Entertaining :: With A Baby

Our girl #RG has been around here for a little over 4 months.  The first month or so was a huge period of adjustment.  Much more so than I had anticipated.  Honestly, it was probably the first 3 months before I quit crying periodically, but that's another matter entirely.  I remember, in those early days, reading (on google, at 2 in the AM, obvi) that most mothers don't feel as though they've hit their stride until about 4 months.  Somewhere around the 4-month mark, things start to click and everyone resumes bathing regularly.  When I read that, I had thought "Bah!  I already feel like I've got it together."  Pretty sure I cried 3 of the next 5 days.  Definitely didn't have it together.

Start with a good sunset.

But now, now we're getting our groove on.  I mean, we're not consistently doing much of anything, but in general, my moments of despair and confusion last only on the order of mere seconds, rather than hours or minutes.  So that's good.

And since we've got our groove going, its time to be entertaining again.  I love, LOVE to have friends over.  Heck, I enjoy it when the bug spraying peoples and repairmen "visit".   Always try and get them to have something to eat or drink.  Have yet for them to take me up on the offer.  But friends, we do enjoy having friends over.  And while having a bambina bouncing around these parts does make going out more difficult, entertaining is nearly easier!

Then stay outside as it fades.

When you stay in, you can keep baby on her schedule (pronouncing it "Shed-shule" helps).  Or her "general approximate timeline that she doesn't really follow but it would be nice if she did".  Whatever.  ;)  You don't have to keep baby up longer than she wants to be, you don't have to put her to sleep somewhere strange, and you can feed her however you regularly do.  Its pretty much a perfect scenario.  So its no more difficult than if you stay home alone and pop corn and sit by yourself.

Then, there are the bonuses.  Like free entertainment.  People who are willing to come to the house where a new baby resides are generally willing, nay, eager, to play with said baby.  And free childcare.  Mom & Dad are expected to share the baby, so their load is lightened.  Mama walks around with arms not laden with a 17 lb chunky monkey, and can instead eat her pint of Chunky Monkey in peace.

Let it get darker and darker, as you soak up the good memories.
And voila!
A good time is had by all.

So here's what you do, in order to entertain WAB.  You pick an easy menu.  Like hotdogs on the grill.  And chips & dip.  Maybe some fruit skewers, if you're feeling frisky.  You call friends.  You know the ones.  The ones who are ready to party on a moment's notice.  The ones willing to take the most ordinary accomplishment and turn it into a cause for celebration.  The ones you don't have to, or even want to impress.  You ask them to bring the chips.  You throw some dogs on the fire.  Change out of your yoga pants (or don't).  You chill.

Here's what you don't do.  Don't apologize for your house.  No one comes over to hear how you're so sorry your house isn't spotless.  No one expects your house to be.  Stop pretending that you expect it to be.  And don't feel bad when you're attending to baby and ignoring your guests.  This one is hard for me, but I feel better and get a better outcome when I totally focus on my girl when she needs me, and I let others love on her when she doesn't need me. Oh, and don't forget to turn on baby's white noise machine, so that she can't hear all of the fun she's missing.

And that's it.  You enjoy your baby.  You enjoy your guests.  You welcome the diversion and the break-up of what can become many monotonous days.  You feel adult again.  You renew your friendships, and possibly even be a little more human with them.  Especially if they have kids, or grown kids, you'll be surprised at how a new addition can make your friendships grow, if you tend them.  I know I'm looking forward to a summer of cook outs, camp fires, and laughter in my home.

What was your favorite way to entertain when you had (have?) new kiddos?

<3 M.