Spoiled

My Dax loves to sit in his Moby Wrap. Loves it.

He just loves to be close, cuddled, and upright to help with his tummy and reflux issues.

Wen and I take turns wearing him in the Moby while shopping.

Little Dax loves looking around and then falls right to sleep for the rest of the trip.

Ya'll, it is the sweetest thing ever to see my big strong man wearing this Moby Wrap with a tiny little mini-wen attached to him. (Really, he has come so far!) And he does it with a smile on his face. You should really see the stares and sweet smiles he gets!

So we were checking out one day when we got our first negative-ish comment about it.

The cashier mentioned my man with the baby attached to him. I replied that the Moby was baby's favorite place with a big smile.

She told me I should stop wearing it and put that child down because he will spoil.

I could have been rude. I could have explained his medical issues that make him cry in pain a lot. I could have walked away. I could have just stopped talking and not even mentioned his love for close contact.

I simply smiled. I told her he was safe and secure and most surely would not spoil. I knew that because I have 3 other children who were cuddled, cared for, wore in slings, had their needs met and they were so fine and independent. They just learn.

She continued to tell me that her children were spoiled because she cuddled them too much. Ouch.

Was she really sad she had cuddled her children? Or did someone in her life tell her to stop cuddling them? Did she really see her children as spoiled or was someone else whispering in her ear?

I knew better. Her words would never deter me from listening to my heart. However, I feel sad for the next person her words may affect. Words are powerful things, even coming from strangers. New moms are so vulnerable. So ready to do everything just right, just perfect. A unasked for advice can work its way into an unsure mom's ear and do damage.

So moms, listen to your heart. Do not take stranger's words to heart. They do not know your situation. This is not a race. This is not a contest. This is you taking care of your tiny loves who so desperately need you to just be their mommy.

Curly Mustache Fun

Showoff ;)

Dear Dax

You are 2 months old.

You weigh 13 pounds.

Everything you do is adorable.

I love the way you stretch your arms way up high, arch your back, push your butt out, and curl your legs up to stretch after being curled up in our Moby Wrap.

Your yawn takes up your whole body while you squish your tiny nose up and squeeze your eyes shut.

Those piggy noises you make while nursing make daddy and me smile.

Even your tiny cry with your itty bitty lip pouted out touches our hearts.

I love watching you spy around the room, taking everything in, and making facial expressions. That tongue usually finds its way out.


The way you startle yourself and wave your arms cracks me up.

You love snuggling your face right into my skin to sleep.

Your lips make such a beautiful smile and make your eyes look almost closed.

Cooing sounds you make are too adorable and your siblings love bringing them out of you.

You open one eye to spy on me to make sure I still have you in my arms.

You slept on daddy for a little bit last night.  You fall asleep so well on him after having a full belly.

You smile so big when you nurse and roll your eyes back as if to say, "Ah, this is so delicious!"

While shopping, you like to be able to look around and see everything and then fall asleep in the Moby or on daddy.

Brijet and Ainzley love to kiss on you and play with you so much. You are such a good sport and smile for them.

Chaz loves to walk around with you and cuddle you. You look for him when you hear his voice.

You love to poke your thumb in between your first finger and second finger and hold it like that.

You have just started putting your finger in the pointing position.

I love the way you rub your fingers on me as you nurse or cuddle as if to make sure I am still there.

I enjoy giving you a bath and watching you wiggle in the water.

You are calm and let most people hold you, even if it is just for a minute.

Walks outside (when it is not too cold) calm you down.

You sigh contentedly as you sleep on me with your arm curled under your head.

You spend about 90% of your day in someone's arms or in the sling/moby wrap.

You sleep snuggled next to me or daddy and nurse all throughout the night.

Dear Dax, you are Amazing. I am so happy to be your mommy and watch you grow. I hope to remember every bit of your babyhood as you grow.

Christmas morning

A more eloquent view

Yesterday I posted about doing what comes naturally to me as a mom.  I am not a very eloquent writer or speaker but I wanted my feelings out there.

However, I ran across this blog post today (http://www.ourmuddyboots.com/dear-mom-and-dad-a-love-letter-from-your-baby/) and it is so beautiful! I had to share!

I Am Not an Attachment, Permissive, or Authoritative Parent

I am just me.

I became a mom 12 years ago. I was young. I had ideas of how I wanted my children raised but had no one really guiding me.

I just let my heart lead. I took in what I saw, what I was raised with, and what I read. I took it all in. I let it soak. I talked to my pediatrician. I talked to my husband.

And I let my heart lead. I did not care about what others thought. I listened to my heart.

I did not bother with what the others were doing with their kids. I tried hard not to compare my parenting to any others.

And I let my heart lead.

Twelve years of raising children and my heart is still leading. Oh sure, I have made mistakes. I have kept learning and growing over these years. And still, I let my heart lead. It has changed over time, the way I parent. My skills have grown and my desires have changed.

I still let my heart lead the way. And I follow it.

My way of parenting cannot be branded in a book. It cannot be duplicated. It cannot be taught. It is just my heart telling me where to go, how to do it, what I want in the end.

I nurse my babies because my heart says that is right for us. I co-sleep because my heart says that is what works for us. I choose to wear my baby in a sling/moby wrap because my heart says keep him close. I don't let my babies cry because my heart says that is not for us.

I choose to discipline in all different ways to ensure my children are learning wrong from right. I want my children to be heard and I listen to their tiny voices. My heart tells me to.

I do not allow my children to get whatever they want and I have strict rules they must abide by. My heart tells me the boundaries need to be set.

My heart leads me to parent my children based on our needs, not what some book or public person or friend or relative say. And you know what, so should everyone else.

Because not everyone is the same. Not every child learns the same way. Not every parent has the same desires and amount of patience. And you know what? That is okay!

It is okay to let your heart lead.