It seems that babies are the topic of many conversations with friends and family these days. I am super excited that not one, but TWO of my cousins and their wives are expecting babies in 2014! I’m also thrilled that my friends at the Auberge Inn on Manitoulin are also expecting their first baby soon too!
All this talk of babies makes me think of our early days with Little One and all the excitement, milestones (and yes, sleepless nights) that go hand in hand with being new parents. I find myself thinking of those early days when things were exhausting, yet blissful.
What I remember most of our early days with baby are:
- The smell of Little One’s sweet baby head. Sounds weird, but any parent (or anyone who has ever smelled a baby’s sweet-smelling head) will know what I mean! C’mon! You’re all baby sniffers and you know it!
- The way Little One used to grip our fingers tightly with her tiny hand.
- The sweet cooing and complete and utter contentment displayed by my little baby as I cradled her in my arms for hours.
- .Quiet moments in the very early morning for feedings.
- The adorable ‘milk drunk’ look Little One had after each feeding.
Of course, the early days weren’t always so wonderful. I do recall sleep deprivation and running on fumes, but somehow that seems to be a distant memory. What I remember most is the precious moments that I wish I can commit to memory forever.
Since Little One had to spend the first 72 days of life in the NICU at Mount Sinai and then a few more weeks in the Level II Nursery, she was almost 3 months old when we finally got to take her home! Here’s one of our earliest ‘at home’ family photos. I thought this photo reflected how happy we were to have our little miracle at home with us. I now realized how exhausted Hubby and I look!
Little One and I were just looking at old photos of her on Facebook and she thinks it’s amazing to see herself as a tiny preemie in the NICU and to a very busy 5 year old! Ahhh! I was brought back to all the exciting ‘firsts’!
I smile when I think of Little One’s first time rolling over, first word, first time sitting up on her own, first time walking…I’m always so amazed how we created this human being and she went from something so tiny to a person that can think, speak, argue, debate, and do things on her own. I don’t know if any parent ever gets over the amazement of CREATING a PERSON!!! I know I don’t! I’m always amazed…especially when Little One comes up with the wildest conversation pieces!
When friends who are expecting ask me what I loved about getting ready for baby, I said…SHOPPING!! Okay, that and getting Baby’s nursery ready!
As a first time mom, organizing Baby’s nursery was definitely fun and exciting! There really is something to be said about the term “nesting”! I was totally eager to get things ready for Baby’s arrival, starting by getting the house ready! Sadly, just as I was into my 21st week of pregnancy I was put on complete bed rest. Little One’s nursery would not be complete until after we returned to the Island.
Little One is now five years old. My baby is no longer a baby. Switching her from her crib to her big girl bed was bittersweet.
Though I love all the stages of her growth and development, I miss the baby and toddler stage. My friends think I’m crazy because many remind me how much easier things are when kids are a bit older. There’s truth to that, but I miss my cuddly baby. She’s so independent now and I just hope the cuddly days will not wane too much as she gets older.
Summer 2009
Summer 2013
I’m not sure if Little One will ever have a sibling. We can hope, but we’re not sure. For now, I’m thrilled to share in the excitement and experience of loved ones who are expecting! Know what that means? SHOPPING for baby items!
Between January 17th and the 30th, I’ll be checking out Sears Canada’s The Baby’s Room for their Baby Days! With all the new babies I’ll be getting to snuggle with (yes, I’m a baby hog!), I’m excited about 15% off all juvenile products + great deals on infants’ fashions! Admittedly, I have a weakness for buying adorable kids’ clothes for all the little ones in my life. Check out all the great deals you can get during the Sears Baby Days Sale! Great prices for nursery, feeding, car seats, strollers, bath, toys and more!
Will you be checking out Sears for their Baby Days Sale?
Disclosure: I am part of the Sears Mom Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
I loved reading about your little girl. The photos of the two of you together are beautiful! I love to shop at Sears for baby stuff!
Talk of babies is all around me right now! Is the Baby Days sale an annual event?
It’s such a bittersweet time when they’re little, isn’t it? If you could just sleep through the night, it would be all sweet.
I loved those days, my baby in my arms, even the nighttime feedings, but I did not really enjoy being tired all of the time. I miss it, now that I’m older and my daughter is graduating from high school this year. She still cuddles, though, and as an only child is perhaps more attached to us than she might be if she had siblings. I don’t know if that”s good or bad. Good for me, but I wonder later on. Then again, while I adore my siblings, you can make family out of friends as well. I worry about her having to deal with our old age on her own, and I hope she has a good support system when that time comes.
Confession time…while I loved cuddling my baby, feeding her and all of that, I do not love the smell of baby heads. I know, I’m insane.
So true on everything you said, Julie! I can’t believe how fast yours grew up too! Time really does fly, doesn’t it?
Ah! Surprised about your confession! Haha! I’m a baby head sniffer! Weird, huh?
I have so many friends expecting in the next few months. I’m going to hit up Sears for some gifts 🙂
Randa, same here! I’ve got a few friends expecting and two of my cousins are expecting too! Sears is a great place to get baby gifts!
Wow. They really don’t stay babies very long! I am done with the baby part of our lives, but my sister is just beginning. May have to go check out the baby sale for my 6 week old neice!
Awww! So exciting for your sis! Oh, and as an auntie, you get to do all kinds of fun shopping for baby presents! Enjoy that sweet little princess! 🙂
This post brought back a lot of memories! Those were really special days. Love the pics of your little girl – so beautiful!
Thanks so much, Dani! xoxo
Love the pictures of Little One when she was a baby – she looks so happy and well loved – just like she does now! Her baby room was beautiful – as is her ‘big girl’ room. I worry all the time that I will forget all of those precious memories from when my boys were babies. It all seems to be covered in a fog of exhaustion and exasperation!
As an only child myself I feel so lucky that I got to spend so much time with parents and especially that their attention was all on me 😉 Now, even in my late 30’s I talk with my parents 2-3 times a day. It’s a special bond when you are an only 🙂
Kerrie, thank you for your comment. You truly made me smile. I’ll have to chat with you sometime about the only child thing. I worry about Little One being an only sometimes.
My husband is the only child, and is happily so. He is/was the pride and joy of his mom and dad. I’m glad that my kids are a “little” older now, and no longer babies. I couldn’t do 5 in nightime diapers again!
Yes, I will be shopping Sears Baby Days. There is always someone expecting to buy for.
Jenna, 5 in diapers!!! Wow! You’re amazing!! Can’t wait to check out the great deals at Sears’ Baby Day Sale!
Christianna: Gee! You made me cry with your comment here. I was just telling Hubby that I long for the day that Little One will stay in her bed all through the night. She starts off sleeping in her room, but around 1 or 2am, she somehow always ends up in our bed. Now that I think of it, these days will be few and far between. She’ll soon not want to snuggle like that. I may as well take advantage of it now 🙂
We think the time will last forever, that they will never grow up, but trust me they do and it passes very quickly. We wish for them to gain independence, but then fear that they will no longer need us. Wonder if they are ever going to let go of our leg or sleep in their own beds, but then as time passes we long to have those cuddles back. Children are our gifts from the Creator and they choose us as their parents, cherish all the moments. Then if you are really blessed you get to become a grandparent. AWESOME