[ This week, I've invited a few individuals to post on The Gui Girl while I try to get a handle on my new career and life. Today's post was contributed by Tammy Howard, the author of Keep In Touch With Mommakin. Tammy's wit, keen observations on life, kids, teaching, knitting prowess, and killer reading list make her blog one of my top reads. Also: Tammy, I'll be asking Tom to write for my "Guest Author Week" in December. Just giving you fair warning. ]
When you first find out you’re pregnant with a very wanted child, you tend to get a little rush of overwhelming love. You become very protective of this little creature that you’re only sure exists because your doctor has assured you that it does. You are sure you will never love anything more in your life than you love that unborn baby.
Then it kicks for the first time. Wow. Insane is the only way to describe the amount of love that is now in your heart. This is your child! A living, moving, absolutely undeniably there entity; a baby that YOU made and are completely responsible for. You will surely never love anything more than you love this little being at this point.
Then the baby is born and you hold it in your arms for the first time. It was hard work, and you’re exhausted, but you are sure – absolutely inarguably sure – that you will never love anything more than you love this living, breathing, utterly dependent, innocent, beautiful child in this moment.
Then the baby grows – quickly, as babies are wont to do. One day that reflexive smile you’ve been enjoying since birth becomes a social smile. That little person is smiling at you! That baby is happy because they’re with YOU! Surely it doesn’t get better than this. How could you EVER love anyone or anything more than you love this sweet child who now seems to be acknowledging that they love you back?
That baby becomes a toddler, and you miss your baby, but you can’t believe how cool and fun your toddler is. One day that toddler looks you in the eye and says, “I love you, Mommyâ€. Surely at this moment, your heart is as big as it will ever get. You could never imagine accommodating more love than you feel RIGHT NOW.
Years go by, and you hear an “I hate you†or two. You still love your child, but you don’t like them everyday. Then one day that child is away for a little while, and when you’re reunited they practically break the sound barrier running to jump into your arms. Surely it will never get better than this, right?
But it does. It just gets better and better and better. Not everyday, and not all the time, of course. But if there’s one thing that motherhood has taught me, it’s that just when you think it can’t get better, it turns around and does.
Many moms worry about having a second child, because they’re sure they could never love anyone else as much as they love their first – and then their heart just grows. Without taking anything away from the first, you
are able to love the second just as thoroughly. It is truly amazing, the capacity to which our hearts can stretch.
Thank you, Denise, for sharing Reese with us. Thank you for allowing those of us who have “been there, done that†to relive those wonderful, special baby moments. Thank you for recording those moments for her – she will never be able to question how loved she is.
Enjoy every. Single. Moment.
Because every moment is the best one. So far.
