life with Lola: 16 months

Oh, man, it's been a year since I last posted. Since then, we moved to the beach! We adore our new place, and it's nice to finally feel settled after such a whirlwind of a time. Our new town has such a nice small-town feel, and Lola has made lots of new friends already. It feels like home.

Lola is growing up so fast! She's talking (12 words and counting...) and at the cusp of walking. My favorite is when she walks into my outstretched arms, shrieking with excitement at the hug and twirl that's to come. She's such a ham, and it's fun seeing her little personality shine through. She LOVES people and new things. She's always laughing, but quick to cry in complaint. She's stubborn and a little cautious, and very curious. Our little firecracker!

Life is so full, and we're truly treasuring every minute. Between work and Lola, I still rarely have any time for anything else. But this is such a short season in life, and I don't want to miss any of it!

life with lola: five months!

I know I start every blog post with "how is already..." But seriously! How is it already October, and how is Lola already five months? Erik laughs at me for talking like a Hallmark card sometimes, but our love for this girl is infinite — and it just grows and grows. She's getting cuter, chubbier, and more responsive and interactive by the day.

It's funny that, before she was born, I halfway assumed that we'd fit a baby into our life. I'd be that cool, easygoing mom with a baby in the Ergo at the beach, concert, or restaurant. Sometimes I am that person, but not without a dossier's worth of planning. The reality is that Lola has completely changed the orbit of our lives. Everything revolves around her now, and we're over the moon about that. On to the update...

How's Lola doing? I may be biased, but she's the best. She's developing so quickly. It seems like every day she's doing something new; it's so cool to see the little wheels turning in her mind. Right now, she's grabbing her feet, eating her hands, and *thisclose* to sitting up and rolling over. She loves bouncing in her jumperoo, which is hideous-looking but by far the best baby purchase we've made. She's still sleeping in our room, but we're rolling with it. If there's anything that I've learned as a parent, it's to read all the books and get all the advice...and then do what works for you!

How are mom and dad doing? I'm still around-the-clock busy, but loving life. I even made it out to surf (twice!) with a supportive and inspirational mom friend. Of course, the waves were a mess both times, but it was so wonderful to be in the ocean -- and to do something for myself. Every day, I count my lucky stars that we're both able to spend every day with Lola. It's definitely a scramble, but it's worth it.

life with lola: four months!

We've gone from weeks to months, people! It's so crazy how having a baby completely changes your perception of time. Before Lola, four months could fly by with a, "Hey, how is it September already?" But having a gorgeous baby makes you realize how precious every second is: Lola's gone from a sleepy, puffy newborn to a full-on baby. She's holding her head up, almost sitting, and sizing into size-two diapers and six-month clothes. It's beautiful and bittersweet. I'm realizing that all of of those parenting cliches -- "they grow up so fast," "it's longest shortest time," and "enjoy this time" -- are repeated time and again for a reason.

How's Lola doing? She is truly the light of our life. She's such a happy, smiling baby, but when she's tired or hungry, she will let you know! She's very opinionated and determined, which I think will carry her far in life while giving mom and dad a few more gray hairs in the process. She's started laughing (the best sound in the universe!) and grasping for toys. Sleep-wise, she only wakes up a few times (around 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. or so), and naps 45 minutes every 60 to 90 minutes. She's still in our room in the bassinet, but I've been working on getting her to nap in the crib. Next up on our to-do list is trying to break the habit of rocking her to sleep...which will be more traumatic for me than her. Holding her little sleepy body and feeling her relax as she drifts off is one of life's greatest joys.

How are mom and dad doing? We've mostly settled into our groove as full-time parents and workers. I'd say that I'm back about one-half to two-thirds time, juggling deadlines during Lola's naps and before/after bedtime. That still leaves little to no Sharon-time, but, for now, I'm running with it. It's totally worth it to be able to stay home with Lola and soak up every minute with her. Hoping things will settle down as she gets older and isn't nursing all the time.

