Around here, big is just the way we do things. Garrett and I are big people, with a big baby and a big dog.
A really big dog in fact. A 111-pound Rottweiler with a head that comes up to my waist and a mouth that devours cookies like they never existed. While his bark is loud and his frequent talking can scare most people, Zeus would like nothing more to cuddle. Or play fetch. Or chase our remote control car. In short, we couldn’t have asked for a better family pet.
Baths are standard protocol in the world of babies. And there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, as a tiny tot, I was pretty jealous of all those kids who had bath toys and soap chalk.
But as a 6-foot woman, I find them less than enjoyable. Especially because at the end I feel like I need a shower anyway. Perhaps it’s because I was raised a shower baby. My dad would take me “up the water shaft” and my mom taught me to thoroughly rinse the big girl conditioner (once I was using big girl conditioner).
You grow this baby and the entire time people open doors, carry bags, and insist you cut to the front of the bathroom line. Then you pop the sucker out and suddenly everyone’s focused on those 10 tiny toes and perfect little nose.
Your house turns into a minefield of baby play gyms and burp cloths. People roll their eyes when they see you walk in with a loaded car seat. And all the while, you’re just re-hiking your maternity pants.
First, it’s essential to note that EVERY BABY IS DIFFERENT. And, every household is different. What worked for us might not work for you or the parents across the street or for me if we have a second kid.
Frankly, some of the things that didn’t make it on my list of practical baby necessities were touted by friends I really trust as absolute ‘must-haves.’
Second, deciding what your baby really needs is tough and mentally exhausting. Cut yourself some slack. The onesies and diaper pail you end up getting is not career-ending. If you feed them, change their diaper, and manage to not claw your own eyes out, you’re doing great!