Update on Being Eiley's Momma

Well, first of all, I've decided I want to go by "Momma." I still call my mother "Mama," and maybe it doesn't matter that we go by the same mom name, but for some reason it makes me feel like an impostor when I try to refer to myself by such a familiar moniker. So, since I tend to picture words spelled out, Momma is different to me and less impostory. (Other forms of OCD of mine: I like the radio volume to always be on an odd number and I don't like to have property as money in my bank when playing the card game Monopoly Deal, which is an awesome game, by the way.)


Every day is a roller coaster. Usually the mornings are wonderful - I have a happy, squirmy baby who likes to gaze at me and can be occupied for an hour on her play mat. We go for walks with Buster, and I think that I'm a great mother. Usually in the afternoons, my happy, squirmy baby is replaced with a screaming, stiff legged monster. There is a brief reprieve of nap time, then monster is back in the evening. By bed time, I think I'm a terrible mother and I wonder how I will possibly work at home, and there's a lot of despair. Luckily the monster is still adorable, but you see what I mean about the roller coaster.


Eiley has a pink bird that hangs from her car seat. We named it Clarence.


Sometimes Eiley will be very upset and suddenly get calm and focus on a specific point. There is usually nothing in the place she's staring. We named the imaginary friend who must be in that place Guido.


Taking a nap with a baby on one's chest is heaven. Absolute heaven.


Eiley seldom smiles so far (WHOA, I always thought the adverb was "seldomly," but apparently it's just seldom and my little English mind was just blown), but when she does I feel like joy could explode out of me in a big, messy way.


I have learned numerous ways to calm Eiley, including, but not limited to: bouncing her on my legs, bouncing her on my shoulder, swinging her in my arms, skipping around the house with her on my shoulder, swaddling her, letting her suck my thumb, duct tape, shushing in her ear, turning the volume all the way up on the iPad and playing an ocean sound effect app (this one was courtesy of her creative Aunt Tab), making loud kissing sounds in her ear, and intensely patting her back.


In conclusion, BABY!

P.S. Come on, people. I was kidding about the duct tape.