Motherhood Milestones

My first baby just turned 1 years old. Yup….. BIIIIG milestone. I most definitely wasn't ready for it. I wish time would stand still once in awhile. It got me thinking, though, about how much we've been through this past year. How amazing, challenging, painful and joyful it has been. About all the little milestones, big and small, I have been able to witness. And not just my baby's milestones. Yes, he had his for birthday. But really, it was also a celebration of my first year, and my my journey of becoming a mother, right from the moment I went into labor. I don't think enough moms take the time to reflect on just how much you grow as a person that first year. So this post is to all the “firsts” of becoming a mom (definitely not an exhaustive list). I hope some of this resonates with other mom’s out there!

Motherhood Firsts

• First time holding my baby

• First separation when baby went to the nursery

• First worry when baby wasn't well in the hospital

• Taking my baby home

• First time using the bathroom after birth (also first bowel movement - ouch!)

• In that same vein of thought, mastering postpartum underwear cooling ice packs

• Also first time sitting without pain (postpartum is rough!)

• Seeing my baby at home and feeling like a family

• First time leaving the house with baby (and all the prep that involved)

• First time taking baby to the doctor while holding it together

• First time sleeping for more than 2 hours

• First time sitting in the front seat instead of the back with baby

• Figuring out how to breastfeed my baby

• Figuring out breastfeeding outside the perfect setup of quiet nursery/glider/bobby

• First public breastfeeding

• Redefining my breasts as feeding mechanisms

• First solo car ride with baby

• First time sleeping without constantly waking up to watch baby breathe

• First time leaving the house by myself WITHOUT baby (quick coffee run)

• First solo outing with baby (6 weeks, to book club)

• First solo public diaper change (library bathroom)

• First time being asked “are you all right/do you need help” by strangers because baby is screaming in public (also at library)

• Learning to use a baby wrap

• Successfully making it through being unprepared on an outing

• First restaurant outing with baby

• First time both parents left baby with sitter and went out (and I immediately wanted to come back)

• Moving baby to his own room

• First time for ME sleeping through the night after baby moved to his own room

• Figuring out pumping at work

• First time going to the office and leaving baby at home

• First long car trip with baby

• First long-distance flight with baby

• Accepting the end of our breastfeeding journey

• First time taking baby to daycare and being a nervous wreck

• First illness where the whole family was sick

• Surviving the first month of daycare with constant sickness

• Surviving the first high fever and sleeping in baby’s room all night

• First time getting upset with baby and learning not to be upset with myself

• Successfully making bottles without putting baby down

• First time my baby gave me a kiss

• Going from thinking “can I do this” to “this is what I was meant to do”