I had a few of those moments last weekend that made me remember why I wanted to have a baby, and which made me very grateful for my three-month-old daughter.
She woke up at 7 AM to eat, and I brought her into the bed with us to nurse from a side-lying position (one of our favorites at night and in the early hours of the morning.) After a bit, we both drifted off to sleep, waking up at 8:30.
My husband woke up at about the same time. He looked across our daughter, sleeping between us on her back with her arms stretched over her head and the slightest little smile on her face, and said “Good morning.” We lied there together for a few minutes watching her sleep, until I put her in her bassinet so we could get up and begin our day.
She woke up while I was cooking French toast and I asked my husband to take care of her. I still had the baby monitor clipped to my waist band, and I smiled as I heard the dialogue taking place in the bedroom. “Hey, kiddo!” he said. He must have seen her smile, then, as he commented, “Wow, you are in a good mood this morning.”
I listened as he lifted her up over his head, proclaiming, “Up, up, up. Down, down, down” (and a pause for kisses.) I listened to the whole diaper-changing routine, too, all the baby talk and sounds and games.
It’s often hard, while I leave my husband to watch my daughter so that I can work, to not get distracted listening to them together. It’s so much fun to watch them play—and even more fun when he doesn’t realize I’m doing it! (Of course, now my secret’s out.)
My husband can take my daughter, lift her over his head a lot higher than I could reach, swing her around, and play games that I’m just not brave enough to try. She feels secure in Daddy’s grasp and laughs and smiles with delight.
Meanwhile, I’m the only one who can get her to fall asleep by nursing (of course) or even singing to her. And sometimes, there’s just nothing like cuddling up in Mommy’s arms.
My husband’s mom raised three kids largely on her own, and my mom raised me alone from the age of 12. I give single moms so much credit; I simply don’t know how they do it.
When I think about how lucky I am to have my husband, who is a very active and involved father, I also realized how fortunate my daughter is to have us both around to love and nurture her in very different ways.
Moms, what activities do you love watching your husband do with the baby? Dads, what special gifts do you share with your children?