MY REAL JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD

FAMILY, MOM LIFE

MY REAL JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD

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I remember the first time I heard Jidenna cry. It was such a surreal moment for me. It was too much to take in, and I couldn’t believe I’d finally get to hold my child, my own son! There are days when I feel like pulling all of my hair out (well, it’s not like I have any, thanks to post-partum hair loss), and other days I stare at my baby and wonder what I did to deserve this little munchkin of yummy goodness.

My little boy is growing so quickly and he never ceases to amaze me every day. Sometimes, I still cannot believe that I am a mom to the most amazing toddler! I just thought I should share moments from my real joys of motherhood.

The first time I held my baby(Read All About My Birth Story Here)

That first cry and holding the tiny human Mr.O and I had created. He had a full head of hair and he was so light-skinned. His cry though! It was so freaking loud. At that moment, I knew my sleep was really gone. But, hey, he was all mine. My baby, my firstborn, the one I prayed for. My life changed at that moment.

My Birth Story
My Birth Story – An Unplanned C-Section

The diaper explosion at the mall

On this blessed day, we had gone to the mall. Jidenna was a few weeks old and he was in his stroller. He was suddenly really cranky and started crying. His dad decided to bring him out of the stroller and as soon as he dipped his hands in, his hands were met with some really slimy, gooey, smelly poop. The poop had traveled all the way to his back. It was at that moment that I knew my life was now dedicated to changing poops, the big and small kind, the sticky and not so sticky ones, the smelly and ‘the smelly one’. It always smells. It’s even worse now that he eats adult food.

via GIPHY

When he laughs

Oh boy! Jidenna’s laughter will melt your heart even if you have a heart of stone. He has always been a happy baby and I’m grateful for that. He never really cries except he needs something. He is full of laughter and always smiling or saying hi to anyone who cares to listen. We always have random people walk up to us because he smiled or waved to them. Once he offered his sippy cup to a stranger to drink and gave his little daughter a hug. She told me ‘she saw Jesus in him’.

Even the cheerleaders love him

Calling me mama

He said ‘dada’ first though. I mean I was hoping he would say mama first, but it’s not surprising. Kids born these days are sly, they’d spend the whole day with you, cling to you all they can. You breastfeed them, change their dirty diaper, deal with the mess they make and all the other things that come with having a kid. But guess who they call first. You guessed right. Their dads. I was thrilled when he finally said ‘mama’. I think I might have shed a tear or two. I love it sometimes, but now he just screams mama all the time, it’s exhausting.

via GIPHY

His first steps

Luckily I had my phone on me and I captured this one. My baby is not a baby anymore. He’s now a walker. I was so excited, on some days I’m not because he just walks right to the toilet when I’m trying to pee. In the past, I could quickly finish my business before he got to me.

via GIPHY

He knows when I’m sad and comes right up to give me a hug

There was this day I had had a bad day and he saw me crying. I was on my knees and he came right to me and gave me a hug and did not let go. I was so moved at that moment. It was like he knew his mama wasn’t feeling good. I was in awe. This little man isn’t even two yet. That cheered me up immediately and he became clingy the whole day. It felt like he was saying ‘I’m here for you mama’.

My Real Joys Of Motherhood

The day I was convinced he drank water from the toilet

Oh, your toddler will drive you crazy on some days. This particular day I was getting some work done and Jidenna was watching something his iPad that was making splashing sounds in the pool. I assumed that was what he was busy with. After a couple of minutes, I asked his dad to please check on him. Guess what! The splashing sound was no longer coming from the iPad, it was now coming from the toilet. It was the sound of him throwing stuff into the toilet a having a field day, and only God knows the amount of water that got into his mouth from all his laughter. Needless to say, the toilet got babyproofed almost right away. Read this post to get babyproofing tips and a free babyproofing checklist printable.

Hands in my boobs

We finally weaned. That is a story for another day. It was a tough and painful experience but it had to be done. This little man might have stopped being a milk monster, he still is a boob mister though. Even while watching Mother Goose Club or Word Party, his hands are on the boobs. I’m still trying to understand it, but somehow it gives him comfort.

Diaper Changes

Honestly, during diaper changes, I’m convinced my toddler can take part in a wrestling competition. He never wants his back to touch the ground and I feel like he strongly believes he’s stronger than me.

Napping is non-existent in his dictionary

I literally crack up every time Jidenna is sleepy. he legit has FOMO (fear of missing out). I still cannot understand how a person can be so sleepy and yet will keep fighting the sleep like his life depends on being awake. If I’m ever able to get a 2-hour nap from him, it is a miracle. He doesn’t know that when he gets older, he’ll be wishing he got all that sleep mama asked him to get.

Watching him play with his dad

Prior to having Jidenna, Mr.O always acted so tough and very macho-ey (wait, is there a word like? You get my point though). Anyway, fast-forward to having him in our lives, the hubs has been turned a big pile of mush. No jokes! Sometimes, I feel like the third wheel in this household. They look alike, they share so many things in common. He squeals when he sees his dad. Dude, I’m with you all the time and you never squeals when I’m gone and come back home. And oh! he knows what time his dad gets back from work. He literally goes to the door and starts knocking. I think his dad might just be his favorite person.

Honestly, motherhood is hard. It has its challenges and some days I’m frustrated out of my mind but I’m grateful for this little man. I’m so much more patient. I think twice before yelling. Motherhood has changed my life forever and in a very good way. Now I have a little human who is dependent on me. I already have separation anxiety thinking about school. I hope I won’t be one of those moms who will go pick up her kid before school closes for the day. I most likely will cry on his first day. Hey! There’s no shame in that. I’m learning to embrace and live the little moments and I’m capturing each moment as it passes by. Sadly he doesn’t enjoy pictures anymore but I still manage to force him to take pictures. Lol. Jidenna is my joy! I’m growing every day and learning a lot so I can be a good mom to him. I love me my yummy munchkin. #joysofmotherhood. What are some of your mommy moments? Please share in the comment section below.

6 Comments

  1. Maria Elsa Jose

    January 29, 2020 at 1:05 am

    Oh my goodness! You made me laugh, you made me cry. Thank you for reminding me all of these! You’re a great mom!

  2. Emily

    January 29, 2020 at 7:32 pm

    This made me laugh out loud! I love all these moments, my little boy is OBSESSED with our toilet 🙂
    Emily x

    1. Chinenye

      January 29, 2020 at 9:37 pm

      Haha…they just love the toilet, don’t they?!

  3. Chi

    January 29, 2020 at 9:08 pm

    I’m right there with u on the explosion, this was on a trip to Atlanta, less than 2 months old. U can imagine the frustration, anxiety and not being at the comfort of my home. It was a huge learning experience, I cried when I saw all the poop on his car seat that even ran to the base. Needless to say we threw the entire outfit away but now we look back and just laugh.
    I think D also thinks he’s stronger than me lol, they crack me up. #Joyofmotherhood

    1. Chinenye

      January 29, 2020 at 9:37 pm

      I know right. There was no saving the outfit. Haha, we also threw it out. Lol. Jidenna acts like he’s stronger than me too.

  4. Nidhi

    January 29, 2020 at 10:16 pm

    Such a lovely blog!! Motherhood is actually beautiful with its own challenges though. Thanks for sharing your experience, Chi.

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