"A New Day Has Come" Celine Dion

I remember listening to this song while relaxing in a nice warm bubble bath while pregnant with my little one last year. Indeed, in January, a new day did come whether or not we were fully prepared.
Sure you can have the nursery ready, the layette all put away (being nervous I had it done by 7 months), as well as reading What To Expect When You Are Expecting a million times, but NOTHING PREPARES YOU. That first moment that you hear that little cry ( I thought she sounded like a doll crying) so perfect, music to my ears, you sigh and say "Finally the wait is over and you can enjoy your bundle."

Fast forward 8 months to the things I have learnt and what has helped.

I am pretty sure most mothers go through this stage, it's called READ AS MUCH AS YOU CAN FIND ON THE SUBJECT AND HOPE ITS APPLICABLE TO YOU. I bought countless e-books, went on numerous websites only to find my one ideal book which saved me. The Sleep Easy Solution was a godsend (for more details you can message me). I love my sleep - ask my parents and anyone that knows me. Now don't get me wrong, I loved having my little one in the room with us at first (so that both hubby and I could test throughout the night to see if she was breathing - we were scared out of our minds about SIDS). However, there comes a time when you long to not sneak into your room to go to sleep or just to be lying in bed and talking to hubby before falling asleep.

At 3 months we started sleep training our little one. It was a bit bumpy at first. The first night it took her 30 minutes to fall asleep in her crib without assistance and without a pacifier. Second night, 15 minutes and by the third night, she was out. It was so great to know that by 7:00/7:30 every night, hubby and I could just relax and watch TV or whatever else we decided. It was also a plus knowing that at 6:30/ 7:00 the next morning, her little smile would be there to greet us when she awoke.

Another thing that has helped immensely is a sound machine. We no longer have to worry if the TV is too loud or if vacuuming might wake her. Turn the machine to "rain" (her favorite setting) and let it play.  Another thing about the sound machine is that it adds an extra step to her bedtime routine so that she knows that it's time to sleep.  Just turn on the sound machine and she starts to rub her eyes and fall asleep.

Keeping busy with different projects has also helped. Sure, I miss curling up on the sofa and simply devouring a book in a day but you come to appreciate the little breaks that you do get in the day. I have picked up my calligraphy (granted I bought the kit about 2 years ago and had no time to focus on it), designed a website, started leading a bible study for the first time, worked on the audio/visual team for our church, oh yeah and try to document my little one's life all while keeping the house relatively clean.  I almost forgot my current project: blogging. Never would have I have fathomed even the remote possibility that I would embark on this adventure but that is how life is. If you knew everything that laid ahead it would simply be boring.

Ooh, seriously considering digital scrap-booking. Hope it works out.