So Much Fun

It's funny, as a new, first time mom I've spent more time than I should thinking about how tired I am and how much work this baby business is - and not enough time realizing how incredibly wonderful this baby business is. It was a real shock to the bod and the brain to become a mom overnight. Not that I didn't spend almost 3 years thinking about Jia and what life would be like when we finally had our little girl and formed our family. But the wait went on so long it became a kind of far off possibility that seemed surreal at times. Boy, does reality ever hit you in the face when it happens! And it really is better in so many ways than I ever imagined. It's also harder than even my elaborate imagination could summon. But is it worth it? Oh yeah!!!

This morning Jia and I sat in the chair in her nursery, as we do every morning, and she held my face in her hands for the first time and tried to give one of those sloppy open mouthed kisses babies give when they are learning how to kiss. How can anything, anywhere top that? Terrell and I have made lots of adjustments to our schedules (more than I thought we would in some ways and less in others) to accommodate this bundle of joy. For all those moms-to-be who read this blog - just know it is an adjustment but it really is indescribably worth it. Jia is so sweet - truly. She has moments just like all 13 month old babies/toddlers. Is there a word for this stage - similar to the tween word - like boddlers or tabies? But the most defining feature of Jia is her sweet and funny nature and her trust and love. She has learned how to blow spit bubbles and razz everyone and giggle, giggle, giggle! She teases her Grandpa - when he reaches for her she puts out her arms then jerks back at the last second and jumps up and down and giggles so hard! I love the way she puts her little index into any hole she can find, or uses that same finger to play in the baby food I drop on the high chair tray, and how she opens her mouth like a little bird for more food - only to spit it our half the time! The faces she makes when she tries new food and the way she scrunches up her nose when she's delighted with something. How she opens her mouth and bites her Nilla Wafer and then offers me a bite. I clearly could go on and on. I mean geez, the only time she cries is when she is not being held by me or touching me. While this is maddening in some ways - I have to remind myself that the only thing she is guilty of is wanting to touch me. (And boy does she scream when I walk away for even 30 seconds!).

At some point, while the tiredness and loss of independence is still there, it begins to fade and Jia, as my mom pointed out happens, has become a member of our family and the day is just routine - and pretty daggone cool.