UncategorizedTips for Parenting a Newborn June 11, 2013 I posted about my sister’s little one here and here. They’ve learned a lot in their first eight weeks as parents and today she’s here to share the ten biggest things they’ve learned: We have grown so much in these past eight weeks as Malachi’s parents. There have been moments of pure elation and moments of frustrated tears. But through it all we have continually thanked God for giving us Malachi. He is the most amazing blessing in our lives and words truly can’t describe just how much we love him. Looking into his face gives us feelings we never knew existed. We know we will always have more to learn about being good parents, but we know that no matter what, we are in it together and have God as our guide. Lindsay asked me to write about things we have learned so far about parenting and about Malachi. I truly could write a book about everything I have learned since he was born, and then that still wouldn’t hold it all! So, here are just a few that we’ve learned in the last eight weeks. Things we have learned about parenting: 1. Follow his natural schedule instead of trying to force him into one: I researched a lot of different schedules to put your baby on and tried a combination of them because I wanted a predictable routine and I thought it would be best for him. But in the end, it wasn’t good or helpful for any of us. He was constantly fussy, wouldn’t sleep, and we were all miserable. So we decided to let him guide his own schedule – sleep when he needs to sleep and eat when he needs to eat. Now he is so happy and so are we. And guess what? He is actually settling into a predictable, consistent schedule on his own! It’s funny to me that when I stopped trying to force him into a schedule is when he started following one. 2. Throw all advice out the window: We have read so much about every baby topic you can think of and talked to so many other parents about what worked for them. Granted some of it has helped us, but for the most part we end up getting stressed out when he doesn’t do the same things someone else’s kid did. We have learned to go with our instincts and just do what works for our family. 3. Don’t have expectations: Malachi will typically have several days and nights when his schedule and how he acts is very predictable and consistent and we begin to expect him to stay on it. Then he will have a “bad” day or night when he won’t sleep and fusses more than normal and we are frustrated and thrown for a loop. We have learned the best way to combat or prevent that frustration is to not set expectations in the first place. This is still a work in progress. 4. “Keep calm and carry on”: We have found that if we stay calm, it makes things so much better. Sometimes I feel like screaming right along with the baby, but the times I have lost my patience have only made me feel horribly guilty. I have to stay calm and remind myself that he is an innocent little baby and he is not purposely trying to wear my patience thin by crying incessantly or keeping me up at night. We have found that for the most part, the calmer we are, the faster he gets calm again. 5. Take time to enjoy him: That sounds like a no-brainer, but I have realized that I sometimes have to remind myself to just relax and enjoy him. It is so easy to get bogged down in the busyness and monotony of caring for his physical needs that sometimes having fun and enjoying him takes a back seat. But as soon as I stop and stare into his big blue eyes (or his sweet sleeping face), I am reminded that it is not about the all the feedings, diaper changes, trying to soothe him when he is crying, etc. It is about cherishing every moment I get with this precious little blessing and loving on him as much as I can. Things we have learned about Malachi: 1. He does not like to be held like most other babies: He hates to be cradled unless he is sleepy. His favorite way to be held is sitting upright in your lap, facing out with his back against your stomach, and holding onto your thumbs. We say he likes to sit up like a big boy. 2. He has already mastered the pouty face when he cries: He looks us in the eye and sticks out his bottom lip. It is so pitiful and cute all at the same time. He sure knows how to melt our hearts. 3. He loves water: Bath time is like his new favorite thing. As soon as we put him in his little tub, he gets so quiet and still and just looks all around with his big blue eyes. We also figured out he loves to be sprayed with the little sprayer on the sink while he is in the tub. I think he would be okay if bath time lasted 24/7! We also put him in his little baby pool for the first time and he loved it just as much. We’re thinking he is probably going to be a swimmer. 4. He is such a happy baby: Malachi is not a cryer like a lot of babies are, which we are so thankful for. He only cries briefly when he needs something – food, sleep, etc. Once we fix what is wrong, he is happy again. Normally for several hours in the morning and evening he is awake, alert, and perfectly content. Sometimes after he eats he will sit in his swing for several hours just as happy as can be! We are so grateful to have a happy, calm baby. 5. He already knows mommy and daddy are going to take care of his needs (or at least it seems like it): When he wakes up hungry and is crying to be fed, he can get into a pretty frantic cry. But as soon as we go into his room, start talking to him, and pick him up he stops crying and stares into our eyes. Granted he eventually starts crying again if he is not fed really soon, but in that moment where he sees us and hears us, he calms down and it is so sweet. It’s like he breathes a sigh of relief because we are there and he trusts us to care for him. Whether or not that’s actually true, I don’t know, but I’m telling myself he has already learned we are always here for him 🙂 These are just a FEW of the countless things we have been learning about little Malachi lately. I could go on and on about him and what I love about him. We think he is so perfect and precious and we couldn’t be happier about this new addition to our family. We can’t wait to continue to watch him grow and change and develop his own unique personality. We know God is going to continue to bless our family through our little bundle of joy. Thanks, Lindsay, for letting me share about him today! Love you Aunt Rosie! *** Man, I love that little guy and these two sweet parents. And I LOVE that this little bug is going to call me Aunt Rosie. Sweetness 🙂