When Bethany and I first found out that we were having a
daughter, two thoughts ran through my mind initially. Number one being, "Good, now we don't
have to try to come up with a boy's name anymore." We're still struggling through trying to come
up with one for the future (not immediate) in case you're wondering. Number two was, "What on earth am I
going to do with a baby girl? I don't
know anything about little girls."
One of my concerns was actually whether or not I would have the ability
to bond with her. I wasn't worried about
early on because babies are cute. You
just feed them, water them, brush their hair, clean up after them. You know, just like you would a puppy (also
cute). As she gets older though, I do
tend to worry about that at times so I make certain now to enjoy all of the
little things now.
Normally, Ellie tends to gravitate towards being a momma's
girl. Obviously, I have no comparison as
to whether that's normal or not so I'm ok with it. That being said, there are times where a little
bit of jealously can kick in as a result of that. Several examples. Bethany was the person who actually got to
give Ellie her first bath and also feed her solid food (the solid food actually
happened this week). Now, while those
were fun experiences to sit and watch, I did feel pangs of jealously that I
didn't get to be a bigger part of the first time. Now on the flip side, I was there for the
first time Ellie rolled over and several other things that just aren't coming
to me right now which made Bethany a little jealous. The truth is that Ellie maintains a different
relationship with each of us. Bethany is
the one that she wants when she's upset or needs comforting. I'm the one that she often seems to want when
it's time to play.
Tonight was one of those instances where Ellie sought out
play time and sought it out in the best way ever. While Bethany and I were eating our own
dinner, Bethany was intermittently giving Ellie spoonfuls of rice cereal. Now I'd be lying if I said if looked tasty but
this was the first night that Ellie seemed to really enjoy it. She'd happily eat up any that Bethany offered
up. Once the meal was completed, we gave
her a cold teething toy for her to enjoy while we cleaned up. Shortly thereafter, Ellie would throw her toy
onto the kitchen floor from her position atop her high chair. I went and sat down beside her and teased her
by happily declaring, "Uh oh."
That was immediately met with high pitched giggling from our
daughter. I continued to say "Uh
oh" in the same happy tone, being met with Ellie's giggling until both
Bethany and I were laughing hysterically and basically hyperventilating from a
lack of oxygen. Once we recovered,
Bethany tried to make Ellie laugh in the same fashion only to be met with a
confused glance. I then attempted to do
the exact same thing to be met with the same excited laughter again and again.
I think the moral of the story is to realize that I at least
have a role in my daughter's life in this current stage. Change the diapers and feed her during the
day. Then when her mommy gets home at
night, she takes over that kind of stuff and I just get to play! :)
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