An entire life in half a year

By some feat of wizardry, this has happened:

Hannah turned six months old on Sunday. It's been so warm the past few days that it reminded me of summer last year, when I was waddling my way from work to yoga. It seems like a lifetime ago. For Hannah, it was an entire lifetime ago. Six months. I can't believe it.

I feel like I have settled into life as a stay-at-home mom. Don't get me wrong, every time I think I have a routine figured out and things are going along swimmingly, Hannah changes things and we need to figure it out all over again. Like, remember how she used to sleep through the night and I felt so well-rested that I felt like having another baby was totally do-able, like, why do people make such a big deal out of this sleep thing when it only lasts a few weeks? Haaaaaaaaaaa. Ha. HAHAHA. Ha.

And not only does Mrs. Baby change things up every month or so, she keeps learning new tricks. I can no longer leave her in one place and trust her to, like, REMAIN THERE. She started rolling over last month and immediately became obsessed with her new skill. Rolling, rolling, rolling! We get it, baby. You can roll over! I have sent videographic evidence to your grandmother, we all get it NOW HOLD STILL WHILE I CHANGE YOUR DAMN DIAPER. And then immediately she went from rolling to sitting up. Well, not immediately, it probably took another month. But I will tell you that one day I left a baby who most definitely could NOT sit up at home and when I came home ninety minutes later, she could. Babies, man. They are tricky bastards.

But I feel like I'm getting the hang of this gig, ever-changing as it may be. And this may be the daylight savings and warm weather talking, but I am also feeling 98% less lonely and sad. Let me tell you, I came to understand the term "desperate housewife" better than I ever wanted to during months four and five. The first three months I was just basically trying to survive.  But then things started to smooth out and... man, I got lonely. I never thought that would happen to me. I love spending time by myself! I used to take mental health days from work and happily spend them home in my pajamas doing random shit around the house! I kind of thought SAHMing was going to be kind of like one long mental health day (that is: glorious and fun with lots of me-time). Turns out, not so much. BUT! I have now successfully found several playgroups, joined a local moms' group, AND I have made one bona-fide mom-friend who I like so much that I'd even be friends with her if we didn't have babies! (Turns out, desperation lowers your friendship standards right quick. Is the person breathing? Does she have a baby? Does she speak English? Then congratulations, she's BFF material!) I no longer have to troll the park, trying to make eye contact and smile at every nice-looking lady pushing a stroller. So that's nice. And last week, after story time at the library ended, I took Hannah over to the kids section to play with the cool toys they have and look at their goldfish because I had paid $2 to park for an hour and we still had 20 minutes left, HAVE 20 MORE MINUTES OF FUN, DAMNIT. And this other lady followed me over there and started talking to me. "Do you come to this session a lot?", she asked me, and we chatted for a bit as she wrangled her twins into their double stroller. When it became clear that Hannah was in dire need of a nap, we both packed up the last of our stuff. As we exited the elevator, she said "Maybe I'll see you here next week?" and I realized OH MY GOD, she's trying to be friends with me. And I already HAVE a mom-friend. What am I going to do with two mom-friends? Soon I'll have a mom-friend for every day of the week! ALL UR MOM-FRIENDS ARE BELONG TO ME.

Sitting up baby has no time for friends, too much sitting up to do.

Comments

[RA]

Yay, you! And yay, Hannah! As adorable as she was as a newborn, I LOVE it when babies pudgen up and become all jolly. The picture of her in the pack-n-play is my favorite. She is all, "THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!"

[Liz]

Man that pic of lying on the mat smiling at the camera just melts my cold, cold heart. I swear I'd give that girl anything she wanted, all she'd have to do is just give that look!

Woo hoo for mom friends! Curious to hear how your other pre-mom friendships have changed now that you're a mom. I hear it's different.

[-R-]

You are the most popular mom ever!

Hannah is gloriously cute. So, so cute.

[Angela Noelle]

I am so happy that you are finding new friends! That has to make all of the tough stuff a little more bearable, just knowing that there's someone else you can hang out with who gets it. Hannah is no kidding one of the cutest babies I have ever seen. The picture of her laying down on the mat by the parrot thing just about stopped my heart!

[Audrey]

She is so stinkin' cute! I love her!

So glad you're finding mom friends. I'm still working on that one...it's amazing how even though I go to work and am surrounded by people all day, I can still feel so incredibly lonely. I'm hoping now that the weather is nice, more of the moms in the neighborhood will be out and about on the weekends.

[Janssen]

Oh she is DARLING.

Also, Mom friends are pretty much a necessity.

[Hotpotatokate]

She's SO CUTE! And she looks so fun. Yay for Mom friends, and for getting the hang of things (for now) :)

[Rhi]

She is so cute! We could also use some more mom friends. All of ours are going back to work.

[Life of a Doctor's Wife]

Holy cats woman, your baby is adorable! What a sweet happy little one!

[Phil]

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Regards,

Phil

[Khan]

Cat Wahl - I just had to tell you how WONDERFUL your blog is!!! I've been on it for omg well, waaaaayyyy past btimdee lets say in complete awe & love of your work!!! I follow you on facebook too, and if there's ever a chance, I would LOVE to spend some time with you about your work. It's so nice to see local photographers all come together in support of each other around here (not a photographer, just a hobby for me!) Anyways, love your work and recommend you all the time. Bye for now!

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