Oh what a beautiful morning...

I have always been a morning person, but since Aaron has been born mornings have become even more my favorite part of the day.  You see, mornings are when we get the most consistent "happy" time and there is nothing that can make my heart jump more than rolling over (yes, we occasionally co-sleep, don't judge), stroking his little face, undoing his swaddle sack and seeing his beautiful smile.  Not a little gassy smile that says "I just tooted," or "I just peed myself," but a full out, eyes included, just for you mommy kind of smile.  Sometimes I even get a giggle.  Some mornings we will play and talk and sing songs for a good half hour before we even get out of bed!

These are the moments I live for some days.  Parenting Aaron can be challenging at times.  He is what Dr. Sears would call a "high needs baby."  (Click here for his article on the subject, which has been especially helpful to me.)  He has figured out early on that it is better for him to be held than to be put down.  He protests quickly and loudly when he has a need that has not been met.  And he craves physical touch. But although there are evenings when we pace the floor for hours, and nights when I am up every hour to feed, or rock, or just comfort him, I am becoming more confident that the attention we pay to him now will help him through whatever is going on in his brain and body and ultimately help him turn into a toddler, a teenager, and a man with the confidence to tackle whatever trouble he runs into and the knowledge that his parents will always support him. 

I think this blog might turn into a journal of sorts, and maybe a bit of a catharsis for me in times of stress.  But less anyone reading this thinks that I am not enjoying our new adventure, here are 10 things I love about Aaron:

1. His smile.
2. The way he smells after bath.
3. His coos, which are louder for Jonathan and I than for anyone else.
4. His soft hair.
5. The way he looks at me as I rock him to sleep.
6. The way (sometimes) he stops crying and smiles when I hit on the solution to his problem.
7. His need to be cuddled.
8. The way he snuggles down in the Moby wrap or ring sling when he is relaxed.
9. He makes a great running partner.
10. His little snores when he is sleeping.

And so, when people ask me if Aaron is a "good baby" I think I can confidently answer "yes."  No, he is not an EASY baby, but easy and good are not the same things, and with any luck the personality traits that make him a little more challenging now will serve him well as he grows.  Until then, we just keep dancing.