Daddy's Boy?

How often do you hear the phrase "Daddy's Boy?" Well, we have been saying it a lot around the David house for the last month or so. It seems that baby Jack prefers his daddy over his mommy these days. I mean, it's not so extreme that he cries when I hold him, but if his dad is in the room, in his arms is where Jack wants to be. It was so cute at first because what mom doesn't want her husband to be an amazing and loving dad. But after a few weeks it actually started to hurt me a bit when Jack would grab for his dad when I held him. I have to admit, I was a little...ok, a lot...jealous.

Last week it reached the sad level for me and I actually broke down crying...at work...in the middle of the day. I started asking myself why I was so upset. Wasn't I the one who wanted a totally hands-on-dad, a 50-50 parenting partner, someone who would be in the trenches with me at 3am? Christian is all those things and more. But by getting my wish did I somehow shift the delicate balance of human nature - that babies are supposed to gravitate to their mommies?

Then, like a sign from God, I got an email from babycenter.com about this exact topic. All this time I thought I was the lone mom who's kid shunned her on a daily basis. But alas, the message boards were filled with women who had the same complaint..."I carried this kid for 9 months and he only wants to be with his dad!" Not to delight in their dismay, but I suddenly felt relieved that I wasn't the only one. The expert weighing in on the topic wrote that this is a totally normal process and soon enough the tide will turn in my direction and I will be wishing Jack would go to his dad once in a while. Ahhh...I suddenly felt lighter.

So this weekend Jack was really sick and kept us up 3 nights in a row. Can I just tell you how thankful I was that Jack would go to his dad for comfort and that Christian could sooth our baby as much as I could. And as I sat there at 3am watching Christian rock Jack to sleep I felt silly for making such a fuss. Jack loves us both, it doesn't matter who holds him the most. The important thing is that he's happy and loved. Chalk another one up to the insecurities of a new mommy!