Today I took Wesley to the public library for Mother Goose time, a special reading time for newborns up to three years of age. I had some worries that he might not do so well, being that in the carseat is not one of his favorite places to be, and he generally gets unsettled in strange surroundings and wants to suck on Mama for comfort. Add to that the fact that I had to wake him from his morning nap and I wasn't at all sure what to expect.
However, I needn't have worried, for he did beautifully! He sat on my lap the entire time and watched everything that was going on. Miss JeriAnn (the children's program coordinator) read two books, had the children do fingertime (clap-clap-clap, put them in my lap and Itsy-Bitsy Spider), pulled out a brightly colored parachute for the children to play with, and ended the time with musical instruments. She also passed out books to each child for individual "reading" time with Mama. Wesley never stopped moving his head from side to side, watching all the activity. He was fascinated with the big red, blue, green, and yellow parachute that the older children were shaking and flipping up and down in time to the music. He also responded to the musical instruments and watched as I shook the bright pink rattle.
Even though it was a lot of stimulation coming at him at once, he did not wimper, fuss, or cry during the entire 40 minutes. He did zonk out for a good hour afterwards, though.
For me, this was an amazing moment as I watched my sweet little boy experience his first social hour. It was even more special because he held onto my finger the whole time, as though to make sure of my presence in that strange environment. Having Wesley there allowed me to see this room full of rowdy, rambunctious children from a completely different perspective - that of a two month old baby who could only view the commotion with innocent wonder.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Motherhood's Greatest Gifts
In honor of Mother's Day recently past, I have compiled a list of the top five greatest aspects of motherhood:
1. Knowing that you are the number one source of comfort for your child - Wesley had his first set of immunization shots yesterday, and all he wanted was for me to hold him and rock him and sing to him all day. You can't get that kind of joy in a gift-wrapped box.
2. Seeing that your child gets his greatest joy from your attention - Wesley's favorite game is "Sticking out my tongue," which he will do if I stick mine out at him first. This, for whatever reason, makes him beam as we play, and that makes me feel on top of the world.
3. Watching the milestones as they occur - Wesley has begun gripping things in his hands: his blanket, his toy zebra, and his toy alphabet letters. While his hold isn't 100%, it's great fun for me to watch his fingers close around an object, even if he doesn't quite realize he's done it. Oh, and when those little fingers grip my finger or my shirt, that's one of the highlights of my day.
4. Finding out that I know my son - Wesley loves music; his little ears just perk right up whenever there's a tune, whether it's one of his CD's, the music from his jungle playmat, or his mama's (off-tune renditions, of course) singing. Whenever he gets fussy and can't be settled down by any other means, I just turn on the CD player and there is instant (well, almost instant) happiness.
5. Cuddle-time - This has started to occur during the nighttime feedings. After the feeding, Wesley just snuggles into me with sighs and good-night coos. If I try to lay him down before he is fully asleep, those little fingers have been known to grip my nightgown and the complaints begin. This is my favorite time of the day, believe it or not, because it's just the two of us rocking and snuggling, and I don't think life gets any better than that.
1. Knowing that you are the number one source of comfort for your child - Wesley had his first set of immunization shots yesterday, and all he wanted was for me to hold him and rock him and sing to him all day. You can't get that kind of joy in a gift-wrapped box.
2. Seeing that your child gets his greatest joy from your attention - Wesley's favorite game is "Sticking out my tongue," which he will do if I stick mine out at him first. This, for whatever reason, makes him beam as we play, and that makes me feel on top of the world.
3. Watching the milestones as they occur - Wesley has begun gripping things in his hands: his blanket, his toy zebra, and his toy alphabet letters. While his hold isn't 100%, it's great fun for me to watch his fingers close around an object, even if he doesn't quite realize he's done it. Oh, and when those little fingers grip my finger or my shirt, that's one of the highlights of my day.
4. Finding out that I know my son - Wesley loves music; his little ears just perk right up whenever there's a tune, whether it's one of his CD's, the music from his jungle playmat, or his mama's (off-tune renditions, of course) singing. Whenever he gets fussy and can't be settled down by any other means, I just turn on the CD player and there is instant (well, almost instant) happiness.
