The fun of firsts

There are many emotions that come along with having a baby.  Many that people tell you about such as the overwhelming love you will feel for this little person and then there are many that are great surprises along the way.  Shelby just turned four months old and many of her “firsts” have brought me such joy that it was at times hard to describe.

She will sometimes go to sleep with a pacifier.  My husband put her to bed one night when she was about 2 ½ months old and when I looked over at the monitor that next morning she had her pacifier in her mouth.  I commented to Brett “wow, I can’t believe she slept all night with that in her mouth!”  He was confused by what I was telling him.  He then explained he didn’t put her pacifier in when he put her to bed but rather just laid it in her crib with her.  In the following days she would demonstrate for us how she could take her paci out and get it back in her mouth-even though it was pretty clumsy.  She even took it out one day and threw it across the room!

The next first was her rolling over.  My parents were here and we were determined that she needed to reach this milestone.  We were practicing with her rolling over and the next thing we know she just kept rolling.  It was from her stomach to her back and of course we all cheered as she lies there on the floor with her eyes shut because it scared her!  I must say I’m not sure if this one really counts - she did have some momentum going since we were practicing the rollover move.  But either way it was a moment for her memory book.

And finally was her first laugh.  This one caught me completely off guard.  Brett and I were playing with her in the floor and it came out of nowhere.  It had to be the most beautiful sound I have ever heard!  Tears streamed down my face and Brett looked at me with a very puzzled look on his face.  “Did you have a moment” he asked.  I suppose I did.  That was the sound of pure joy and innocence from our baby girl.

I know the fun is really just beginning and we have many other firsts to experience.  I am looking forward to each one!  What were your favorite “first” memories?

Makala Pollard is a Sr. Marketing Specialist at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, Stepmom to two boys, and New Mom to four-month-old Shelby.