Two Months

I sit here drinking my hot tea with honey and lemon praying it will cure this throat/ear/head- ache that I have in hopes I don't have to take any "real" medicine so it doesn't affect breastfeeding- my how things change so quickly :)  I'm watching my little babe in his bouncy seat, bright-eyed and swinging his arms at the little animals over his head as I try to contemplate the fact that he is TWO months old (as of yesterday). Nine weeks tomorrow! Where in the world has the time gone? The other day, my husband and I recalled how days and weeks seemed to drag by when we were little. The time from one Christmas to the next or one birthday to the next seemed to take forever. But now, we blink and five years has gone by. Goodness gracious, it seems this child will be going off to college before I can finish his laundry from this week.

These two months have brought many lessons in parenting that you can only truly learn from experience. 

• The best advice I've ever gotten, but didn't listen to at first: sleep when he sleeps. In the first weeks, I had so much excitement built up in me over this precious little boy that I couldn't nap with him. I would make sure his nursery was picture perfect or just watch him sleep, in awe of our sweet blessing. Those days are long gone. At least one nap of the day, we nap together.  Sometimes two. I still stare at him not truly believing he is ours, but it's when he is awake!
• Just because my eyes are closed doesn't mean he will stop breathing, so instead of sleeping with both of them open it's now just one! I'm hoping over the next two months, I'll learn to close them both but I'm not going to hold my breath. 
• A little cough or sneeze isn't grounds for me sweeping him up and shoving a thermometer in his little bottom to make sure he doesn't have a fever. I'm sure he appreciates that I don't do it as much any more and is hoping I'll stop altogether. Unfortunately, until he can talk and tell me he does or doesn't feel well, I'll resort to temperature taking- just not as frequently. 
• You think you know just how you will handle a newborn and what you will or won't do. Instances arise where those plans are thrown out the window and you adopt the policy "whatever works". If he wants to sleep in his car seat, upside down, on the refrigerator, with rock music blaring then that's what we will do! Kidding, but really.. whatever works.
• Parenting is lots of trial and error at this age. What works today may never work again and you have to do what gets you through the day. For example, snuggle bug hated being swaddled after we left the hospital. Now, he won't sleep through the night without being wrapped up like a burrito. For the past week when he's been grumpy, I've put him in the Moby wrap and he's loved it. Today, he screams at the top of his lungs when I try to put him in there. Trial and error, people. It will get you through.
• Gone are the days where showering, eating, and sleeping all occur within a twenty-four hour period. I consider it a good day if I can accomplish one, a GREAT day if two happen, and a miracle if I get to do all three. If given a choice, sleep wins. Always. 
• Every sleepless night, hours of inconsolable crying, feelings of failure, and dirty diaper escapes your mind the first time he smiles. A true goofy baby grin that was brought on by mommy or daddy's voice, or the raspberries you've been blowing at him, or some silly face you made. Your heart will melt and you will realize it's all worth it. Every. Single. Moment. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.