Winter fun
Winter is here! Last week the temperature dropped and suddenly it felt COLD. Up until then I was still feeling like I didn’t really need my winter coat. Now give me my driving gloves! Brrrr. I need to buy a fleece bunting for Kate, as she keeps pulling her socks off in the car – and then drooling on them, so they’re nice and soaking wet. I want a single-layer fleece bunting so that it’s safe for the car seat (no puffy snowsuits or coats in the car seat!).
The other night I was driving home from somewhere later in the day, and night had already fallen – it hits so early now. Night is hard for me to take Kate anywhere because I can’t see her in the mirror without some form of ambient light. But this trip there was silence from the back seat. I turned up the music a little bit, smiled, and relaxed, thinking about how much appreciate a nice drive with a sleeping baby. It occurred to me then that somewhere in the last few months I have stopped worrying when she fell asleep in the car. When she was a newborn and I was driving it was always hard. Either she was crying, or she was peacefully sleeping and I, though relieved, was nervously looking in the mirror every few minutes to make sure I could see her breathing. I don’t even know when that nervousness went away. I guess I’ve driven around with her sleeping enough times that it’s become normal, expected.
During the day she now naps in our bedroom for an hour or two all by herself. I don’t find myself pressing my ear against the monitor speaker much anymore, and I don’t have to fight the urge to check on her (our door makes noise, checking on her always runs the risk of waking her up). Some days I want to just turn off the monitor, because every rustle that she makes has my nerves tingling, thinking she’s going to be awake any second – which doesn’t give me a very restful break.
Kate is obsessed with pulling up to her feet now. She’s trying to pull up on everything, but is really only successful grabbing our hands. She still falls a lot, so my job during the day is now to be The Spotter. I get to sit there for hours, sitting her up, holding her up, catching her when she falls, and being the monkey bars as she yanks on my clothing trying to do it herself. She used to sit and play with toys. Now she sits and plays with toys, then leans forward on her hands and knees, rocks back and forth, and slides onto her belly. She used to roll around. Now she tries to pull on objects, fails, and yells for help. I have to sit her back up and let her do it again. While I am fascinated by her growing abilities and totally proud of my child, I am also very bored. I watch a lot of TV. I know this is bad – especially given how terrible TV is right now.
I adore my child so far above and beyond what I knew I would. I look at other people out there and I wonder, do they feel that same way? I know many do… but not all. I feel sorry for mothers who don’t see their child as the ultimate gift.
I most certainly do. I love Angus the same way you have described here.
And I think he was about the same age when I stopped checking on him, both at home and in the car. Like you, it was just a gradual shift.
Lovely post.
My mother hasn’t been a part of my life since I was about 3-years-old. I never understood growing up why she didn’t want to be there for me and my brother. Now that I’m a mom I understand her even less. I most definitely see my two as the most precious gifts I have ever been given and have no idea who anyone could see children as anything else.
I always say I want n to know just how precious she is to us.
(It’s sometimes hard to balance that with letting her be her own person, even now, and not coddling her. Though I know that’s mostly in my own head. *g*)
I remember that stage all too well, and I watched WAY too much tv, too. I remember wanting so desperately for her to be willing to spend even a FEW minutes not climbing on me or needing me RIGHT THERE ALL THE TIME, and never believing that stage would pass. But it does. :)
Don’t feel bad about the TV watching. It is normal! If anything, you’re lucky she’s at the age where she isn’t interested in the TV, and you can watch what you want. When Kate’s a little older, she may be the one watching TV so you have a minute to do other things. I’d say, as long as it’s limited and not for hours each day, you’re fine. You can feel like she’s the ultimate gift and still be bored sometimes – I know I feel that way!
“I adore my child so far above and beyond what I knew I would. I look at other people out there and I wonder, do they feel that same way? I know many do… but not all. I feel sorry for mothers who don’t see their child as the ultimate gift.”
This is me EVERY day. I think that a loss or a near miss makes you appreciate ALL the more what you have.
Hugs you girl.
It brings me such joy to read about your life and to witness the happiness you feel and the love you have for your little Kate.
Every age/stage is so much fun and it just gets better and better. I promise you.
And by the way, Kate is seriously the cutest baby ever. That first pic of her makes me swoon.
Carrie
Kate has the cutest nose!! And I agree with the last paragraph about our children being precious gifts!
I haven’t checked in here in a while. And MY GOSH she has grown and she is one of the cutest things!! Did she sit with Santa this year? OMG, if you haven’t done that yet you have to go. At that age they usually won’t cry and it’s the most precious image you will ever have. By next year, she will be afraid of him and you’ll have to wait until she is 4 to get a good photo. Trust me, I have been there.
I love checking in on you from time to time and seeing those gorgeous cheeks of hers and those piggy pj’s are to DIE for.
Well Merry Christmas to you and your family and a Happy Healthy New Year too!
Your blog stalker from Atlanta,
Christina!
She is gorgeous!!! I wish you a healthy and happy Christmas and New Year!