I thought I had plenty of training before Charlotte arrived in my life. I'd baby-sat, ran a children's ministry, taught school, and read a myriad of parenting/baby books; however there is nothing that can prepare you for the real thing. Every day is different from the other and like a professional athlete, I've found myself latching on to anything that appears to work. "Charlotte went 6 hours between feedings. It must have been because she was wearing her knit hat." So like a baseball player in the World Series who refuses to wash his underwear because he swears it keeps the team winning, I faithfully put on Charlie's knit hat to get the same result. Unfortunately, Charlotte is not aware of the superstition and doesn't play along. I know it sounds ridiculous, but when your world is turned upside down, you'll cling to anything that seems routine. After all, our brains are designed to recognize patterns, right?
Through the ups and downs of being a first time parent, God continues to walk beside me, reminding me over and over again: "Let go. Let go. Let go." It's a theme that has popped up numerous times in my life, but I've never so acutely felt God teaching me this lesson than over the past month with Charlotte. This baby is a little person, separate from me. I have as much control over her as I do over any other person. So for now I rely on God for the strength, patience, and love I need to meet the needs of my daughter and let the rest fall to the wayside.
The Highs:
Mommy Milestones:
1. Taking Charlotte shopping on my own
2. Leaving Charlotte with daddy and going out with the girls
3. Taking my struggles to God and ignoring the "mommy guilt" from Satan
Daddy Milestones:
1. Pulling his first over night shift (fabulous job!)
2. Mastering the snot sucker
3. Balancing work and fatherhood
Charlie Milestones:
1. Putting herself on a somewhat regular 3 hour routine
2. Going 6 hours between feedings (1 time)
3. Finding her fingers to soothe herself
The Lows:
1. Baby Blues
2. Charlie's first cold
3. Sleepless nights
4. Gassiness and giving up dairy
Check out our flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewandlarissa) to see updated pictures of Charlie. For now, here's my favorite from our photo shoot at JC Penny's when Charlie was 9 days old.
Oh, how I feel ya on this one! Letting go is tricky and rather important.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the record, Micah slept longer whenever I changed him while standing on one foot. At least, it worked the one time... :)
great post. its just en ever-changing job, which is annoying for the organized planner types :) i LOVE the picture of her. so sweet, i love that snuggly soft newborn cuteness.
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