I'm super-proud of how much we've learned in these four short months! Being responsible for a little life such a drastic life change and learning curve, and it's definitely stressful and tough at times. But it's truly made life a zillion times better. Having Lola has deepened my love, strengthened our marriage, and given me a greater sense of purpose. I still can't believe I'm a mama!

life with lola: 15 weeks

Fell off the map there for a bit! We've been busy these past few weeks with growing, entertaining visitors, and finding our new groove as freelancer-parents. There's been a ton of learning, a bunch of smiles, and quite a few tears (from Lola and myself).

Not gonna lie, month 2.5 into 3 was rough for me. Just as I was trying to dip back into work, Lola went from a sleepy newborn to a demanding infant. We weren't strict about her nap/bedtime schedule, so she would get overstimulated and tired, setting off a cycle of fighting naps and wailing bedtimes. Plus, we had a series of visitors that threw our schedule for more of a loop... I was exhausted and overwhelmed!

But then a shift happened: We built a fairly regular schedule of naps every 60-90 minutes and a bedtime of 7-8. We also got more in tune with each other, and now I feel like I know what Lola's asking for and can meet her needs. And — oh, my heart! — Lola's social skills are growing, so she's been laughing, smiling, and responding up a storm. That, plus getting good sleep, has made us very happy parents.

It's hard to articulate parenthood, but the biggest thing I've learned is that there is SO. MUCH. JOY. It's beautiful looking at the world through her lens, and finding simple happiness throughout the day. Every morning, Lola wakes up laughing and I spend half an hour playing "wiggly legs" with her. Is there a better way to start the day? It's crazy the love you feel for your child! It doesn't hurt that she's the cutest baby that ever graced this earth (in my opinion).

We're still figuring out the balance between our old and new selves (is there one?), but I'm just cherishing this phase of life.

life with lola: nine weeks

I keep waiting for a chunk of time to be able to write a thoughtful and coherent post … and I'm realizing that's not going to happen. So here's a brain dump: Life with Lola at nine weeks has been beautiful, full, and, at times, challenging. For me, motherhood has unlocked another life level: My love is more intense, my highs are soaring (she's smiling at me!), and my lows are a true test of strength (why won't she stop crying?).

Lola's changing so quickly these days. Weighing in at a whopping 10 pounds, she's gone from a sleepy newborn to an alert two-month-old. She rewards us with smiles, watches us intently, and makes her displeasure known in the loudest red-faced way. Her little personality is starting to shine through, and it's the coolest thing.

As for me, I'm trying to figure out how to balance being Sharon with being mom, if that makes sense. Breastfeeding and tending to Lola takes up most of my day, and I'm still figuring out how to squeeze in some work and me time in there, too. I'm sure I'll work out this new version of myself with time.

All in all, I'm grateful to be able to stay home with Lola and soak up her perfect-ness. She's only this little once! And so, so thankful for Erik being the most supportive partner and the most loving dad. What a life … I'm the luckiest.

life with lola: eight weeks

I have so much to say and so little time, between juggling this curious, hungry baby and easing back into the writing life. In the meantime, I have to pose this question: WHY IS LOLA SO CUTE?! She's entering her smiley, responsive stage. Needless to say, Erik and I are totally smitten. Never thought I was a baby person … until I had my own. She's the best!

life with lola: five weeks

Just when I was feeling pretty cocky about motherhood ("why do people say this is so tough?"), Lola hit her four-to-five week growth spurt. Our sweet little thing has been pretty fussy lately. A few days ago, she cried and flailed almost around the clock. Oh my exhaustion. Erik and I traded off, which made me so grateful to have such a wonderful partner. I can't imagine doing this all on my own (mega-props to all those single mothers out there!).



The trade-off for the sleep deprivation? Our girl has made some developmental leaps. It's so cool to watch your kid change right before your eyes. She's watching and tracking objects, starting to coo, and rewarding us with smiles. Swoon!



Mom and Dad also made some milestones: We've been getting out! Our pediatrician recommended avoiding crowds for the first eight weeks (because a fever requires a hospital visit), so we haven't left the house much. That's been one of the hardest changes for me. Even though Lola and I go for a daily walk, I've been feeling a little stir-crazy. But Erik and I ate dinner al fresco the other night, and even made it to the beach.

I did flash my boob in front of a group of people to nurse, and Erik and I wound up eating our tacos over the trunk of our car because we didn't want to interrupt Lola's nap… but, hey, we're learning!