Mama, Mama, Mama!

For a long time, Stephanie seemed to prefer Daddy to Mommy. It took her a very long time to call out for me, or to even associate that I was "Mama". She'd wake up in the morning calling Daddy, she would look for him every time we walked in the front door, and when he came home from work she would attach herself to him for the rest of the night. Well, over the past few weeks she has gone from the ultimate Daddy's Girl, to a Mommy cling-on!

Now the first thing I hear in the morning over the monitor is "Mama! Mama! Mama!" ("Followed by uh-oh...Pooh! Taggie!Oh no! Uh-oh!" Obviously these beloved lovies have catapulted themselves out of her crib. She would never dare to throw them out. Nope, not her.) It seems like I am the only one who can do anything for her right now. Diaper and change her (which she really doesn't even want me to do. But at least she doesn't scream and cry hysterically like she does if Daddy tries to do it), feed her, bathe her, play with her, etc. If I leave the room for one minute, she follows me, calling "Mama, Mama!" If I dare to attempt going to the bathroom without her, she stands at the door, bangs on it yelling for me, and tries to look under it to see if I am really in there.

I am definitely flattered, and feeling the love. I'm soaking up all this mommy-daughter bonding time, since come October I will have to share my time and attention with another little one. But every once in a while it gets tiresome. I would love to be able to have a few moments of peace when Daddy walks in the door, to cook dinner or, you know, go to the bathroom. But it's hard to focus on a task when you have a little one calling for you and acting as though her world has ended because she does not have you in her sight. A part of me is anxious as well, and hoping that she'll get this phase out of her system now, before Joseph arrives. If not, nursing him is sure to be a blast, while she is pulling on me and whining for me, instead of happily playing with Daddy. But, I know she'll be fine, and it is good for her to have such a strong bond and attachment to me. After all, during the day, I am her number one, primary caregiver. We spend every one of her waking minutes together, so it's natural that she prefers me right now. And despite the tiresomeness and anxiousness over October, it really is sweet, especially when she just wants to crawl into my lap and cuddle in the rocking chair for a few minutes. I cherish those sweet moments, and would never trade them for anything. Even to go to the bathroom in peace.

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