My son Reed turns 4 months old today! I’ve heard family say, ‘time is gonna fly by and Reed will grow up fast, so enjoy every minute’. Boy, they’re not kidding! My wife Jenni and I were just at the hospital the other day walking the halls trying to help her induce labor. This morning I woke up and realized it’s the 11th. Could it already be four months?! I blame it on sleep deprivation. The first few weeks we were waking up at night every other hour because Reed was having a hard time with breast milk and regular formula. Thankfully after seeing our pediatrician, we discovered what I like to call “GOLD IN A BOTTLE”, which is a baby formula for infants with sensitive stomachs.
It may appear to be the aftermath of a late night Baby Party, but this is the scene every morning at 3:00. Baby bottles that need rinsed out and soaked before the new day begins. Reed is a very happy baby 95% of the time…but when he’s ready to eat, he sounds like fire alarm! We have it down to a science though, with bottles of formula already prepared, waiting in the fridge, just needing warmed up. It’s like trying to cool a nuclear reactor before it blows!
Here’s what I’ve learned over the last four months as a new dad:
To be thankful for each moment my wife and I get to spend with baby Reed, because one day he will be a teenager and it won’t be cool to hang out with mom and dad.
To be thankful for our families who have showered Reed in love. We honestly couldn’t do this without the help of our parents.
Be patient with your spouse and yourself. I remind myself of that daily…heck, sometimes hourly! And forgive each other when you have disagreements. You’re a team, and everyday is a fresh start.
If a baby is gonna spit up, they’ll do it when you’re wearing nice clothes. It’s Murphy’s Law.
Even babies are sponges, absorbing everything they hear and see…so be mindful of what you say in front of your child. Yea, we all slip and let a four letter word fly, but more important, be careful how you treat others in front of your baby or child. They’re learning every second of the day. Hey, I’m not perfect, and that’s why I started writing these observations. They’re good reminders for me and my wife.
A child can only have so many toys, but can never have enough contributions to their College Savings Fund. We encourage our parents and families to make even that small donation instead of another toy that will end up in a future garage sale~
