One Year

One year ago today, our lives were changed in a big way! At 11:48 pm on November 8, 2006, John Connor Councill made his way into the world. After 14 hours of labor, 2 epidurals (one fell out) and a lot of anticipation to meet our little boy or girl (we didn't find out!), it was a wonderful moment, when Clay screamed "It's a BOY!" and I heard Jack's first cries. So in my whole year of motherhood, here are a few things I have learned:

1) Miracles-The body could only have been created by God. To be able to create life, carry a child and nourish that child is truly a miracle. I believed that before becoming a mother- I know it now.

2)Breastfeeding- Never thought it was for me. Kind of grossed me out. Didn’t like it when people did it in public. Now, I realize that it is the greatest bond between mother and child and gives you an incredible feeling of accomplishment that you can be the sole nourishment for your baby. Besides it saves BIG dollars and is so very convenient.

3) Sleep deprivation-You can get up at 12, 2, 4 and 6 and still function the next day. I don’t know how it works but it does. And you just do it. For months.

4) New mother bond- You will strike up conversations with complete strangers at Ann Taylor Loft about breastfeeding, and bumbo seats just because they too have an infant. I met my friend Emily this way. People who don’t have kids laugh when we tell them; people who do completely understand.

5)Baby-friendly places- I have written about Nordstroms here before but let me again sing their praises. Not only do they have the best shoes but they also have the nicest mother’s room with lovely couches and privacy for feeding and changing the baby. Kids get free balloons and all of their doors have the handicap buttons that you push so the doors open automatically and you are not stuck trying to simultaneously open the door and push the stroller through while the man behind you is waiting impatiently and not offering to help.

6) Bumbo- Listen, I know they recalled them but my kid has the biggest head in the world, very top heavy and he never fell out. I just realized when he was too big to be in it and put it away. I LOVE THE BUMBO. I did laundry, cooked dinner, got ready to go out- pretty much I was able to function because of the Bumbo.

7) Conversating- Trying to have a complete conversation with anyone takes on a whole new meaning when you have someone screaming for food, crawling towards the escalator or trying to stand up in their stroller. Moms will understand and your good friends will stay your friends even if you never finished telling them the story you started.

8) Crying- The baby cries. You cry. Your husband comes home to find you both on the couch crying. There is a lot of crying, especially in the beginning. But that is because of the above mentioned sleep deprivation and those crazy hormones. Crying is okay and soon it will be over. Later, the crying comes when your little one reaches milestones and you realize they are growing up. I cried alot today.

9) Reading- I was told “read to Jack from the beginning. He will know.” Really? A 2 month old? But I did and the result it amazing. He will now hand me a book and climb into my lap for story time. He even has favorite books. It will melt your heart.

10) Unconditional love and complete joy- "I couldn't have gotten through this with a lesser man." I heard this the other day and thought how true it is! My husband is my rock and the one who looks at me with no shower, covered in Jack's snot, puffy eyes from lack of sleep and tells me I am beautiful. We also feel that love for Jack. When he cries for the umpteenth time in the middle of the night and you think there is no way you can drag yourself out of bed again, you will because he is yours and you love him with all that you are. It is primal. I don't think Clay or I could ever anticipate the complete joy that this tiny being would bring to us. His smile, his laugh, the way he dances and does the itsy bitsy spider; it is all amazing.

They say no one can prepare you for what it is to be a parent. I believe this to some extent as it is trial and error most of the time but I also believe God gives us people we can emulate and learn from. For me, that is my mom, my sister and my friends who have done this before me. I couldn't have made it through this year without them. In turn, I hope I can be that person for another new mom.

When Clay and I were dating, we came across this great photographer at a street fair in Greenwich Village. I bought two of his prints later for Clay's wedding present. After we had Jack, he bought me another and it came with this quote "Children come with a message that God is not yet discouraged of man." How blessed we are that He entrusts us with these fantastic little people! Now on to year two...