2014

5 Things I've Learned Since Becoming a Parent

I am no parenting expert by any means, and I still feel like a newbie, BUT I have learned a few thing since becoming a mom. I seriously learn something new every single day though, so this list should really be 1,000,000 things I have learned since becoming a parent ha. However I didn't feel like learning what baby poop looks like and how often babies drool were "list worthy" hehe ;) So here it goes...

1. It's okay to need help 
In the beginning I really didn't like the idea that I needed help. I felt like I was Rosalie's mom and I should be able to take care of her on my own and meet her every need while Chanse was at school or work. However, I learned that some days this was just HARD. I never had postpartum depression thankfully, but I was still exhausted. Sometimes Rosalie wouldn't sleep most the night and wouldn't want to nap at all during the day. I was tired, and I learned that it was okay to feel tired. Some days I just pushed through the tiredness and I was fine, but other days I was so thankful when my sister would come over and just hold Rose and chat for a little bit. Chanse has also been incredible as well, and has helped me so much when he is home. Now that we are in Vernal, my mom is seriously amazing! She tells me that I should take full advantage of the extra help while I am in Vernal because I won't have it when I am in Provo ha, and she is right! My brothers and my dad are also amazing, and they do an excellent job with her. I have learned that I just need to embrace the help that I am given and be grateful for it! I am already wondering how I am going to handle two kids haha!


2. Every baby is different
I feel like I understood the concept of this before I had a baby, but I didn't completely understand it until Rosalie came. I would hear my friends saying that their babies would sleep for several hours at night or that their baby had a hard time nursing, and I would think "Wow, my baby doesn't sleep much, but she is an incredible little eater." As I learned more and more about my baby and other babies, I realized just how different every single baby is. Rosalie was her own little person, and she did whatever she wanted ha. As she has grown I have started to LOVE how unique she is becoming and how amazing her little personality is. I think it is so amazing that every baby is so different even from the beginning because they have their own unique little spirit and personality already.


3. Some things are just going to have to wait
*Notice my huge laundry pile*

I have somewhat of an OCD personality when it comes to organization and cleanliness so dealing with a tiny house that was packed to the brim with baby stuff was really hard for me at first. I wanted to magically make my house bigger so that it would all fit better haha! I also had a hard time putting off things like laundry, dishes, vacuuming, etc. BUT I did put all of these things off because I knew that Rosalie needed me so much more. She also needed me more than the gym needed me some days and other days she needed me more than the grocery store. She will always be more important than any of these things and I feel like that is the key.

*Piles and piles of stuff haha*


4. Some things will get easier
Notice I said "some" haha because I'm sure all sorts of hard things are in store for me. However certain things have become so much easier for me over the last 4 months (How on earth is my baby already 4 months old?!). She has gotten so much better about sleeping at night, and this has allowed me to finally get some sleep. Hallelujah! She is also getting more and more responsive and animated every single day! I tell you people this is the BEST thing ever and the most rewarding! When your baby smiles at you when you are changing their poopy diaper that has managed to exploded all over their clothes, this makes it so much better ;) She is also babbling now in the cutest high pitched voice ever, and it is seriously better than Christmas! Nursing her has always gone very smooth for me, but that has gotten easier too! I find myself loving being a mom more and more each day and feeling more and more grateful for my precious baby girl!


5. You don't have to be perfect to be a good parent
I am so far from perfect that it isn't even funny, but I am learning that I don't have to be. All I can do is the best I can every single day, and Heavenly Father will help me with the rest. I may not always know why my baby girl is crying or why she doesn't want to eat, BUT that's okay. It is also okay to be tired and stressed and covered in poop or barf ha! It comes with the job, and other moms out there understand why you have no make up on and are in sweats at the grocery store. Just do the best you can! I know that I love my baby girl with all of my heart, and I feel like Chanse and I are both learning that this is enough. We both give all of our efforts to raising a happy and healthy baby girl, and so far I think we are doing a pretty dang good job! :)


I'm sure that this list is just beginning, and I know that I have so much more to learn, but the key is that I am learning ha!

*For Parents: What have you learned since becoming a parent?
Teach me!
*What fun plans do you have for Saturday?

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