Firsts, Lasts, Never

The advice I gave my brother and sister in law.... she is 41 weeks. 5 days over due. Poor thing:

Enjoy the last time you will get to take a nap whenever you want. The last time you eat dinner without holding a baby or tending to a child. The last time you will get a good night's sleep. The last time you will worry only about yourself. The last time you will cook dinner without babe in arms, on your leg, or calling your name from the other room. Enjoy the last time you can watch a movie uninterrupted. The last time you can go to the grocery store without lugging a car seat, stroller, diaper bag, purse, keys, and cell phone... oh a a baby. Enjoy the last time for it being just you and your spouse.

And prepare yourself for the firsts. The first time you hold a baby in your arms. The first time he smiles. The first time he talks. The first time you go to church with a new baby. The first time you kiss him. The first time he holds your hand. The first time he says mama. The first time you go to the store lugging said car seat, stroller, diaper bag, purse, and baby. The first time you take him to a movie. The first time he scoots, crawls, walks. The first time your mom is a grandma. The first time your mom is a grandma for the 5th time. The first grandson with the last name of Walter. Prepare your self for all the firsts.

And then....

Never take for granted those nights you are up all night holding a crying baby. Never take for granted the first time he says mama, or looks up at you with those baby blue eyes, or when you give him a bath. Never take for granted even in those frustrating moments that you get your baby for one more hour, one more day, one more week, one more month. Never take for granted the times you want to pull your hair out because you still haven't showered, done the dishes, cooked dinner, or exercised today, because all you did was hold your baby. Never take for granted the perfectness of you little one. Never take for granted that you get to take your baby to the store with said above truckload of items. Never take for granted that you get to hold your baby while you cook dinner. Never take for granted that your days of a good night sleep are gone or that you can no longer "plan." Because inevitably you will be ready to walk out the door, your baby will spit up, poop, or start screaming for no reason at all and the best laid plans can't plan for that. Never take that for granted because...........

You never know when it will all be taken away.