Hale - The Happy Baby Book 50 Things Every New Mother Should Know

Here is a book by three women who love babies: one with a gift for capturing babies at their best-and worst-and somehow making them all look beautiful; two with babies of their own and a fascination for language and the power of words. It is a book of images and words that we hope will ease the journey that every new mother must take. Every childs life begins the moment a woman is transformed into a mom. Some of us recognize our new incarnation instantaneously: the first glimpse of our newborn is enough to tune our instincts and senses in to this new role that somehow comes so naturally to us. Some of us approach motherhood with more deliberate steps: our goal in sight, we may nevertheless be surprised when we realize we have arrived at a more subtle transformation, achieved with time and effort. Touch your baby. Touch your baby.

Feel her soft skin. Stroke her sweetly furrowed brow and trace her softly sculpted ears. Look into her eyes, sniff the top of her head. Breathe with her. Inhale her scent and blow gently across her face. Mark her as your own.

She is exactly what you wanted. Find the perfect name. Name it. Speak it. Claim it. Take a photo and send it around the globe: this is my baby; my newborn; my new life.

For one tiny moment, yours was the newest baby in the world. These days, that first photo probably isnt really the first of your baby; that privilege held by ultrasound and ultra-fantastic imaging. And it certainly wont be the last photo you take, nor should it be. Take as many as you can, record these precious days; they change all too quickly. Mark in time the good and the bad, and be prepared to look back on both through the rose-colored glasses of hindsight. A baby! You have probably read for its arrival.

You have probably read too much: books, magazines, Web sites. You know about diapers; you have the latest ergonomic, foolproof, guaranteed-sleep crib; and youve purchased a four-wheel drive, on-road/off-road, subway-and-shopping-mall-capable stroller. Youve evaluated the advantages of breast over bottle, chosen a sleep guide, pre-enrolled at the best daycare, and folded and stored a lifetime of small clothes. You are ready. What else do you need?

Youll be offered plenty. Words to advise, encourage, and console.

Many will be familiar: they are the truisms of motherhood. But when you are faced with a mother lode of work producing the milk of human kindness for your babe-in-arms who is crying out his baby blues, and all you really want to do is sleep like a baby, you might need some other words. Words that prevent you from throwing the baby out with the bathwater! Short and strong words that convey deep emotion with minimal effort erudite and witty words to keep your adult sanity intact lullabyes to soothe and calm ditties to enthuse and energize euphemisms to make light of situations synonyms for words that seem worn out with overuse statistics with which to defend your actions even our own tried-and-true recipes. Within the pages of this book are images of beautiful babies matched with our favorite words. Words to laugh with, words to cry with, words to sing to, words to sigh with. Words from one photographer, two moms, and our mom-friends; and all our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers.

Words that made us smile when we needed to; helped us cry when we needed that, too; some that made us laugh when laughter really was the only option; others that reminded us of lifes small miracles; and a few that weve simply made up! Together, we three give you fifty things we believe every new mother should know. Take heart as you read these words and gaze upon these images: there is a woman behind each one who is taking this journey with you.

All advice has been tested in domestic households, but results may vary from family to family. This book contains fanciful statistics. This book will not tell you how to fold diapers or burp babies. It wont tell you how to get a fractious baby to sleep.

This book is to remind you that becoming a mom is a miracle, and that even the worlds best miracles require a little humor and a box of tissues. No.1 There is only one perfect baby in the world and every mother has it. No.3 Your baby will remind you that there is much to be gained from living in the moment and that the smallest things in life bring the greatest pleasure. No.4Essential Survival list
for the First Week

1. Chocolate (for medicinal purposes).
2. Diapers (at least twice as many as recommended).
3. Bathrobe that makes you feel sexy and gorgeous, and returns your body to prebaby proportions.
4. Eye cream.
5. Other moms who bring onesies and casseroles.
6. Childless friends who bring something hopelessly impractical for baby to wear, champagne, and more chocolate.

No.5 Babies really can sleep anywhere but many will make their crib the only exception! No.6The Ten Commandments
of Motherhood

1. Thou shalt forsake a clean house.
2. Thou may never again have an uninterrupted conversation.
3. Thou shalt learn to shop unexpectedly.
4. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors social life.
5. Thou shalt now really honor thy mother and father.
6. Thou shalt no longer have all the answers.
7. Thou hast no further need of an alarm clock.
8. Thou must make five failed attempts before ever leaving the house.
9. Thou shalt wonder what thou ever did with thy time.
10. Thou shalt know it is all worth it.