Happy 1/2 Birthday!

So I have been a mommy now for 6 whole months! 

And let me tell you… in that time I have learned so much about myself!

From the get go, my daughter has taught me the real meaning of love.

She has taught me what it is like to be strong, in times when I want to be weak.

She has taught me about sacrifice and selflessness.

Because of my daughter, I want to be a better person.

I have learned to feel empathy like I have never before. 

She has taught me what it is like to feel true joy and how amazing it is to feel so proud. 

I mean, this list could go on and on... but I think one of the things I love the most..

is that my daughter has allowed me to understand 

what it truly feels like to be needed.

She doesn't just want me, or like me.. but she truly needs me. 

and just so you all know, I have quite the mama's girl on my hands. 

While we all know she loves her daddy, 

she is seriously my sidekick.

We do everything together.

So it kind of makes sense that she can get upset when I walk awake and leave her side.

With that being said. 

I am learning I have to draw the line at some point, as I don't want her to become 

a "clingy" baby and not want to be with anyone else but her mommy.

This leads me to say…

Parenting is HARD! 

And no parent has all the right answers!

If someone says they do.. they are LYING! 

It is so easy for someone to say (parent or non parent).. 

"Oh, I would never do that."

or, "My child will never behave that way."

Shoot. I am guilty of it.

I still am guilty of it.

But let me tell you,

when it comes down to it.. sometimes it is just easier to do some things 

a little bit differently or to give in when the going gets rough.

I have loved children for as long as I can remember,

but the kind of love you have for your own child cannot compare to anything else. 

That is why sometimes it is harder to stick to your guns than you thought it would be. 

I never thought the sound of a cry could break my heart as bad as it does 

when it is coming from my daughter.

There is nothing more I want to do than swoop her up and make her world better. 

Unfortunately, I am learning I can't always do that

(especially given certain circumstances…. such as sleep training).

So as of few weeks now, I am starting to learn the hard parenting lesson of 

… tough love. 

Although it is tough, I continue to remind myself the purpose of my actions.

I remember that my daughter is still going to love me in the end,

and I reiterate how what I do now will only benefit her in her future. 

That leads me to end with this.. 

and maybe not every parent feels this way..

But I have suddenly come to realize..

we really shouldn't give parenting advice unless the parent in need is the one asking for it.

I think when it is unsolicited, it is too easy for one to take it the wrong way and for that advice to become hurtful instead.

No parent is perfect, we all get that. 

But we are all striving to be perfect which means, we are much harder on ourselves than we should be.

xoxo

Wt: 16 lbs 5 oz (50%) Ht: 26 in (50%)

Things Tegan has done over the past month:
Started saying ma ma ma (without intent of course).
Fights her sleep (which is why we have decided to start sleep training).
Sits all on her own.
Gets up on all fours, rocks back and forth, and tries to crawl.
This has resulted in her crawling backwards instead.
Just started eating solids and has tried sweet potatoes and peas.
Sits in her stroller without her carseat insert anymore.