With my sons second birthday quickly approaching, I started to reflect on the past two years. I can’t believe it’s been T W O YEARS. Now, I’m going to be that annoying mom that tells you all about how he was such an easy baby, but before I lose you, let me finish. At the time of course, I thought being a new mama was extremely hard, but looking back, I was blessed with an easy going, happy baby. He started sleeping through the night at three months, slept 12 hours a night with four hours of napping during the day, he transitions from nursing with ease, he never became attached to the bottle or a pacifier and he was always a good eater. Now, if you’re rolling your eyes right now, just know that I earned that first easy year because I was in for a rude awakening with the second year.
Don’t get me wrong, I still have a very happy toddler. But I also have a toddler that has a mind of his own and thinks he should be running the show (I wonder where he got that from?)
The second year has taught me so many things but the biggest lesson it has taught me is that my son is his own person. He is going to do things on his time, when HE is ready, regardless of when I am ready. And the more I push, the more stubborn he gets. And forget what all the books say, because my son has said “screw the books, I’m doing things my way.” And there’s nothing wrong with that. If fact, I hope he never loses his independent personality because it will help him achieve everything he wants in life.
Speaking of personalities, year two has also taught me a lot about my own personality. In speaking with my mother, it seems that, perhaps, I was the same stubborn, strong-minded toddler that insisted on doing everything on my own. She often tells a story about us arguing over what I was going to wear every day when I was just four years old. When you hear my mom tell the story though, she tells it with patience rather than frustration (although, I’m sure at the time it was extremely frustrating). So, while I know I am probably getting “pay back” for aggravating my poor mother, I am learning to be more like her and to let go of my expectations and deadlines, and just let my son be the person he is.
So why was year T W O so challenging you ask? Well, my son started by having a febrile seizure in the middle of the night, which we later found out was caused by baby measles. THE SCARIEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE. Like, nothing can ever prepare you for your child having a seizure in your arms at 2 am. NOTHING. So, there was that…
He also went from sleeping like a champ to what I like to describe as exercising his newly-found “mind-of-his-own,” and spent about 6 weeks refusing to go to bed. He decided that I couldn’t leave the room in order for him to fall asleep, so I started spending hours in his room waiting and praying for him to fall asleep.
There were a few other sleep issues, a serious case of croup, the stomach flu, and chipped teeth (three different times) that rounded off the second year. I guess #boymom is a real thing because this kid has given me a run for my money.
But my sweet, loving, energetic, passionate kid is everything I ever dreamed of and more. He has most importantly taught me what true unconditional love is. He has an amazing sense of humor, a laugh that will light up a room and he is constantly surprising us with his ever- growing personality every day.
I prayed and prayed for a little girl but the last thing my baby boy has taught me is that God doesn’t give you what you want. He gives you what you NEED. And I needed this little boy <3
xoxo
J A M I E L Y N N E