10 Things I Forgot About Newborns

Don’t get me wrong — my sister is sufficiently sleep deprived, as any new mother is. Newborns might not sleep for long stretches of time, but my golly, they sure are always nodding off. It’s a rare treat to see my nephew’s pretty slate-grey eyes.

…or at least that’s what I called them. Those little gurgley grunts that give parents a tiny glimpse into future coos and babbles and, eventually, words. The second I heard my nephew’s little noises, the memories came back.

Or, in other words, the very best feeling in the world.

I’m in the stage of parenting when my child is always telling me what he wants — loudly, and repeatedly. I know if his belly hurts because he tells me. I know if he’s hungry because he (very quickly) tells me.
But the best indicator of a newborn’s health is found in his diaper — which makes poop a BIG DEAL.

There’s something indescribable about watching the person you love then love the person you created — and I’m so happy that my sister was able to experience that.

It’s been awhile since I looked at my husband look at our son for the first time — hold him close to his chest and sigh the happiest sigh. To see him kiss his tiny nose and cradle his tiny feet. I remember now.

For something that’s natural, it sure doesn’t feel instinctual. I wrote about it awhile ago — the misleading “if it hurts, you’re doing it wrong” breastfeeding advice — and watching my sister these past two weeks reminded me how true that post really was. Breastfeeding is getting much easier for her now, and she’s glad she stuck it out.

Oh if I could snuggle that soft body — with his soft wisps of hair and soft puckered lips — forever.

Seeing the way my nephew looks at my sister reminds me of how my son used to look at me. Even with blurry, unfocused vision, they know their mama.

I look at his arms and his feet and his teeny tiny ears, and I can’t possibly remember a time when my son was that little. Except…I can. And I miss it.

My son is growing lean and tall, with only a slight baby belly left to remind me of the toddler that was. But once upon a time, his curled up limbs were covered in cute little creases that I would kiss and kiss and kiss. I remember now.