Having another baby can be stressful. My kids are four years apart, and I remember worrying about how my son would adjust to his new sister and how I would manage taking care of two children. I was concerned about whether I would remember everything that I had learned from the first time around. I was also very worried about how I was going to split my focus and attention and be able to love my second child as much as my first. It all seems so daunting when you are waiting for the new baby to arrive, but in the end another baby brings so much joy and happiness to the entire family.
Babies Make Us Feel Awe
No matter how many kids you have, babies make us feel so much awe. A new life is an incredible miracle, and I definitely caught myself on many occasions lost in another world staring at my baby. (I still look at my kids and wonder how they are here!)
Awe is an emotion that has a powerful effect on our body and mind when we experience special moments in life that are so profound we don’t even know how to describe them. It feels like magic, wonder, and mystery all wrapped into one. Recent research shows that awe can make us happier and healthier in a number of ways:
- Reduces anxiety and depression. Feelings of awe boost our mood. Our nervous system reacts in the opposite way to awe than anxiety. Instead of the “fight or flight” response kicking in, awe keeps us still and relaxed, benefiting both our body and mind.
- Broadens social connection. Awe changes our perspective of the world. We feel smaller and as if we are in the presence of something greater than ourselves.
- Leads to kindness and generosity. Awe boosts our generosity and willingness to help others. It connects us to things larger than ourselves and motivates us to care for others and the collective good.
- Changes our perception of time. Awe has been shown to give us the illusion that we have more time and no longer need to rush.
- Makes us grateful. Awe gives us a sense of hope and the ability to see the bigger picture. It teaches us that there might be something magical in everyday life that we can be grateful for.
- Stimulates curiosity. When we observe something awesome, we want to learn more about how it’s possible. Curiosity also causes us to get along better with others.
- Expands creativity. Awe inspires us to be more creative because we begin to view the world in a broader sense. This expansive thinking helps us consider new perspectives and see beyond our present situation.
Babies Make Us More Mindful
A new baby also makes everyone more mindful. Nothing will stop you in your tracks faster than a crying newborn. Our lives can get so busy, but when that new baby arrives in our home, we put all of our focus on him or her. Mindfulness means being fully present in the moment in a non-judgmental way, and has been proven to reduce stress and increase happiness.
Parenthood helps us be more mindful, as we take a step back and focus intently on our beautiful children. We need to clear our minds of all the chatter and worries, and just forget everything except that child sitting right in front of us. They also benefit tremendously from us being mindful. It is how they know we love them and that they are our priority. Try sitting with your older child and spending quiet, quality, mindful time observing the new baby together.
Babies Give Us A Reason To Celebrate
Finally a new baby’s arrival is a fabulous opportunity for your family to celebrate with loved ones. Parties make us all happier, energized, and grateful for what we have. They help us focus on the positive and to take a break from our busy, stressful lives. They give us a chance to smile, laugh, and share special moments together.
Smiling and laughing are so important to living a happy, balanced life. Numerous studies have found how smiling and laughing boost positive emotions like happiness, peace, and humor. They also can reduce stress by lowering cortisol in our blood stream and increasing the release of endorphins. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughing is one of the simplest tools we have for reducing stress and anxiety.
What better way to celebrate your new bundle of joy than by sending out an adorable birth announcement? I spent months dreaming about my kids’ baby announcements because it is the ultimate accomplishment after a long, hard pregnancy. You get to share your family’s excitement with those who care about you. It’s so fun to pick out a picture of the baby and to highlight when they were born and what size they were. It also gives older siblings a chance to be part of the fun by having their name on the announcement.
You can also get started early by celebrating before the baby arrives with a fun baby shower. When your friends and family receive their baby shower invitation in the mail, they will be as thrilled as you are. I had a shower for my second, and it was so wonderful to take a moment to enjoy what was otherwise an uncomfortable, challenging pregnancy. We also made my son a star when my husband brought him at the end of the party. He got so much attention from everyone and enjoyed seeing all the gifts he could share with his new sister.
When you are looking for your baby announcement and baby shower invitation, check out Basic Invite. It is one of the few websites that offers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design, you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the tiniest detail. You waited so long for this special moment, so make sure you can create the perfect stationery that will be a memory you will cherish forever.
Basic Invite is also one of the few websites that allows you to order a printed sample of the invitation so you can see exactly how it will print as well as the paper quality before you place your final order. It is very frustrating to order something online without having a chance to see and feel it in person. Basic Invite makes this possible.
You will also be able to choose from over 40 different envelope colors. This gives you the chance to make your invitation stand out when it arrives in your guests’ mailbox. Even better, Basic Invite has a free address collection service so you can request your addresses in just three simple steps.
Whether you are looking for birth announcements, baby shower invitations for boys, or baby shower invitations for girls, I highly recommend Basic Invite. They also have tons of other stationery options for every occasion. Keep going back to Basic Invite as your kids grow—from their first birthday to religious events like Baptisms and Bar Mitzvahs to graduation.
*This post was sponsored by Basic Invite.
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