6 Months Old

Isla turned six month old yesterday, and it was amazing to think how fast the last six months has gone and how in another six months we will be planning her one year birthday. Looking back over the last 28 years these last 6 months have been the most amazing, emotional, and empowering 6 months of my life. Becoming a parent was amazing and how after 9 long months of waiting everything happens so fast. I remember walking (ha who am I kidding I was wheeled in) into the delivery room thinking when I come out of here we will be bringing a human home and this is the last time we will ever just be Joey and Emily. New parenthood has been full of smiles, laughs, tears, and near nervous break downs. I wasn't sure what I wanted to write my first blog post about, but I feel that with all my parent friends I owe it to them to pass on the few pieces of advice and words that have helped me survive the last 6 months. ;)

1) Avoid google at all cost. I think those first few months of pregnancy it is nearly impossible to avoid typing in every sign and symptom into your internet search engine only to end up with thoughts of 3 headed babies and everything else under the sun that could be 1 in 1 million chance of happening. Don't get wrapped up in the fear of lunch meat or the thought that any small amount of coffee could send your new child into years of therapy and rehab for fetal abuse. Someone told me once I would miss being pregnant and while I had Shrek feet in the heat of summer I laughed and thought no way, but after it is all said and done I do miss those days. (Trust me they are much easier inside then out ;) )

2) You are almost done. That moment when you about ready to pop. The moment you move from cute happy pregnant lady to woman who can barely walk from the parking lot to the store without looking like you just ran a marathon. This is the point where the "stories" come out and trust me everyone will have a story. Smile nod and respect that at the point of 9 months pregnant you still have the right to tell people you aren't interested in hearing about there 40+ hours of labor, 12 lb baby, or how you look like you are carrying twins. I actually had a lady at Hobby Lobby say "are you sure you are just having one?" I wanted to say no the doctors, ultrasound techs, all missed it but YOU my fabric store friend found me out ;)

3) Birth Plan. Everyone has the glorious plan of how they want there child to enter the world, the first words they will hear the first song that will be playing...... Don't get caught up with "the plan" keep it simple and know that no matter what happens between point a and z the only plan you need to stick with is bottom line is you want your child to arrive safe into to the world.

4) Breastfeeding is HARD. I took the lactation class at the hospital and they showed us a movie where the child latched right on like something out of national geographic. Needless to say prep yourself for it being hard and know that going into it (so you avoid the guilt when things are going easy right away). It is do-able and worth it if it something you want, but know ahead of time it takes a lot of hard work.


5) The Parent Plan. Once you get home no matter how many children you have been around when it is your own you will feel an entire new rush of emotions. The best advice anyone gave me is don't have a plan. Even for the biggest planners of us all drop the plan and know everything is going to be out of your control for awhile. You get to a point where you can't control what is going on around you, but you can control how you react to the things that are going on. As a new parent I think God gives you energy to keep going even when you feel like you have nothing left, but in time it does pass. I remember being so tired at one point and i just got Isla to sleep and the door bell kept ringing wanting to talk about their carpet cleaning business, landscaping, church, I got to the point I seriously contemplated posting a sign that said "If you aren't selling thin mints step slowly off the porch, and no one gets hurt".

So after 6 months I feel like things aren't getting easier, but they get better. Enjoy every minute because it does go so fast. I am looking forward to updating this blog with all the adventure of our family to come.