Happiest Baby on the Block

Okay while Alexa is happy and content most of the time I am actually talking about the book, "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp. This book is great and since reading it and watching the DVD, Alexa (and us of course) have had a decrease in crying/fussy periods and an increase in confidence in making her happy! I wish I would have read this book back in high school when babysitting. I would have had parents flocking to me to help calm their baby and had a booming business hahaha! Honestly though I think this is a must read for all parents or individuals who are around tiny babies. From the concept of swaddling to white noise and jiggling it just makes sense.

There is not always a lot of talk about how adoptive parents may feel after adoption besides elated that they have a baby in their arms. In many cases, ours included, you have an overwhelming feeling of needing to provide this baby with the very best. This feeling is ten fold in an open adoption with whom you have a good relationship and love for the birthparents. Yes, yes all parents want to provide the very best for their child(ren) but when you throw adoption into the mix a whole new flood of emotions comes to the surface. While many new parents question if what they are doing is right or feel at the end of their rope with their crying baby the mind games many adoptive parents play can be even worse. You want to be able to report that your baby is happy not only to your friends, but to the birthparents and the adoption agency. The truth is all babies cry (duh right?) but there are ways to help decrease fussy periods (or at least shorten them) and in turn increase your confidence as a parent in helping to calm your wailing red-faced angel! Anyways, I guess my point is that this is a wonderful book for all parents and not just first-time parents, that if I may seem overly emotional it is because I love the little girl sleeping peacefully in the room next door and I am overjoyed because when implementing many of the strategies in this book Alexa will sleep for up to 5 hours or more a night! Have a great weekend everyone!

Please take note of the adorable hat in this picture made by her lovely birth grandma :)