NashUnbelievably, I have now been a parent for more than eight months. I have spent 2/3 of a year raising another human being and have mostly enjoyed the wild, hilarious, unexpected ride that parenting has been.

I have never had to learn so much, so fast. How much should Nash be sleeping? I don’t know! Should he be talking more? I’m not sure! Will he ever stop putting everything in his mouth? Hopefully! I know all children develop differently, but as a new parent, I want to know what to expect as Nash grows.

When it comes to caring for our children, we need to know if there are any red flags we should be concerned about when it comes to their development. It’s also important to have realistic expectations for our children’s behavior—especially some of the normal things that babies do that can be frustrating. Like, when will Nash sleep through the night? When will he be able to play quietly without me? How long until he is potty trained?

Both the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics have resources about children’s developmental stages and tips for helping kids (and their caregivers!) through the big transitions happening so quickly in their little brains and bodies. If, like me, you prefer an app to help you along your parenting journey, there are a number of options available for free or at a low cost, including the Today’s Parent My Family app or the Wonder Weeks app. And I love these fun, age-appropriate activities that Nash and I can do together.

Nash is a growing baby, and I’m happy to weather the nights with (very) little sleep, the crying that (often) accompanies teething, and his (insistent) demands for attention when we play.

Just be sure to remind me of that at 3 AM, OK?

Visit the Kosair Charities® Face It® Movementresource page for more information about child development and tips for parents.