Stop & Appreciate

Today was the first day that Hannah was really reacting to me & Lyla with coos and smiles, and it made me feel a sudden stronger connection to my 7 week old. Now that she's beginning to recognize that I am mommy, and smile when I catch her eye or coo as I babble like an idiot, the bonding has gone to a totally different level than just nursing and diaper changes.

With Hannah being my 2nd daughter, I felt in some ways that it took a bit longer to have that true bonding feeling. She arrived, and I obviously loved her immediately, but now I also had Lyla to worry about. Instead of spending all my time holding and staring at my new baby, I felt I was just going through the motions in order to survive, and put her down any chance I had to give Lyla some much needed attention - and with Lyla's sensitivity at an all time high, she needed it more than ever. Luckily, with Hannah only crying when she's hungry or tired, and sleeping all the rest of the time, I was able to give Lyla the mommy-time she needed, but I couldn't help but feel guilty that Hannah wasn't getting the same newborn attention as her sister once had.

Now that Hannah has been here for 7 weeks, Lyla has adjusted to having a bit less attention, and has stepped up as a big sister. With Hannah having longer stretches of being awake, Lyla and I have spent hours on the floor singing songs, practicing sign language, and interacting with little Hannah - the perfect way to spend time with both of my girls together. I'm starting to feel less like I'm just going through the motions and more like I'm bonding and appreciating this time.

From the moment I became pregnant with Lyla, everyone told me to stop and appreciate: appreciate being pregnant because you won't ever get this rest again, appreciate the newborn stage because soon they'll be walking and talking, appreciate the toddler phase because they'll be teenagers before you know it. I've heard that this is even more-so with the 2nd baby; that it goes by that much faster. I'm glad that I'm able to now take the time to stop and enjoy my girls. I stare a little longer, hold a little tighter, and appreciating every day watching them grow. It really does go by too fast.