While traditional baby books capture the classic milestones—first steps, first teeth, and first words—let’s be honest: there are countless moments that resonate even more with moms. Here’s a countdown of the milestones that truly matter:
- The first time they managed to wipe themselves clean.
- The day they figured out how to navigate Netflix without your help.
- The morning when you asked them to grab their own cereal, and they actually did, allowing you to stay cozy in bed.
- The evening they took a bath solo, and everyone emerged unscathed.
- THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
- The moment your oldest successfully watched the youngest for five minutes while you enjoyed a shower.
- The episode that made your 4-year-old realize that Caillou is unbearable, while your recommendation of Bob’s Burgers was absolutely spot on.
- The first time you managed to use the bathroom alone.
- The first intimate moment with your partner without a baby’s cries interrupting.
- The glorious day you said goodbye to diapers forever.
- The day you finally ditched sippy cups and their complicated lids and rubber parts.
- The first time the whole family sat through an entire movie in a theater without drama.
- The moment you could zip up your pre-baby jeans and feel like yourself again.
- The day you embraced the fact that frozen pizza is a legitimate dinner option.
- The first time you enjoyed intimacy with your spouse while cherishing the quiet.
- The day you accepted that your “90% of the time” outfit was perfectly fine for a trip to WalMart.
- The day you roamed the aisles of Target freely, without a toddler in tow.
- The first girls’ night out after having a baby, where one glass of wine led to oversharing about your labor experience, and you barely made it an hour before your milk leaked through.
- The day your first child realized that their little sibling is here to stay.
- The moment you decided it was okay to stop breastfeeding.
- The blissful first sip of cabernet after 40 weeks of pregnancy sobriety.
- The first diaper change your partner tackled solo (even if it was on backwards, and you discreetly fixed it before the baby had a blowout).
- The first five-hour stretch of sleep you savored after welcoming your baby.
- Your first date night post-baby where you couldn’t stop thinking about getting back home.
- The moment you looked into their big eyes and sticky smile and knew they were worth every sleepless night.
While I cherish the typical milestones like my child rolling over or riding a bike, it’s these messy, chaotic, slightly tipsy moments of motherhood that truly stick with me. I may not be scrapbooking them, but they are just as significant as the rest. When my kids have little ones of their own, I’ll be ready to pour the new parents a glass of wine and pop in a frozen pizza for dinner.
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Summary: This lighthearted piece highlights 25 early milestones that resonate with moms, from their child’s first solo bath to the first moment of uninterrupted sleep. It emphasizes the importance of everyday experiences that may not make it into traditional baby books but are cherished by parents nonetheless.