Saturday, April 3, 2010

So it's been awhile. I have a three month old now and she is everything we could have ever asked for and so much more. Her smile literally lights up the room, and she does this adorable thing where she sticks a little bit of her tongue out and then breaks into the widest grin you've ever seen. It makes you feel like you're the most important person in the world.

I knew a lot would change once I became a mom, but while everyone always tries to prepare you for the more stressful aspects of parenting..."you'll never see your friends again...you think you're tired NOW?! just wait!...if you can get through the first 6 weeks, you're good," etc.; no one explains that part of your daily life will stay the same but it will be forever enhanced.

I remember one day late last summer, Jeff and I were sitting on the deck and I was feeling a bit melancholy (and no doubt hormonal). I watched the wind rustle the leaves and sighed as I realized that our days as a couple--as just us--were numbered. I thought to myself "You better take this in right now because nothing will ever be the same again." And while that thought still holds true to this day, I was wrong to mourn the "before" part of our life just then. Jeff is still very important to me; he is a constant in my life and now he is also known as "Daddy" to my beautiful daughter. Our "after" doesn't mean that three's a crowd or that we won't ever have time to ourselves again. It just calls for some minor adjustments. Now that we're developing more of a routine, I can honestly say that I love being a mom in addition to being Jeff's wife. I can't imagine my life any other way...it's like we've always had Ashlyn with us.

This afternoon I sat out on the deck and took in the sunshine while writing out thank you cards for Ashlyn's christening. Jeff raked the leaves and cut down branches while Ash sat contentedly at my feet, playing with her rattle and cooing. I still have time to relax. I can still enjoy the sunshine. And at the end of the day, I fall asleep knowing that my little family is safe and sound. Life doesn't get any better than this.

Oh, and this song makes me cry because it's so true:

He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all night
Layin' there in bed listening
To his newborn baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It's gonna be okay...

It won't be like this for long
One day we'll look back laughin'
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby just hold on
'Cause it won't be like this for long.

Four years later 'bout 4:30
She's crawling in their bed
And when he drops her off at preschool
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says what can I do
She says now don't you worry
This will only last a week or two.

It won't be like this for long
One day soon you'll drop her off
And she won't even know you're gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It won't be like this for long...