Ever since my friend Amberlee booked her flight six weeks ago to visit us in Arizona, we’ve been joking about how she was going to have major baby fever after spending four days with Hadley. As she packed up late yesterday morning for her flight back home, I asked her to be honest.
After the long weekend we’ve spent together, do you still have baby fever?
I asked because I wasn’t so sure she did anymore. Hadley had given Amberlee a dose of reality when it comes to what it’s like to live with and take care of a six month old.
She’d hollered in her car seat for half of the trip home from the airport on Saturday. The same day she got a diaper rash literally out of nowhere (we still can’t put our finger on what caused it) that was so painful I was thisclose to sobbing right along with her. Saturday ended with a late-night drug store run after already climbing into bed to get Vaseline because Dr. Google told me so.
On Sunday Jamie took the scenic route home from Bisbee which was a huge mistake because she just wanted her toys dangit! and screamed for 20 miles (with Amberlee in the backseat next to her).
On Monday she protested her naps in the name of her two top teeth attempting to break through her gums.
She whined on and off for two of the three nights Amberlee was here (and sleeping in the guestroom next door to her nursery).
Amberlee also watched me change a blowout diaper (and subsequently Hadley’s entire outfit) on the side of the road in the middle of who-knows-where Arizona, noticing halfway through the mess that a lullaby I occasionally play for Hadley was blaring in my car (we’d had my iTunes on shuffle). I didn’t time us, but I think we laughed for 10 straight minutes when the whole episode was said and done.
But she also experienced the best happy baby morning snuggles in bed.
And her endless, endless variety of roaring laughter.
And purposeful smiles big enough to explode my heart a thousand times.
She sat back and watched the joy on our faces as we encouraged Hadley to crawl.
She also experienced how hilarious dining out can be with a baby.
And then she gave an answer so genuine and real that I can’t help but share.
You know, I don’t know how anyone is ever ready for a baby because I’ve realized that life as we know it will never be the same once we have one. That’s not a bad thing, but I think we’ll just need to realize that things are going to be different once we decide to have a baby.
I thought her response was pretty spot on! Jamie and I didn’t know when we’d ever be ready to have a baby, but how do you ever really prepare to raise a little human for the first time? She’s also right that the parenting lifestyle isn’t a bad thing. It’s pretty cool actually. Different from a pre-baby lifestyle (I blogged in this post about how the adjustment was tough at times), but it’s even more fulfilling and joyful than we ever imagined. I went through a period very early in my pregnancy where I briefly mourned the marriage that I knew; it would never be the same once Jamie got home from his deployment and we had our baby. But I wouldn’t go back for a second. Or even a quarter of a second.
Amberlee, thank you for flying cross country and loving on my family and me. Can’t wait to hug you again in a few short weeks.
Hi! I’m Erica, and I absolutely adore sharing my life on this website with you! I come here almost daily to blab about all of the things related to being a regular wife and mother in today’s ever-evolving society. I share about our new home, what’s on our kitchen table, what we’re hanging in our closets, where we’re traveling to next, my crazy 5 a.m. work outs, how I make time for girlfriends, our faith, and much more. We always have a lot of balls in the air and somewhat thrive on the chaos. I believe in the power of story-telling as a form of inspiration and entertainment, so I’m here to do both! I was born and raised in north Alabama and recently re-planted roots here again after my husband transitioned out of the Army (he is now in the Reserve and it’s going so well!) I’m a super proud mom to three little girls (ages 7, 4, and 1) who seem to be the stars of the show around here (for good reason – they’re pretty great!) I’m so glad you found me and are here reading! I hope we can get to know each other here on the blog as well as Facebook and/or Instagram. xoxo