What I have learned in 10 weeks

I have learned many things in my first ten weeks as a mom.
Of course, I have lots more to learn, and I look forward to that.
But I thought it would be fun to document what I have learned so far, because it will be interesting to look back on what I was thinking ten weeks into parenthood.



30 Things I Have Learned in the First Ten Weeks of Mommying

In no particuluar order:
1. A baby can bring out the best in me.
2. A baby can bring out the worst in me.
3. I have always loved researching and learning, but now the topics have changed.
4. Many people will have input on how I should get my child to sleep, but they won't be as judgmental or opinionated as I expected.
5. I am a snob.
6. Certain questions really get on my nerves. (i.e., "Cloth diapers, eh? How's that working out for you?")
7. Certain comments really get on my nerves. (i.e., "When he goes off to kindergarten he'll....")
8. Everyone keeps telling me to cherish this time. I am!!!
9. Husbands are crucial. How do teen/single moms DO this!??
10. My baby loves to be on his belly for sleep and for cuddling. To date we are fighting of SIDS through prayer. :)
11. I can get no more than 3 hours of sleep at a time and still function just fine and dandy, thankyouverymuch.
12. I love talking about my baby.
13. I need to get away from my baby from time to time.
14. I need fresh air more than I ever knew I could.
15. Having a preemie means throwing developmental timelines out the window. (I should keep this in mind regardless of him being premature).
16. I am impatient in waiting for burps, and should work on this to avoid so much spit-up.
17. Breastfeeding is about so much more than filling his little belly.
18. Breastfeeding does wonders for filling his little belly (doubled birth weight in 9 weeks, yes sir!)
19. Stealing away in the back of a parking lot to feed him in the backseat of the car inbetween errands makes me feel like we are invincible partners in crime (We can do anything together!).
20. Before pregnancy and baby, there were some things I thought we'd never do that now seem to work for us, at least for now (me not working, bedsharing, pacifiers, to name a few).
21. There are some things I knew were important to us as parents that I'm so glad we were/are committed to (natural birth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, to name a few).
22. I never knew how much of a breastfeeding advocate my mom is/was. I also never knew how much we have in common in our mommying instincts (though I suppose this shouldn't have surprised me?). I guess I don't remember how she mommied me when I was a baby!
23. I'm so thankful my husband and I are on the same page about pretty much everything (so far)!
24. A crying baby can be completely adorable even at 3:00 a.m.
25. My love for teaching hasn't gone away, but my audience and topics of education has changed.
26. I am biased.
27. I NEED to be connected with other moms who are on the same page as me, but I also need to remember that those who parent differently than me don't love their children any less.
28. There's nothing I can do (other than starve my child!) about how fast or slow my baby grows.
29. Jaundice CAN be conquered (even if it takes 8-9 weeks)!!
30. A baby changes everything.

I hope to add to this list every month or so, and also look back at this every so often to remind myself of the growth I've experienced thanks to our little dude. Reflection is an important thing.