I was just thinking today back to the day I became a Mom and what I wish I could tell myself on that very day. There are a few things but the thing that stuck out in my head the most was...
"Put the baby down."
It sounds so awful doesn't it. We have now had three kids (as you all know), when Aubrey arrived we loved and snuggled her every second in the hospital and with the other two we followed the "Put the baby down" mentality.
Aubrey was never put down, if Greg and I weren't holding her, then a Grandparent, friend, or Uncle was. I mean she was our first baby, we had tried forever to conceive her, she was the first Grand-baby, how could we not hold her every single second? When we got home and back to the real world, Aubrey would cry every second she wasn't being held. It took me forever to be able to put her down without her crying and I ended up crying just as much as her. I swore it was just how she was, and you know what it very well may be just how she was, but I have to wonder if it was because we never put her down.
When Addi arrived we came up with a rule, if the baby is sleeping the baby is to be put down. If the baby is awake we can snuggle and love on her to no end. Well we only got one day in the hospital with her before she was ripped away from us and ushered to the NICU downtown. I was instantly regretting our new rule, I barley got to hold my baby before she was taken from me and I didn't know when I would get to hold her next and something like not having a baby at home that cries all the time seemed so insignificant. That being said, when Addi came home she was an awesome baby. She was laid back go with the flow Addi. She slept at night in her rock and play and then crib, she was content in her car seat, stroller, etc...
So when Greyson arrived we had the same rule. I was so tentative this time to really do it, but I did. I have two kids at home, I can't have a baby that I can't put down. He has so far been awesome. He is so content, but believe me he still LOVES to be held and snuggled. I think it just helps not to get the baby used to something that you can't really follow through on. We have to go on with our lives, cleaning, cooking, working, and most of all sleeping. Most of those are hard to do with a baby in your arms, trust me.
So yeah if I could go back to that day, that is what I would tell myself. Of course that is just my advice, doesn't mean it's right but it seemed to have worked for me.
.JPG)
