#FormulaforHappiness for New Mamas

Although those early days with a new baby are now behind me for the final time, they are some of the sweetest, happiest, and most challenging days of my life...and I wouldn't want it any other way. Along the way, I learned a pretty simplistic #FormulaforHappiness.

I have been blessed to be a 3-time mom and have very different experiences in those early days. Primarily because I was 26 the first time, 37 the next time, and 40 most recently.  I definitely didn't have it all figured out after the first time, but just a little more seasoned each time.

I read a quote once that said, "No two children are born into the same family."  It's so simple, yet so profound.  First baby comes along to a family of just the parents.  And each additional baby is born into a new family.

I remember thinking with my oldest that I could do it all right away. I cleaned, did laundry, cooked right after getting home from the hospital.  And then my body started yelling at me to take it easy! So, I spent time learning how to take care of this little person who taught me how to love like no other.  Those quiet moments with just the two of us are forever seared into my mind.  Sometimes when I look at the 15 year old standing before me, I get glimpses of those memories. He has the same beautiful blue eyes that I fell in love with the moment he was put into my arms. I experienced pure bliss with him!

A decade later, I'd get to do it all over again. This time with a tiny pink little angel. She's been joyful since the day she was born.  Though my body wasn't as quick to recover 10 years after the first go 'round, those early moments, were just as blissful.  We spent moments getting to know one another and I knew better to appreciate slowing down and soaking it all in.

This most recent baby, my 21 month old, whom I knew was my grand finale came into the world like a rocket yet waiting until her due date to arrive. {She was the only one who didn't arrive early.}   This time I absolutely knew I was savoring every.single.thing. I watched her sleep, breathing in her sweetness. I continued taking photographs of all of those early moments knowing that babies change so very quickly and I wanted to always remember.  Coming home the 3rd time was a little more challenging with having a 3 year old who wasn't really one to reason with in the middle of the night. Thankfully, I knew the tough part would soon pass and we'd all get into our groove.  We did. Happiness took over for all of us.

My #formulaforhappiness in the early days of having a baby is... just be.

Be present in the moments.

Relax.

The tough ones when you're sleep-deprived.
The blissful ones when your baby smiles at you.
Give yourself the grace to recognize that you just spent nearly a year carrying a human being and it's ok to ask for and accept help.  What you've done is miraculous and so hard.
Embrace all of your moments. For someday, they will be simply be a former chapter in your story.

You will be happy and your baby will be happy.

The last firsts are so very bittersweet.


I have 3 happy babies and even though now two of them are 15 and 5, they'll always be my babies.

My equation for happy babies was simply this:  consistency = security = love.
It has worked for 15 years for us.

What is your #formulaforhappiness? 
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Gerber® Good Start® Gentle
Gerber® Good Start® Gentle believes that the Formula for Happiness™ can be a lot of things, and moms have different ways of enjoying the journey through motherhood.

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