Thursday, March 1, 2012

One Year In

Last week, Baby Dude had his one-year doctor's check-up. I can't believe how quickly the last year has whirred on by. And even more so, I can't believe how much growth and how many changes my little guy has been through. It's hard to believe that the almost-five-pound runt from a year ago is now a talking, smiling, character with the physicality of a bull in a china shop (just like his dad).

A few weeks ago, I was chatting with the mom of a 6 year old. She was reminiscing on her son's first year and she said she much prefers the steady developmental speed of an older child rather than the exponential growth of the first year. Think about it: in one year a child goes from being a pooping, crying blob on breast milk to a mobile, communicative kid (complete with tons of personality) who eats big-people food and has curiosity to spare.

Sure, this pace of development can certainly make a parent's head spin. Just when I was getting used to one set of skills and needs, Baby Dude would go and move into new territory and I'd have to adjust all over again. I think this first year of parenthood taught me a parent's most important lesson—when I put on my "parenting pants" (let me suggest the Dad Dude Jean, ha), I've got to roll with whatever comes my way.

Now, if I could just learn to apply that to the other areas of my life, I'd be all set......