I promise...

Here are a few of the promises that I make to any visitor that we might have in the next several weeks:

• I will not force you to hold the baby.  If you aren't comfortable with it, or would rather not....that's ok.  I won't take it as a personal insult that you don't want to hold a cute baby.  When my sisters (I'll leave it plural so they don't think I'm singling one out.) having babies, I remembered going to visit and having a newborn thrust into my arms....despite me not volunteering or feeling 100% confident in my baby holding abilities.  Then I would notice the snickers that everyone gave me because of the awkwardness of me holding a little baby.  Which brings me to promise #2:
• I will not laugh at your baby holding ability

• I will not try to teach you the proper baby holding technique unless you A) ask for it, or B) are obviously harming the baby.
• I will let you change as many diapers as you want.  (Em might not, however.  She's pretty excited about the whole diaper thing.  That's not a joke.) 

• I won't comment if you choose to suggest who the baby looks more like (Em or me).  I never see any resemblence to any parents until much later in development.  I will have no comment.
• I will be the buffer between any guest and Em & the baby.  It's not the role I relish, but I'll need to be protective of their resting/sleeping for a few days/weeks.....who knows how long.
• I will cherish your visit (and may even write about it in this blog).