Dear New Mom: Jenny

Dear New Mom,

 “A baby changes everything”.  This phrase could not be truer.  Your life as you once knew it is gone.  No really, I know we’ve all heard this and had sweet little fantasies of the magical ways the baby will enhance your life….but I’m telling you:  A baby changes EVERYTHING!!!

Let’s start off with your so-called-life:

Getting ready in the morning will now switch to the afternoon - if you are lucky.  Three meals a day, yah right.  If I can remember to eat in between feedings, diaper changes and spit ups.  Your once sweet pea smell has now been traded in for sour milk with a hint of poop.  Sleep?  What’s that?  You are truly at the mercy of your deteriorating body in the first few weeks.  So with all this negativity (but truth) there is something wonderful in all of this:  We have an amazing God who equips us as mothers to do this.  We function on a level that only He can lead.  It is truly supernatural the way a mother can do what she does for her baby in the first few month as well as the rest of their lives.  

Take rest in knowing God is pouring into you during this hard time of change.  Stand on His truth that he will never leave you. 

Another change will be between you and your spouse: 

You will find deeper love for one another on a level you didn’t know existed and you will find discouragement on that same level.  You will find great joy in watching your husband become a father and loving this little being that is your baby.  You will also find great faults in him.  Remind yourself that you have great faults too, and that neither one of you are perfect in this parenting journey. You will think the way you “do it” (aka taking care of your little one) is the best and only way.  Let him do things the way he does them and don’t try to control everything (your baby will be fine).  Allow him to grow into the father God is molding him to be.  Remember, your baby is a “guest in your house” and your relationship with your spouse needs to come first and be nourished.  The more support you give each other the more united your parenting will be.  Your baby will pick up on this and you will all be more peaceful because of it.  Enjoy watching each other learn and grow into parents and give yourselves a lot of grace.  All three of you are new at this.

The final change will be this overwhelming feeling of love you have for this little person: 

Your baby will become the most precious possession God has trusted to you.  My sister gave me some of the best advice with my first baby, she said “Dishes in the sink can wait….babies don’t keep”.   This time will fly and you will not know where it went. They will make you laugh and cry and they will surprise you every day.  Snuggle them and love them with all you have, even on days when you don’t have much.  Forgive yourself when you have an off mom day…we all do.

You will learn more from them about yourself in the first year than you ever have.  You will learn how selfish you really are. You will learn the power of loving someone more than yourself.  And you will learn to multitask like a badass!  Take pleasure in it and enjoy the Journey!  

Jenny is wife to Paul and mommy to Malie 6 and her new baby girl Delanie who is only 5 months old. Random facts about Jenny include she just started drinking coffee this year (and loves it!) she has never in 11 years of marriage had a bag of flower or sugar in her house (she doesn't bake) and she is fascinated with any kind of dwarfism (it's the medical side of her). Follow Jenny on Instagram @jennyhooten !