Hard Work, Good Results

I have been a mother now 9 weeks. It sounds so short time but it feels much longer. Our little princess is growing fast and learning everyday something new. Like we too as parents. Past nine weeks have been like a rollercoaster, lots of crying, frustration, puffy eyes, lots of joy and laughter. She gives us so much joy and we enjoy her company. Every day we are wondering how cute baby our little precious girl is.

I have always admired moms. They are like superheroes and they always find solution to problems and know what to do. It is funny how much you can learn from your baby. I feel already that within this last two weeks I have learnt to solve some problems that I thought I couldn't survive. I think that one of the best things for being as a mom, is to find new solutions. I have been all ears and eyes what comes to taking care a baby. I haven't been ashamed to admit that I have no idea what to do when my baby cries all days and nothing helps, I haven't even pretended to say that everything is all right when I have been clueless what's wrong when I can't get my baby to sleep during the day. But it is funny that no matter how much you get help and advices you still need to find your own way to solve your problems with the baby. One thing I have learnt for sure, that every single baby is a unique and what works to another doesn't necessarily work with your baby, you just need to learn to do things your own way.

Our baby was crying a lot first eight weeks. We have had much easier now when I have got her to sleep during the day. I got so much help but nothing seemed to help. After reading tons of baby books and magazines and discussing with friends and family who have kids I decided that she needs to know that there is a time for a day that she needs to sleep. So I helped her to get to that routine and after waking up in the morning I ate breakfast, got her ready and started my morning walk with her. I decided that I need to get her sleep even once during the day. I walked so much. I was walking an hour and 30 minutes and she was sleeping. When we got home she woke up and I was a need of a nap and my legs hurt.. I fed her every three hours and when she started to get tired I put her in the carrier and carried her an hour or so and every time she fell a sleep. I did that one week and I was exhausted. I was so done with my morning marathons and being up on my feet the whole day until my husband came home so he could carry her for a change. After one week I was complaining to my husband that it can't go like that, I need to stop carrying her when she sleeps, there has to be some other way to get her sleep than walking with her or carrying her. My husband listened to me and said that be patient this is just a face, it will end one day. And believe it or not, it ended! The next day I was for a walk with our neighbour who has a baby too and I was complaining our situation to her that I'm tired of this that she doesn't sleep during day. Then my neighbour said that try to put her outside to the balcony to sleep. I said I did try that earlier but she doesn't sleep there, every time the strollers stop moving she wakes up

. My neighbour heard my frustration and said, just try. Then I tried and it worked!! She was sleeping her first long naps (2 hours) outside! I was so amazed. As a Finn I was a pessimist and thinking that I might got just lucky that it wouldn't work next time, but what happened, she was sleeping again the next day two hours and again and again and again! It worked! My hard work was paid dividends! I was so happy. Finally I got her to sleep during the day and I could get some things done meanwhile and as a result we have now happier and more satisfied baby!

Isabella sleeping on our balcony

Now you might think if you're not a Finn, that what on earth, you put your baby outside to sleep?! Yep, that's how it goes here in Finland, the babies sleep so much better outside. We put lots of clothes on for them and they are all covered inside the bassinet that sometimes they are even sweating when they are done with their naps. It is a long tradition and everybody who has a balcony or backyard do that for their babies. Of course there is a limit that if it is more than -10 Celsius degrees then it's too cold even for the babies to sleep outside. I have no idea what I will do when we go to visit US for Christmas, I don't want to deal with policemen..! Then I guess I need to find new solutions and my baby will teach me. Parenthood is all about learning and finding solutions for the problems.