Everyone told me that it is healthy to spend time away from your baby, even if it's just for a little while. And as much as I adore my beautiful girl, they were right. It is important to have "me" time, whether it is running, shopping, or even just a shower long enough to actually condition my hair and shave my legs. Working part time has also helped keep me in perspective and keep things fresh. I'm not burnt out at work or with the baby. But I find myself racing home at lunch to spend just 30 minutes with Elliott because I crave to be with her and I don't want to miss anything!
But what no one told me was that my 14 week old baby might also need "me" time. What, you ask, does that mean? Now that she's gained more head control, it is fun to sit her up like a big girl and look at her beautiful face and talk to her. What we've noticed lately is that sometimes she is just not to be held! She squishes up her face, fusses, clenches her fists and flails backwards. So you are racking your brain, what could be wrong? She's eaten, had a diaper change, and played in her activity yard. What more could she want? As a last resort, we set her inside her pack-n-play bassinet and take a step back. Immediately Elliott is quiet, alert and all smiles. She stares lovingly up at her pink butterfly mobile and her bright, colorful stuffed dog and is completely entertained. She loves if you look in at her and talk to her but don't pick her up! She loves it! At first we thought this was just something she did at our house, that the bassinet was her safe-haven from three insane dogs. Not so as we found out last night.
We were enjoying a wonderful get-together at our friends Stan and Michaux's house last night. Spence and I have so loved having these gatherings with other new parents so we can both commiserate and brag about our babies. It also removes the awkwardness of breastfeeding as most of my friends either used to or still breastfeeding. I hate having to go into a separate room to feed Elliott and losing out on conversation and company. (Thank you to whoever invented "hooter hider" privacy screens. For expecting or new moms, these are fabric screens that you wear over your shoulders that allow you to breastfeed in public while maintaining modesty. I LOVE mine and have used it extensively. They come in many different styles and patterns and have matching burp clothes!)
Anyway, I had finished feeding and burping Elliott when she began the "I am NOT to be held" fuss-fest. Thankfully Stan and Michaux had their pack-n-play bassinet set up. I just lowered Elliott down into her safe-haven and all was well. She laughed, cooed and talked to the jungle animal mobile above her. Spencer picked her up out of the bassinet and she wouldn't have it. She wanted to stay down and away from the crowd! So what does this all mean? Do babies really need their alone time from their parents? Do they get tired of the goo-goo ga-ga, motorboat noises, and raspberry sounds that we force at them all day? I swear that I learn something new everyday from this tiny child and I just love her so much for her already amazing personality.
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