Baby Blessings

10 Reasons to Cherish the First Year

By Becky Lane

Not that you need any more reasons to love your bundle of joy, but just in case, here are 10 things to cherish about your baby's first year:

Chubby cheeks, chubby fingers, chubby arms, chubby legs, chubby belly – you name it, parents love it on their babies. And super soft skin makes hugging and touching all those chubby body parts that much more pleasant.

"They're great for cuddling and kissing," says Allison Green, a Winston-Salem, N.C., mom of two.

Parents will always remember their baby's first laugh. And they'll do anything to hear it again. "All of a sudden, we become great comedians and everything we do is entertaining," says Ann Travis, mother of two from Waxhaw, N.C. "[My daughter] would laugh her head off if I fake sneezed ... go figure."

I remember vividly the first laughs of both my daughters, each distinctly different from her sister's. They still are, and when they are being tickle tortured by their dad or cracking each other up with their silliness, their laughter brings me back to that original sweet memory every time.

Even before a first laugh, your baby's first smile is something to cherish, Green says. "Those adorable smiles ... even if they are from gas" is tops on this mom's list of baby blessings.

It's no wonder they named delicate little flowers after the smell of a baby's exhalation. Everyone loves the smell of a new baby. Baby soaps, baby lotions, baby oils and just the scent of your baby's milky breath or fresh, clean skin can be great aromatherapy for an overtired, overworked new parent.

Want to see more?

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