Things We’ve Learned So Far…
Mat and I decided a while back to make a list of things we’ve learned since becoming parents – about parenting in general or about Charlie specifically… Some are good, some are fun, and some are just in good fun.٭٭ All poop is not created equal.
٭٭ Celebrating the smallest of things sometimes brings the biggest grin.
٭٭ Sometimes the best way to get her attention is to whisper…
٭٭ Vacuuming has to be done under the table daily, lots of things get sucked up under her booster chair. Okay, to be fair it is equally messy under his chair.
٭٭ It’s okay to wonder if I am cut out for this “mom” gig from time to time. Afterall, this is the most important job I’ll ever take on.
٭٭ Taking pictures while lying on the floor can be hazardous to your health. I had a fat lip to prove it. Babies have hard heads!
٭٭ It is important to communicate with your significant other…routines, foods that are off limits, etc. He’s at work during the day, leaving me in charge of 85% of her routine and feedings. He once joked with a co-worker that he has no say in what she eats. I thought about this and realized it is fairly true. Even when he is home, I still make her food. That doesn’t mean he should be out of the loop — we’re still working on this.
٭٭ Hand-me-downs are a beautiful thing.
٭٭ Dinner is a great time to slow down with your family. Even if it’s an itty bitty family like ours.
٭٭ Mat asked if I’d ever want to know what she was saying when she babbles. He does. I don’t think I would. I love hearing her chime in our conversations with her babbling. It makes me smile. And she’s so serious too! She means every word she says.
٭٭ Celebrating the smallest of things sometimes brings the biggest grin.
٭٭ Sometimes the best way to get her attention is to whisper…
٭٭ Vacuuming has to be done under the table daily, lots of things get sucked up under her booster chair. Okay, to be fair it is equally messy under his chair.
٭٭ It’s okay to wonder if I am cut out for this “mom” gig from time to time. Afterall, this is the most important job I’ll ever take on.
٭٭ Taking pictures while lying on the floor can be hazardous to your health. I had a fat lip to prove it. Babies have hard heads!
٭٭ It is important to communicate with your significant other…routines, foods that are off limits, etc. He’s at work during the day, leaving me in charge of 85% of her routine and feedings. He once joked with a co-worker that he has no say in what she eats. I thought about this and realized it is fairly true. Even when he is home, I still make her food. That doesn’t mean he should be out of the loop — we’re still working on this.
٭٭ Hand-me-downs are a beautiful thing.
٭٭ Dinner is a great time to slow down with your family. Even if it’s an itty bitty family like ours.
٭٭ Mat asked if I’d ever want to know what she was saying when she babbles. He does. I don’t think I would. I love hearing her chime in our conversations with her babbling. It makes me smile. And she’s so serious too! She means every word she says.
٭٭ Nine times out of ten when I go to shoo her away from something it’s a trap…meaning she’s already on her way to what she wanted to get into while my back is turned.
٭٭ She. will. get. hurt. There’s no way around it, unless we spend a weekend padding the walls and putting her in a helmet. We will not be that type.
٭٭ She’s understanding us more and more each day. It’s pretty amazing to see.
٭٭ Sometimes it is good to step away from the camera, and experience her joys without a lens between us. Yes, I’m still working on this.
٭٭ She can dance like the dickens!
٭٭ She’s a ham. Plain and simple.
٭٭ She. will. get. hurt. There’s no way around it, unless we spend a weekend padding the walls and putting her in a helmet. We will not be that type.
٭٭ She’s understanding us more and more each day. It’s pretty amazing to see.
٭٭ Sometimes it is good to step away from the camera, and experience her joys without a lens between us. Yes, I’m still working on this.
٭٭ She can dance like the dickens!
٭٭ She’s a ham. Plain and simple.
case in point.
Oh man…did this make me misty! I love this age, they are alive and awake little people. So much fun. Great post Erin…love it!
Oh what a neat post Erin! Great points, and all so true. So underneath Mat's chair is bad too huh?
Charlie is such a sweetie – I cannot wait to meet her one day!
I can relate to EVERYTHING on this list. I hadn't thought about the food thing but after reading that I realized that we do that too… though I won't let him pick the food. He would feed Jake Mac and Cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday.
What a great post! I found myself nodding my head with nearly all of these points. Especially the getting hurt thing, because I won't be one of those parents either!
It's funny how much you learn isn't it!
Erin, what a beautiful post! You made me cry. I SO miss my boys, and it made me remember the times when they were young and we went through all these things.
You are a wonderful mother, and I love watching how you react with Charlie. She is a happy child and it shows on her face how much she is loved.
Hope you had a fabulous Christmas, and wishing you all the best for 2010!!
She is SO cute. And I love the name Charlie — we were gonig to use it if we had a boy.
You're totally right, dinner is a great way for everyone to slow down and catch up. We love having dinner together!