Reflecting on a Year

It has been a full year and a wonderful one. I am delighted to be a mother and I could not ask for a more wonderful child. A lot of the anxieties of motherhood that I worried about during pregnancy, all came quite come naturally.

At my daughter’s one year doctor visit, my daughter’s Pediatrician stated that I had a good year. And curious of what were the parameters he was measuring this  “good”. His response was you have not had to call me in the middle of the night, you have not been to the ER, your daughter has not been sick at all. And immediately I was nodding my head in agreement, thanking God for my daughter’s excellent health this year and praying for another “good” year. I can use a lifetime of “good” years with her.

Here are some of the things I learned this year:

Feeding

October 14, 2009 is the day that I planned and wanted to stop breastfeeding, unfortunately I was not able to make it to a year. I felt a lot of disappointment and anger that I was not able to breastfeed my daughter as long as I wanted to. I have learned to live with that. I did give it my all and continued to pump even after my all to provide breast milk for my daughter.  After visiting my daughter’s pediatrician this week and being informed we had a “good” year, that was satisfaction.

Diaper Rashes

We were able to escape the year diaper rash free. Not that I would leave my daughter in a soiled diaper for a lengthy amount of time. Some babies have sensitive skin and some diapers hold moisture differently. I totally contribute her unrashed bottom to a tip a nurse gave a friend, and the friend told me. I am delighted to share the tip with you; Tip: use the diaper rash ointment as a protectant at night. At the last diapering before you are about to put your newborn/baby/ tot to bed rub on a generous amount of diaper rash ointment to protect their bottom through the night.

Diapers

All diapers are not created equally, even if it is the same brand and line of diapers. We are a pampers family but the pampers purchased at Publix to Target to BJ’s are not the same diaper. I realized these diapers are made at different plants which causes the linings to be completely different. Some of the diapers are lined as if they are from the baby dry collection, some are lined as if they are from the swaddlers sensitive collection even they are all pampers cruisers. I just don’t get it?!

Measuring Up

All children are different, therefore development happens at different times in children. There is not an internal timer that goes off and then the child instantly start the skill you are waiting on your child to start. So if your friend’s kid has been walking since 8 months hooray, but your child has not started to crawl. Your child not crawling or walking does not mean that your child is not developing properly, be patient your child will crawl/walk/talk soon. Take information regarding stages/ages development as an information guide not a timeline. If you are worried speak about your child’s development speak with your pediatrician.

Toys

Kids do not required a lot of toys. Period. My daughter plays with very few of her toys she prefers household items.

Marriage/Relationship

Your relationship after the baby requires work and attention. With a little one around adds a new dimension to your life and you must learn to balance them all.

Expected Milestones at 12 Months

• Gets to sitting position without assistance
• Crawls forward on belly
• Pulls self up to stand
• Cruises
• Uses pincher grasp
• Finger feeds himself
• Puts objects into container
• Responds to simple verbal and uses simple gestures
• Explorers new objects ( shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
• Begins to use objects correctly (i.e. drinking from cup)
• Prefers mother/or regular caregiver over all others