Memories

I had a Gynecologist appointment this morning.  I had put it off for as long as I should have.  When you go a million times in three years, this is not an appointment you get excited about making!  My appointment was at 7:30 am so that Josh could stay home with the kids.  Ain’t much worse than being in your birthday suit and trying to make kids sit still on a chair….goodness forbid that you would have to jump up to stop one of the little ones from touching something and the doctor walking in on you!  Always a nightmare for me during my pregnancy days.

There is a point to this post, but as a side note, why do I undress and hide my undergarments under my clothes, not wanting the doctor to catch a glimpse of something so personal….only to have him, well…you know.  Crazy how the mind works.

Ok.  Such wonderful memories flood my mind as I park and walk into the building where I spent many pregnant hours!  I see young couples with their babies and with pregnant bellies come in and out.  I see millions of pictures of newborns on Dr. Bills’ bulletin boards.  Such exciting times.  One young girl caught my attention.  She was a beautiful pregnant gal.  She looked well-rested.  Her make-up was done.  Her outfit was so cute.  Her hair looked clean and thick and gorgeous.  She was by herself.  I asked her how far along she was; she said, “7 months” and smiled.  Boy or Girl?  “Boy.”  Oh, how sweet.  I wanted to talk more with her, but she wasn’t very talkative.  I halfway thought to myself, “Girl, I could tell you a thing or two that might be helpful.”  We listened to a video on a tv about breastfeeding….”Here are some helpful hints for breastfeeding.  #1-Read a book about breastfeeding, #2-Don’t get discouraged.  It doesn’t always go as easy as you think.”  Tell ME about it.  And the book might as well have been in German for as much as it helped me.  The cute little lady at the end, while breastfeeding her baby, said, “Breastfeeding is so simple–you don’t have to have bottles or measure or…” blah, blah….”as long as your baby is with you, you can breast feed.” I laughed so hard inside.  Because she is right.  And I must say, for me, I was ok with someone else getting to be with my baby.  Some people love it and thrive on it.  It went so bad for me the first time, that I never tried again.  And I have not looked back.  I just wanted to tell that girl that it was ok if it didn’t work out.  Don’t pressure yourself.  Yes, it is best for the baby in most cases.  Yes, it is how God designed it.  BUT, it isn’t the only way.  It just isn’t.

I wanted to give her a small suggestion.  Have someone in the delivery room to just take pictures.  A professional who you don’t know who can capture those moments.

Use the nursery at the hospital if they have one.  Like that wise nurse told this guilt-ridden mother, “You got the rest of your life to bond with your baby.  Get a good night’s sleep, girl.”  Yes ma’am.

Don’t let your belly scare you once you get home and take your first shower back at home.  Either it will change dramatically as the days go by or you will get used to it.  ha!

Splurge on a video monitor.  I hear that they come in handy for years after the newborn stage!  It would have been fun to watch them in their crib/toddler bed/ big kid bed.

Journal.

Keep a Bible and devotion book in the nursery.  When you are sitting and feeding at all times of the day or night, you can find encouragement and strength in The Word.  Without it, you’ll starve your soul.  It is easy to do during these busy, new times.

Go for strolls outside once you feel like it.  It will help keep the “crazies” at bay.

There’s more.  There’s much more I would shared with her.

I would suggest that she go and roam the mall, eat an ice cream cone alone, go to Barnes N Noble and sit and read, meet your husband for lunch whenever you want to and even when you don’t want to, go to the movies, take a nap or two, read a book…….

And I would probably say, “Enjoy every minute with your sweet little one.  They grow up so fast.  You”ll blink and they’ll be in Kindergarten.”

I always hated it when people said that to me.  I felt a bit guilty because I didn’t think that them being in Kindergarten was all that bad.  I mean, then I would have some time to myself!  Well, while that is sort of true, it doesn’t take away that they do grow fast and I did blink and all of a sudden my first baby was finished with Kindergarten!

So I left that appointment happy that all checked out well, for the most part.  Happy that I have three healthy kids at home and that I don’t have one on the way right now. (We’re all in different seasons, so don’t take that the wrong way.)  I know I am not as young and cute as I once may have been, but I am wiser, though I still have much more to learn! And I discovered the “pink pencil,” which helps tremendously with dark circles under your eyes!  I don’t have my pre-baby waist and never will and my hips are a bit wider, but I have been able to hold three kids on these hips and now the cutie-pies can grab around my waist for a hug.  I love it.

Oh, the thoughts provoked from one silly doctor’s appointment.