I cannot believe my tiny newborn is 6 months old already. Where has the time gone? It only feels like yesterday that I was counting my contractions and wondering how long it would be until I met my daughter. And yet, it all seems to have gone by in such a blur that I can barely remember any of it.
I was at a baby sensory session last week when a mum walked in with her 3 week old baby and I couldn’t help but stare. This baby was so fresh and tiny. It made me look at Molly and got me thinking about when she was that age. It was hard. My god, it was so hard during those early days. But thinking about it and then looking down at my smiley happy 6 month old I was filled with a great feeling of accomplishment. I realised I had survived every one of those days. Those days where I spent the whole day in tears, or in my pyjamas, with a sink full of dishes and laundry all over the house. I was a mess, constantly wondering why on Earth I wanted this life for myself. I can see now that it really does get better. At 6 months old it really starts to feel worth it.
Those tears have not gone just yet thought. (Will they ever?) Just yesterday I shed a few because I just could not get her to sleep. Eventually I had to call it a day and ask Sam to have a go, who managed it in about 10 minutes. I felt like such an utter failure. But these days are not the majority anymore. In fact, these ‘days’ are now just moments. Most of the time now I feel like I’m actually getting the hang of this parenting thing. The house is no longer a complete mess (just a normal mess), the laundry gets done, I have lunch at lunch time. Molly naps!! (For 30 minutes at a time but who cares?? She actually naps now!)
I do miss the newborn stage. Mostly just the way she used to fall asleep on me. She doesn’t do that anymore, which makes me a little sad. But she does so much more now. She smiles when she sees us which is the most heartwarming thing ever. She actually plays with things properly now. She’s into everything and it’s so cute! (I’m pretty sure I won’t be saying that when she can crawl.) She rolls around on the floor and lays on her front with her head and can play like that. She can sit! (Almost). I could make a list as long as my arm of the things she can now do and she’s only 6 months old. I had no idea that babies progressed so quickly. It’s incredible. I think if I blinked for a second I’d miss so much. I'm really enjoying this stage of her life but I’m also so excited for all that comes next.
