Entries from The Mathewes Family tagged with 'motherhood'
Tiny Wonder Kid
I Bought A Toddler Harness and I Have No Regrets
I just bought a harness for my toddler. My reasons? Plenty. Ruth has absolutely no fear, the propensity to run, a love of exploration, an unfettered determination. She simply does not care how far away she gets from me, will...
Starting to Creep Me Out
That must be a weird subject line for y'all to see, but here's why... This morning, while playing with crayons and paper in the living room, Ruth got a paper cut on her toe. It bled pretty badly (though she...
Rises and Falls
Nursing is on the rise. Towards the end of December, we were down to once a day. Today, it's back up to three or four. I'm not too nervous about it; I will get nervous, however, if she doesn't decide...
Ruth, Tidal Wave
When it comes to how tidy the house is, I'm definitely a lot more laid back now than I was about six months ago. That's not saying much, though. Living in a one-bedroom apartment means that if anything is out...
Sleep: On-Again, Off-Again
What a difference a good night's sleep makes. The biggest drama of our lives in the past year has always been sleep. Getting Ruth to sleep through the night, at its various stages, has had its triumphs and setbacks. Now...
State of the Ruthie Address
More teeth are in the works. New techniques are developing for fighting naps and sleep. Words are beginning to form. Feedings are getting easy, if messy, since Ruth often insists on feeding herself. The appetite is growing, and she...
One Year Ago
Ruth turns one today. A year ago, I became a first-time mom. A squealing little five pound bundle was handed to me, and I got lost in a whole new world. Today, Ruth turns one. She's walking, jabbering, interacting,...
Into the crib, out of our bed
It is so strange to go to bed without her next to me, her little body a twitching furnace. But it's wonderful to snuggle up next to my husband now, without Ruthie trying to make an "H" out of our sprawling, sleeping bodies. We're into a new phase of nighttime parenting.
Ruthie News Reel
I had already been working slowly towards this transition anyway, and it will be very nice to get a full night's rest for the first time in ten months. But I'll miss that little warm body snuggling next to me. And when she wakes up next to me in the morning, she has the goofiest drunken smile I've ever seen. She doesn't wake up happy in the crib. I can't snuggle next to her. I can't smell that intoxicating hair.
Be Kind
I want my daughter, and all future children of mine, to be selfless, giving, caring, and thoughtful. I want them to be eager, life-long learners, focusing on what is lasting. I hope they all have less anxiety than I do (though it seems like Ruth is doomed to inherit that from me, at this point).
There and Back Again
I'm a little sad, of course. Mostly, I'm nervous and excited. I know that it will be hard to get up every day and leave the house (especially since I have no chance of sleeping in to recover from the unpredictable nights we're having here), but I also know that it will make me more grateful for the time I have with Ruth.
The Ruth Report
And the amazing thing is, the next child will change all the rules.
a few thoughts on Ruu
All I know for absolute certainty is this: I love my daughter, deeply and completely.
A Tough One
I wrote in my journal the other day, "I guess I just have a hard time letting the cameras and the crib coexist." I suppose I'll get used to it. After all, my thousands of dollars of equipment do, in fact, sit right next to my most precious possession: my daughter.
Phases (In and Out)
These phases and changes keep me on my toes. I miss my giggly baby that would look at me and talk back. I want her to be as excited about me as I am about her.
The Good and the Bad
My sister-in-law, Megan, told me early on, "People argue all the time about what kind of parenting style should be used. But really, it's not up to you as a parent. The kid decides what kind of parenting style you use." She's right.
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