This time last year I was impatiently awaiting the arrival of our little baby-to-be. I didn’t know what to expect of labor, let alone motherhood. This year has been an incredible journey, one that has been beautiful and awe-inspiring while also exhausting and stressful. It’s taken me, as a person, to unexpected places…
I can’t imagine my life before being a mother; my world has changed so completely. Being a parent completely shifts your life, but in a good way.
I didn’t know how hard things would be. Like sleep and colic and breastfeeding. They say parenting is hard and sleep deprivation sucks… but that’s just scratching the surface.
You know joy in a whole new way. You see the world through the eyes of your baby, who is growing and learning and changing each day. You thrill in their small achievements, which are so numerous that you lose track. So much changes all the time that you forget. You forget what it’s like to mother an infant who can’t sit up yet, who doesn’t even make eye contact. You forget, even if you don’t want to.
You never "stop" being a parent. Even when your baby is asleep, you think about him. You worry. You wonder what he’ll be like and how you can guide him to grow up into a happy, healthy person.
My personality is not the same. I’m way more outgoing. You can’t have a social baby and be introverted, that’s for sure. Also, things that used to annoy me often slide off as ‘no big deal’ now. I guess it’s a matter of perspective.
I still struggle with being ‘on’ all the time. There is no downtime with a baby. You’re always watching and supporting and entertaining. It’s exhausting in a way I was completely taken aback by.
Parenting is a journey best shared with others. I have been beyond lucky to have met so many new moms and dads who we’ve shared this past year with. In particular, Jessica & Nicola have been fantastic friends I’ve been lucky to find. I understand now why people say that the friends you make as a new parent are friends you’ll have for life.
It’s been a year, but I still feel like a "new" parent. I wonder if that will ever wear off. After all, children don’t stop growing and changing… parenting must change too. We will always wonder if we’re good parents. If we’re doing what’s best for our child. If they’re happy.
I knew, but did not know, what love was. I knew, but did not know, what being a parent meant for my life. Nearly one year ago, I could not have envisioned the life I now live… I wonder what the next year will bring?
We’ve had a lot of ups and downs with this breastfeeding thing. You were very good at nursing, right from day 1, even though it took Mommy some time to make all the milk you wanted. You kept at it and, really, it was your favourite thing to do. You even did it while sleeping.
Now you’re almost one year old, a toddler!, and I plan to keep right on breastfeeding you – even though 12 months was my initial goal. However, I’d like to ask that you refrain from the following:
Biting me. I know you don’t do this often, but I’m not a toy or a teether.
Pinching me. I know that roll of fat that gets created when I hunch over is quite appealing, but mommy doesn’t love being pinched.
Giving me a dental exam. My teeth are just fine, I just saw a dentist. No need to go poking around.
Cleaning my nose. I prefer a Kleenex.
Pulling my hair. I know you think it’s pretty, but you need to be gentle with Mommy like you’re gentle with the cats.
Making me do gymnastics to nurse you. I already go to the gym, so I’d prefer if you nurse in the position you’re put in rather than squirming and kicking and rolling, making me shift and move to nurse you.
Nursing only on the left side. The right side is perfectly acceptable too and it really misses you.
I know our days are probably past when I can just nurse you anywhere and anytime. Nursing can be a very special time together, so please just enjoy it! I hope we can continue to enjoy these moments together for some time. Just… please remember I’m not a toy.
Meet Donkey Jote, Aiden’s most recent stuffed animal. A couple of weekends ago, we went out to lunch with Aiden’s great grandmother and paid a visit to a toy store. She let him pick out his own stuffed animal and he picked this donkey. Daddy jokingly named him Donkey Jote after Don Quixote, which is Don Quijote in Spanish.
And Aiden is *in love* with Donkey. He squeals in delight when he sees donkey and will come if shown him. He’ll hug him and kiss him (the only thing he kisses) and roll around on the floor with him. Sometimes he even drags him around to play.
Here’s a video showing Aiden coming down the stairs (a new skill!!) to get his donkey, playing with his donkey, then enjoying a few other fun moments including playing with my toes and his socks.
Donkey Jote is a Jellycat stuffy purchased at Dandelion Kids.
Today we paid a visit to the Country Farms Pumpkin Patch in Richmond. I’d been wanting to take Aiden to a pumpkin patch but was hesitant to take him on such a long car ride, since he’s not a fan of any. However, when we made plans to go to Richmond for a family lunch, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to swing by and pick out some pumpkins on the way home!
The Pumpkin Patch was fantastic! I never knew so much went on at a pumpkin patch!! The admission was $10, a price which includes a pumpkin. You can pay an additional $5 for a pony ride, which we did. Aiden loved the pony. After the ride, we got on a hay bale wagon, complete with musician, and headed to the fields. We didn’t go in the corn maze, but we did pick up our pumpkins from one of the three (!) fields there! Of course, we brought along our SLR for a few dozen photos, but until those are uploaded, check out the above from my phone. Also note how tuckered out he was from the trip. ;)
For other pumpkin patches in the Vancouver area, check out this list.
One of Aiden’s more recent skills is the ability to put a ring back on his stacking rings set. So far he only does this with the largest ring, not the entire set of rings.
Considering that Aiden hasn’t yet taken interest in putting a ball / block into a container, this (I think) shows a great deal of skill!
