Remember that lullaby from The Sound of Music? I love it! But I never sang it to Tess as an infant. What I do remember is rocking this little bundle of tightness that shrieked and hollered like she was on fire, looking at David one evening and saying through sobs, “I can’t do this. I’m leaving her at the fire station. Isn’t it legal to do that?” Yes, I really did say that. I was serious. I didn’t think I could stand anymore of her incessant screaming. I couldn’t calm her down. I had to let her get it all out, which lasted from about 4 p.m.-9 p.m. The colic crying started at about 6 weeks and lasted until she was about 5 months old. Now, it’s a blur. I’m not writing this for sympathy at all, although I did feel sorry for myself at the time! I’m writing this to all parents of colic babies. You will get through it. Do whatever you can to survive:  a glass of wine, medication (for you and baby!), put the baby in the crib and walk away, use the swing (I let Tess sleep all night in the swing because it was the only thing that calmed her!), go outside, go for a run, go for a drive, get a sitter. Get help. I did all those things.

So, look what I have now! Tess will be 3 tomorrow. She crawls in my lap and says, “Mama, what did I do when I was a little baby?” She asks me, scrunching up her nose like she smells something strange. She knows exactly what she did as I’ve told her the story over and over. “I went, ‘WAAAAAA!!! WAAAAAA!!! WAAAAAA!!!!” Yes, you did. Happy birthday, Tess! I can’t imagine my life without you and would go through the colic all over again (but I’d be much more prepared and relaxed the second time around!).

Taking a reprieve from a colic fit. She was exhausted!

I didn't take many photos of Tess as an infant. It was hard to catch her at peace! Here are some rare moments.