New Name!

Evening friends.  To go along with the content changes of my dear blog, I've also changed the title and URL.  Do you have any idea how difficult it is to come up with a unique URL??  Sheesh!  So, for now, I've settled on this one.  Found this piece of wall art at Pier One and absolutely love the message.  It's likely talking about a circus, but it portrays a much deeper and spiritual meaning for myself.  Free admission to the Kingdom is available to anyone, if only they believe...

Cheers!

KDH.

My Own Cautionary Tale For Those of You Approaching New Mothers

Afternoon folks.  I'm just going to get this out of the way right now and state this will likely be an uncomfortable post.  I'm not being rude, just informative.  I'll make it as painless as possible.  Stay tuned.

If you've ever been pregnant, I'm sure you came across a lot information that warned you about strangers, friends, anyone coming up to you and touching your belly.  And how this is uncomfortable and rude and who knows why people actually do this without asking.  I get that folks want to feel the belly - it's cool and hard and there's a baby in there.  But please, people, ask first.  There are a bazillion blog posts about this issue.  I, however, didn't have much of an issue with this.  After years of being ashamed of my stomach because it wasn't as small or flat or hard as it "should" be, I LOVED actually being able to show off my growing belly.  It was no longer something of which to be ashamed, but something important, special, life-sustaining.  I didn't mind one bit when people touched my stomach and I could've cared less if they did so without asking. 

There has been one thing, however, that has been on my mind lately.  Something that really bothers me.  Something that I never came across in my researching (aka endless hours of reading online) while pregnant.  Something I'm sure is meant to be harmless and with good intention, but is, actually, quite rude.

My big baby issue is when people grab my baby out of my arms. 

I understand he's a squishy, cuddly, insanely adorable little nugget of a baby.  But still.  Have some manners, please.  First off, if I want to give up holding my Love and if I want you to hold him, I'll likely offer him to you which is then your chance to say "Oh, I'd love to!!" and reach for him.  (Side note:  If you don't want to, that's totally okay, I didn't really want to give him up anyway, I was just being polite.  Just say no thank you and I'll keep him with me.)  I don't think I've ever denied someone from holding my baby unless I was on my way to change him or feed him.  Okay maybe once or twice...  But please understand, sometimes I just want to hold him.  Also, I'll interject here, please do not say "You have him all the time!" Yes, I do. Because he is MY baby.  I'm his mother.  I need to have him all the time.  I like having him all the time.  This is not a valid reason for you to have him instead of me.

If you are REALLY anxious to hold my Precious and want to cross the manners-politeness boundary, you should at least ask "Oh he's so cute!!! Could I please hold him?" before ripping him out of my arms.  Under no circumstances, ever, ever, ever in life, should anyone be so presumptuous as to just reach in and take a baby from the arms of his mother (or father).  Especially a first time mother.  Especially this mother.

So, if you read this and find yourself having done this thing in the past, it's no big deal.  (Some mothers may not care about this.)  Just move forward from today and be aware of it when you approach a mother and her baby.  Wait patiently.  And if you just can't stand it anymore, ask nicely if you can hold her baby.  And if she says no for any reason, be okay with that.  Like for real okay with it not just polite, bottle-it-up-and-judge-her-later okay with it.  We're given so few precious moments on this earth and even fewer with our babies as little babies.  Please respect that I'm trying to soak up as many as possible with my little guy. 

Thanks,
KDH.