"Is she an easy baby?"

A word to the wise.  Please do not ask this question to first time mothers who have no clue how to remedy several of their child's "less than perfect" habits.  It freaks us out.  And really, what's the point?

Take for example the reply "Yes.  She's amazing!"  The conversation is over.  Fini.  A pretty boring dialogue if you ask me.  And let's be honest, it's not really what you wanted to hear, was it?

On the other hand, the response, "No.  Help me!  I can't get her to do x, y and z and I am going insane!", may send you running for the hills all the while questioning that incompetent mother you left behind.  And on a particularly bad day, I may just well up with tears.  No bueno.

It's amazing how frequently I get asked this question.  Sometimes from perfect strangers.  Sometimes from other moms.  Sometimes from a co-worker in the break room.  And I get it.  It's polite conversation.  I am sure I have asked it myself a time or two.  That is, before I realized that there may in fact be life outside of "easy" babies.

I am the first one to admit that parenting has caught me a bit off guard.  You see, babies were supposed to be "my thing".  I dressed my sixth grade Sugar Baby to the nines.  I spent my allowance on real baby clothes, diapers & bottles for my dolls.  I was a 'Mother's Helper' the day that someone would let me near their child. I babysat from the time I was twelve.  While others were wanting to become Vets and Doctors and Teachers, I remained strong that all I wanted to be was "A Mom".  I taught swim lessons to infants.  I nannied throughout college as my job.  I minored in Early Childhood Education.  I dreamed endlessly of the day that I would have a family of my own.  Babies were on my radar the day Chris and I got married, whether I liked to admit it or not.  When I found out I was pregnant, I probably read the baby books a little too self-confidently and took advice a little too passively.  But most of all, I thought: I. Had. This. Job. Nailed.

Imagine my disbelief then when I found myself in the doctor's office month two of Logan's life beside myself that my child would not take a bottle from me.  Or again during month three because she would not stop spitting up or fussing throughout the day.  Or during month five when I thought I may have to Super Glue her to my hip because I could not set her down.  Or during month eight when I called to report that she is STILL waking 3 times a night.  Or most recently during her nine month visit when I broke down over the fact that she prefers her Daddy to me.  Not exactly what I had pictured for my life as Super Mom.  The doctor warned each and every time that I would likely cringe at the "Is she an easy baby?" question.  Right-o she was.

So ask me anything else.

"Is she a fun baby?"  Loads.  Has her own little Comedy Routine.

"Is she a cute baby?"  Um, (a biased) adorable to be exact.

"Do you love your baby?"  To the moon and back.  It brings tears to my eyes to think about really.

"Is she a Happy Baby?"  Yes. Yes. Yes.

"What are your favorite things about her?"  Her mischievous smile.  Her chubby legs.  Her recent clapping hands. Her blue eyes.  Her middle of the night snuggles.  Her babbles, specifically "Mamamaama".  Her endurance.  Her independence. Her passion.

"What are the most challenging things about her?"  Her endurance.  Her independence.  Her passion  :)

"Do you have hard days?"  Several.

"Do you have awesome days?"  Most.

"Would you have it any other way?"  No.  Okay fine, maybe some days for honesty's sake.

Miss Logan, I am thankful that I don't know any different because you are certainly teaching ME the ropes in this parenting business.  I wouldn't have you ANY other way my dear (maybe because you remind me way too much of, well, me).  I can't wait to see what you grow up to be like and the many years that lie ahead.  I enjoy you more than you can imagine and your life is such a blessing to me.  I love love love you baby - "easy", "challenging" and everything in between.