5. Cuddle-time - This has started to occur during the nighttime feedings. After the feeding, Wesley just snuggles into me with sighs and good-night coos. If I try to lay him down before he is fully asleep, those little fingers have been known to grip my nightgown and the complaints begin. This is my favorite time of the day, believe it or not, because it's just the two of us rocking and snuggling, and I don't think life gets any better than that.
Friday, May 8, 2009
5 Weird Facts About Motherhood
1. The floor that never used to creak in the guest bedroom suddenly develops a creak as soon as the bedroom is converted into a nursery.
2. The creak just happens to be right in front of the crib.
3. Nursing (including the sore nipples; 1 am, 3 am, and 5 am feedings; and having to do it in public on occasion) is actually quite comforting for baby AND mom.
4. It's amazing how quickly modesty gets shoved under the rug when baby comes along - I mean, if having to push baby out while 3 or 4 people stand at THAT end and watch isn't enough to get a person over the modesty hump, then having to whip out a boob in public to satisfy baby's hunger pains will (although I do try a little decorum, such as heading to the ladies' room or to my car).
5. Sleeping in any position suddenly becomes comfortable. (It's a good thing the spine was meant to hold us upright while we sit; otherwise, I would spend half my time in a squishy pile with Wesley floating on top!)
2. The creak just happens to be right in front of the crib.
3. Nursing (including the sore nipples; 1 am, 3 am, and 5 am feedings; and having to do it in public on occasion) is actually quite comforting for baby AND mom.
4. It's amazing how quickly modesty gets shoved under the rug when baby comes along - I mean, if having to push baby out while 3 or 4 people stand at THAT end and watch isn't enough to get a person over the modesty hump, then having to whip out a boob in public to satisfy baby's hunger pains will (although I do try a little decorum, such as heading to the ladies' room or to my car).
5. Sleeping in any position suddenly becomes comfortable. (It's a good thing the spine was meant to hold us upright while we sit; otherwise, I would spend half my time in a squishy pile with Wesley floating on top!)
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Writer's Choice
The first thing the majority of people say when they find out I've written a book is "When did you find time to write?". This question always makes me smile; I find it humorous that anyone should be so amazed because, for me, finding time to write isn't any big deal. Yes, it has become a little more difficult since Wesley's arrival, but it's not impossible. I mean, writing is what I do; it's what I've done steadily and consistently since the summer before my eighth grade year. I can't imagine not writing. It would be like asking me to take a deep breath only to never exhale again. If I could have my way, I would write full-time.
I guess people are amazed at this accomplishment because I just had a baby and, let's face it, that in itself is a major feat. And now, of course, I am a full-time mother, regardless of whatever else is going on in my life. However, the writer in me refuses to fade quietly into the background. Perhaps that's why I started blogging; it's the quickest, easiest way to give the writer in me a little exercise while waiting for the baby to fall back asleep. It's necessary, like breathing; it helps me maintain my sanity, and while right now I may not get to story-write every day as I would like to, I still manage to squeeze it in.
What I have figured out is that we find time to do the things we love. We make the time if we have to. It does get complicated with baby, work, family, friends, and all the other obligations in life; however, I have learned that the day is never too short to squeeze in a little writing time. Yes, some other things have to fall by the wayside in order for the writing to get done (the dishes may sit for a couple of days, the laundry may pile up, the bills may get paid at the very last minute), but the writing gets done. It has to, or I wouldn't be true to myself.
I guess people are amazed at this accomplishment because I just had a baby and, let's face it, that in itself is a major feat. And now, of course, I am a full-time mother, regardless of whatever else is going on in my life. However, the writer in me refuses to fade quietly into the background. Perhaps that's why I started blogging; it's the quickest, easiest way to give the writer in me a little exercise while waiting for the baby to fall back asleep. It's necessary, like breathing; it helps me maintain my sanity, and while right now I may not get to story-write every day as I would like to, I still manage to squeeze it in.
What I have figured out is that we find time to do the things we love. We make the time if we have to. It does get complicated with baby, work, family, friends, and all the other obligations in life; however, I have learned that the day is never too short to squeeze in a little writing time. Yes, some other things have to fall by the wayside in order for the writing to get done (the dishes may sit for a couple of days, the laundry may pile up, the bills may get paid at the very last minute), but the writing gets done. It has to, or I wouldn't be true to myself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)