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That First Wonderful Year

Relax and Enjoy Baby's First Year of Life

By Shannon McKelden

For Jenn DeCuir, she was delighted to discover that her baby daughter had definite likes and dislikes during her first year – and that she shared the same interests as her mom! "My daughter became a country music fan, probably from the womb," says DeCuir of Bothell, Wash. "By the time she was a few months old, she would listen to the radio with me, at home and in the car. One day I realized that she would get fussy and cry when the commercials came on. If I turned it to another country station, she immediately calmed down. I'm sure it would have been the same with any type of music, but I like to think she shares my interests."

Babies are much smarter than you might expect, Pantley says. "They have tremendous insight about the world and their refreshing approach to anything new or different can help you find more joy in the world," she says. "Take the time to filter out the outside world and just observe your baby. It's a wonderful experience to see something new unfold in your baby's eyes."

Is it easier to notice and enjoy more of that first year with second or third children than it is with your first? Maybe so. With first babies we tend to worry a lot. With each subsequent child, we relax a bit more. And worrying less means noticing more.

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