The one thing I’ve heard repeatedly since having Jackson was, “Enjoy it because before you know it, he’ll be cashing in his 401k and hitting the golf course.”

Ok no one’s gone that far into his life, but people have constantly reminded me about how fast it goes.

And I’m sure it does, but I don’t want to hear that. So instead of getting annoyed at the advice, I’ve decided to use it as a reminder to slow down and enjoy mundane things like changing his diaper or getting up in the middle of the night to look for his paci…for the love of all things holy, where is his PACIFIER? I NEED TO ENJOY THIS.

One thing that has helped is keeping a journal of all that he’s done. While on maternity leave I wrote in it every night. At first the goal was to record when he hit certain milestones, but I found that it quickly turned into a way to take a minute and enjoy what happened that day. I’m certain it’s not something he’ll ever ask me for, “Mummy (he will acquire a British accent just to make himself cuter) where is the journal you kept when I was a lad, I want to regale my classmates of the first 8 weeks of my life.”

Nope.

It’s something that forces me to stop and will help me to remember the tiny details of his life at the very beginning.

While you may not be a big writing nerd and aren’t the least bit interested in keeping a hand written journal, you do have a notepad on your phone. At the end of the day, see what it’s like to record little things that you’ll want to remember someday, or even just what life was like for you that day.

I promise it will, for a moment, hit the slow-mo button on time and give you a chance to be thankful.

Speaking of slowing down, slow down, click here and read more blogs!

I’m appreciating a specific lull right now.

I’m married and we’ve pro-created so the lull I’m enjoying is related to the questions people often pester you with about your next chapter in life. (I.e.: “When are you getting married”, “When are you going to have a baby!?”) Well I’ve recently turned the page to a pretty big chapter, so I get to enjoy this temporary pause in the pressure passing acquaintances feel the right to impose.

I’m also back at work as of last week. I left on maternity leave curious as to what it was going to be like to return. I did have an inkling, and it turns out my inkling was right…

People would always ask if I was going back to work after having Jackson, and I (fully knowing myself and that I couldn’t be at home everyday) would respond with a confident, “Yes.” Most of the time I would get told I’ll probably change my mind, or how that was their plan and it was impossible for them to go back.

I’ve learned that when it comes to having a baby, there’s no shortage of free advice that gets doled out. Nor is there a shortage on judgmental looks when you answer questions and your answers don’t line up with how people think you should do things.

This past summer Dayton and I listened to a book on tape by a famous person who was talking about having kids. She started going into all the things people say and try to pressure you into doing because it’s how they did it, but she had a great saying that both Dayton and I have brought out several times in this whole process… “That’s great for you, but it’s not for me.”

Going back to work is for me. I’m not writing this because I’m trying to push down the guilt, I’m writing it so you can be encouraged in the decisions you make that you know are a part of God’s will. It’s Him, you and your spouse that are calling the shots, not the people you pass once a week in the women’s bathroom.

If staying home is where you feel God wants you, then that’s great for you! If using cloth diapers or not sticking the paci in your mouth to clean it off is part of your policy, that sounds perfect for you. If dressing your baby in Gator colors all day everyday is what you feel is best, then that’s wonderful for you!

…but it’s not for me. (Go VOLS ;)