Motherhood, My Greatest Adventure
I never expected motherhood to be this amazing. People talk about how much it changes you, but I didn’t realize how deeply beautiful it would feel until I experienced it myself. Now that I have my baby, I sometimes wish I had started sooner. It’s by far the most powerful and beautiful feeling in the world.
The day I found out I was pregnant, everything changed. My priorities shifted completely. From that moment on, every decision I made was about her well-being. I started caring about my health for the first time in a serious way. I never missed a doctor’s appointment. I read everything I could about nutrition, movement, circadian rhythm, and the power of sunlight. I had heard about these things before, but never really took the time to sit down and understand them. My baby became my biggest motivator. Knowing I had a little human growing inside me made me much more careful with everything I did.
When I saw her for the first time, I couldn’t believe she was mine. She was too beautiful. It was such a surreal feeling. If I hadn’t given birth at home, I would have thought someone gave me the wrong baby. She was just that perfect. But there she was, wanting to be on my chest. She immediately relaxed when the midwife helped me hold her. She started looking for my breast right away, and when she latched, it was an incredible moment.
The Newborn Stage
That first month was an emotional roller coaster. I had no idea how much work it is to care for a newborn. I was so tired, physically and emotionally. But every time I looked at her little face, everything made sense. I didn’t care how much I had to suffer as long as she was fine, happy, and healthy. I was lucky to have Dan by my side. He took four months off work to be with us, and it was amazing. I couldn’t have done it without him.
The Baby Stage
When Sofia started smiling, everything changed. Her smile became my greatest motivation. I didn’t care about anything else… all I wanted was to see her happy. Thankfully, she was a healthy, happy baby. We could really see the benefits of breastfeeding. It was hard and time-consuming, especially because I had to pump most of the time. Her latch was too strong, and it hurt a lot. I won’t lie, it was tough, but when you see your baby thriving, you know it’s worth every effort.
She got sick once after I took her to a kids’ party. She had a fever and seemed so sad. It broke my heart. We took her to a pediatrician and had a horrible experience. He immediately said we had to give her antibiotics. We read a lot, bought the medicine just in case, and waited. She wasn’t improving much, so we ended up giving it to her. I hated it. She was only six months old, and I knew antibiotics can affect the microbiota. Fortunately, we haven’t had to use them again. She’s only had a mild fever once more and is still rarely sick. Maybe it’s because she gets breastmilk, maybe because she doesn’t go to daycare, or maybe it's a combination of many things.
Dan and I decided I would stay at home to take care of her until at least age three, or until she can talk well. We're both happy with the decision. It’s tough, for both of us. Dan has to work twice as hard because I’m not on the boat or at the dive shop, and I get exhausted taking care of her on my own. But we still feel it's the best thing for her, and that’s what matters. Do I miss diving? Yes, of course. But I don’t mind waiting a few years if it means doing what’s best for Sofia. Diving isn’t going anywhere. I truly enjoy watching her grow and form a safe attachment with me and with Dan. I’ve read a lot about attachment theory, and I’m committed to helping her develop a secure one.
The Toddler Stage
Now we’re in the toddler stage: the most fun and wild part so far. She doesn’t stop! It’s exhausting to keep up with her. But she’s also the funniest, smartest little person. She learns fast and is constantly doing cheeky things that make us laugh. I love being her mom. I’m so grateful for my baby. Motherhood has been the wildest, most beautiful adventure of my life.
