Winter Editor's Letter

It’s a new year—and perhaps a new chapter as you embrace maternity and baby in your world. Has 10 months ever felt so short and so long? Time took a wonky perspective change once we were expecting our first baby. “Hurry up!” I would think as I wished to meet this stranger poking around my insides. “Slow down, already!” I would think as she grew through tiny clothes those first few months and years. And my husband and I would marvel, as most new parents do, at what on earth we did with ourselves before our baby! Once she arrived, we just wanted to sit still and hold her a little longer … even when we weren’t already feeding, rocking or reading to her.

When it came to naming our firstborn, we engaged in hours and hours of conversations about names. Once we had a contender, we always checked the Social Security Administration website to see how popular it was. That was a fascinating exercise! You can find lots of ideas for generating baby names in this story. Years have passed now, and I do know the cost of kiddos doesn’t seem to let up! Be sure to see “Budgeting After Baby” for helpful tips to navigate the expenses associated with children.

Whatever stage you find yourself in, I hope you rest confidently in the fact that you were made for this. There’s no such thing as perfect and there’s lots to learn, but there’s grace for the journey.