It's happened.
Two things have happened actually. One, my baby somehow miraculously "turned" three months old. Already I ask: "Where has the time gone?" May 1st seems like a lifetime ago (I guess it was, in some respects).
And two, Grace has become the baby of my dreams. In that, she now allows me dreams. Gone are the eternal days of mere catnaps and sleep-walking. Yes, friends, my dear daughter now sleeps through the night! (Insert praise phrases here: "Alleluia!" "Praise the Lord!" "Hooray!" etc., etc.).
Sleep success aside, I've honestly savored every step of my daughter's young life. And I marvel at how "wise" she seems to be. It's pretty remarkable how much a seemingly unknowing little one can teach the caretakers around her. And because there's neither space nor time enough to list it all, I offer to you the top ten invaluable lessons my daughter's already taught me:
10. You can "say" a lot with a mere vowel sound. Words are overrated; "coos" are eloquent - and brevity is bliss.
9. Crying,like cooing, is a means of successful communication. Cry when you're sad, hungry, tired or have a stomach ache. Crying tells people exactly where you stand.
8. Sleep can be for sissies. Even a newborn can survive on a less-than-ideal amount.
7. When you do eventually decide to like naps and sleep, sleep anywhere and everywhere: cars, restaurants, the mall. Variety is the spice of sleep.
6. When you're not sleeping, observe and analyze the world around you, scan everything with wide-open eyes.
5. Always have a "nuk" nearby, whatever your "nuk" (comfort-provider) may be.
4. When in doubt, throw on a "onesie." It's comfortable and goes with everything.
3. Always be open to meeting new people. Stare at them if you find them interesting and fall asleep if you don't.
2. Know who your "people" are. Definitely know who your mommy and daddy are.
And the number one lesson taught to me by my daughter is...
1. You'll have good days and bad days. Both come to an end. Carpe diem.
Yep, I'm still in love, and still, obviously, singularly focused during my maternity leave. But I'm also still following the events of the community (don't retire, Favre!). And I'm looking forward to my eventual return to telling the stories of that very community. For those who've kindly inquired, I'm coming back next month.
Until then, take care. Keep enjoying summer and all the "wise" ones in your life. And in the words of Mike Wallace, "do well and do good."