Dear new mama

A good friend of mine is going to be a new mother in a few months. I remember those days all too well. The anxiety, nerves and excitement. You really don't know what to expect until you are thrown into it and then you still question your every move because you just don't know. I wish new moms weren't so hard on themselves and could relax and enjoy the short time our babies are little. 

Dear new Mama, 

The first few days and weeks are rough, but they will go by so fast and you will never get them back. I know it is hard, but try to enjoy them. The first sneeze the first yawn the first smiles. They are the first of many things and if you blink you will miss them. 

Try not to worry so much. You are doing everything right. If you are like me you wont realize you knew what you were doing until you no longer have a baby and you've survived into toddlerhood. And everything you worried about was silly and your little baby is all grown up. I wish I would have enjoyed things more and trusted myself more. 

Speaking of trust...Trust yourself and your body. Your body knows how to labor and have a baby and You know how to care for a baby instinctually. Trust those instincts. Your body also knows how to feed your baby. Don't stress about making milk, just nurse, nurse, nurse and your milk will come. You will make the exact amount your baby needs so stop worrying.

Appreciate the simple things and the quiet little moments because soon there will be very few quiet simple moments. Soon they will be running circles around you yelling mom a million times. 

Even as they get older try to appreciate the little things. There will be days and nights where you will be so incredibly frustrated and tired, but appreciate the hugs, smiles and laughing and tell yourself with every trial and tribulation that this too shall pass. For one day our sweet babes will be grown far sooner than we think. Hold onto the precious moments even if at the time they may not seem so precious, they are.