I am so thankful for the loads of advice offered up by my mom, mom-in-law, grandma, Essie, Angela and pediatrician to help make Alaire a happier baby and allow me to retain my sanity – especially in the first few weeks of motherhood.  From giving baths in the sink rather than the tub, to using Caldesene powder rather than diaper cream, to propping Alaire up while she sleeps to ease congestion, to beginning each nursing session on my finger to ease the initial latch-on pain .  In the “what in the world am I doing?” moments, it has felt like life saving advice.  But, some of the best advice I received came unexpectedly through a text message late on a Sunday evening from my sister-in-law, Nicki.  She wrote, “I was just reflecting on my kids, and really how quickly it goes, and wanted to say to you that no matter how hard and frustrating parenting can be (and it will), the clichés are correct.  Stop, hug, look in their eyes, play, talk, do the boring things they love, love the messy house they make :-).”  Each time I re-read this text I get really choked up.  I know I will need to hear this advice over and over again when I go back to work in the fall, especially if guilt creeps when housework takes a back seat to sitting and holding my lovely beautiful and amazing daughter.