Watching My Baby Grow and Learning to Let Go
I’ve said it a thousand times, but each and every month of Harper’s life, I find myself saying “this is the best age ever!” I think it’s natural to enjoy watching your baby go from a tiny, chunky infant who does tummy time on a mat to a growing, running-all-over-the-place toddler who can communicate with you.
Becoming a mother is like the wildest roller coaster ride---there are ups and downs, surprises at every turn, joys and worry, and happiness and love like you’ve never experienced. It’s a tangled jumble of every emotion you’ve ever felt.
One of the questions that I’m often asked is "what surprised you most about motherhood?" I could give a hundred different answers, but the one I’ll focus on today is how motherhood helped me let go a little. And if you know me, you know that’s not something that comes easily or naturally for me. I’m a huge worrier and worst-case-scenario thinker and I’ve been that way since I was a child. I think it’s my way of “protecting myself” in case the unimaginable were to happen to a family member or friend. So “letting go” of those worries comes in baby steps for me. While pregnant, I pictured myself as "that mom" with an endless arsenal of germ-killing products, hand-sanitizer in every room of the house and keeping my floors “so clean you could eat off of them.” For the first few months of Harper’s life, I was very cautious about taking her places and exposing her to germs before she was vaccinated. Then, when my maternity leave was over and I went back to work, Harper was in daycare and she was sick quite a bit (as was I).
I also remember proclaiming how my house would still look "fantastic" after having children and believe me, I'm laughing so much harder at myself than any of you are. I realized that my vision of being “that mom” with the disinfecting spray bottle at arm’s reach and a perfectly organized home was not only unrealistic, but detrimental. I wanted to enjoy my time with my daughter, not worry about her putting a toy in her mouth after it fell on the floor or keeping my house spotless. I didn't have the time or energy to be the way I imagined.
My perspective changed so much as she grew. She was getting into more things and learning to crawl and walk. I loved watching her explore, learn new things and discover the world around her. I stopped freaking out if she ate a piece of food she dropped on the floor, licked a rock at the park or used a restaurant highchair without a cover. (Okay, maybe I did freak out just a little about the rock licking incident at the park).
(rocks and babies, not a good combo)
Though I've learned to let go a little, we of course still practice good hand hygiene and keep our house decent (we also have a cleaning service come about once a month) --- but I’ve become much more relaxed about it and it makes life so much easier. I would rather spend time making memories than making my floors sparkle.
There's no denying though that life with a toddler is messy. I can't tell you how many times I've watched in slow-motion as Harper threw hundreds of grains of quinoa on the hardwoods or threw pasta sauce on the floor.
There are noses to wipe, hands to wash, highchairs to clean… and it's truly never-ending. I never cared much about cleaning products before I had Harper --- but as soon as I became pregnant I started to look for options that didn't contain harmful or strong chemicals.
That's when I was first introduced to the Babyganics line. I started to use some of their cleaning products in my first trimester of pregnancy when I saw them at Babies R Us, and continued to use them when Harper was born.
My husband and I are huge fans of their Alcohol-Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer (we keep one in each diaper bag and in our diaper-changing basket---and it comes in either unscented or mandarin---we have both) as well as their Foaming Dish & Bottle Soap, which we used to clean bottles, pumping parts---and now, sippy cups. We also used their all-purpose cleaning spray.
Though I've learned to let go a little, we of course still practice good hand hygiene and keep our house decent (we also have a cleaning service come about once a month) --- but I’ve become much more relaxed about it and it makes life so much easier. I would rather spend time making memories than making my floors sparkle.
There's no denying though that life with a toddler is messy. I can't tell you how many times I've watched in slow-motion as Harper threw hundreds of grains of quinoa on the hardwoods or threw pasta sauce on the floor.
There are noses to wipe, hands to wash, highchairs to clean… and it's truly never-ending. I never cared much about cleaning products before I had Harper --- but as soon as I became pregnant I started to look for options that didn't contain harmful or strong chemicals.
That's when I was first introduced to the Babyganics line. I started to use some of their cleaning products in my first trimester of pregnancy when I saw them at Babies R Us, and continued to use them when Harper was born.
My husband and I are huge fans of their Alcohol-Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer (we keep one in each diaper bag and in our diaper-changing basket---and it comes in either unscented or mandarin---we have both) as well as their Foaming Dish & Bottle Soap, which we used to clean bottles, pumping parts---and now, sippy cups. We also used their all-purpose cleaning spray.
(we need hand sanitizer for moments like when my daughter pets a goat, haha)
Recently, I got to test out Babyganics Toy & Highchair Cleaner Spray, Face Hand & Baby Wipes and Moisturizing Daily Lotion.
These were new products to me and I have to say that hands down, my favorite of the new ones I tried are the Face Hand & Baby Wipes because I use them constantly. For runny noses, messy faces, sticky hands, and diaper changes. They're large and really get the job done---and the best part is that they're unscented which is great for sensitive skin.
Recently, I got to test out Babyganics Toy & Highchair Cleaner Spray, Face Hand & Baby Wipes and Moisturizing Daily Lotion.
These were new products to me and I have to say that hands down, my favorite of the new ones I tried are the Face Hand & Baby Wipes because I use them constantly. For runny noses, messy faces, sticky hands, and diaper changes. They're large and really get the job done---and the best part is that they're unscented which is great for sensitive skin.
The Toy & Highchair Cleaner Spray is also unscented and you don't have to rinse it after you've wiped down whatever you're cleaning. I mostly use it for highchair cleaning but I've also used it on my countertops.
The Moisturizing Daily Lotion isn't a product we use daily, but it has a nice, light scent and is non-allergenic. It also doesn't contain any parabens, artificial dyes or fragrances and other ingredients that can irritate skin. Harper has sensitive skin (hello, redhead) as do I, so this is perfect for us both.
Have you ever tried Babyganics? Which products are your favorites? Leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card! Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 10/16/2014 – 11/15/2014.
Be sure to visit the Babyganics brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 10/16/2014 – 11/15/2014.
Be sure to visit the Babyganics brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
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