Yep, Nyomi is a whopping 8 month's old! Can you believe it? I can. It's been an amazing 8 months, and I can truly say "Happy Mother's Day to me!" I have the best, most amazing, most adaptable, most chill, darling ever! I feel like I'll blink and we'll be singing "Happy Birthday!"
As I sit here listening to her cry, knowing that in 5 minutes she'll be asleep, I mentally pat myself on the back, for finally doing what needed to be done (despite how much it hurt my heart) and embarking on sleep training. It's been over 3 weeks now, and she's down to either no crying to go to sleep, or 10 minutes or less and then fast asleep through the night. Every now and then, she wakes up through the night, but getting her back to sleep is easier than ever, and doesn't require me nursing her! I pat myself on the back for being a great mom...I mean obviously I am, right? :-)
However, as I think of the past year and a half; the ups and downs, the long nights and even longer days; the moments when I thought I couldn't do it anymore...I take those pats on the back from me and I place them on the backs of every family member, friend, counselor, volunteer, and helping hand that has supported my daughter and I even before she arrived. The support, in whatever way given, has provided me the strength I need to go on. To be the best mother I can be. To not have to worry about certain things, has allowed me to focus on making sure my daughter's life is stress, drama, and burden free!
People comment frequently on how all Nyomi does is smile. When she does cry, it comes as a shock to most; and usually indicates I have taken too long to feed her, or kept her awake too long. However, all in all, she is constantly smiling! But it's because she really doesn't know anything else! She's never seen mommy in an argument, nor seen mommy crying or depressed. Nor has she seen mommy anxious and wallowing in self-pity. With God's help, she will never be exposed to these behaviors. Seeing mommy happy is all she knows. So aside from basic instict, my daughter has no other learned behaviors but smiling and being happy.
I literally want to get up and shout at the top of my lungs right now! If it wasn't for God's grace and Him loving me when I felt I didn't deserve to be loved, I would have passed those negative feelings on to my daughter. Gosh! If it weren't for my family and friends, etc that have given me a word of encouragement, provided our needs, and been prayor warriors, I would be in a different place right now.
So anyway, to sum it up...I'm no island...peninsula maybe. And my circle of support is one strong isthmus.
What's that? Silence...less than 10 minutes since beginning my post; Nyomi is asleep. High five to you...you know who you are. You rock. And by the way--Happy Mother's Day to you too, regardless of your gender.
Until next time, even when you think you've pulled yourself up by your bootstraps, remember those who bought you the boots in the first place!
