Babies: The Movie

I was just talking with a friend of mine about the movie Babies.  I don't know if you saw the 2010 documentary the followed four babies throughout their first year in different parts of the world.  I had wanted to see it when it first came out, but didn't manage to get around to it until I was more than eight months pregnant.  Turns out, that was the best possible time I could have watched it.

So here are my top five reasons you should think about finding a copy and watching it before your baby joins you.  And if you've already seen it, watch it again now that you're pregnant.

1. Babies are adorable....
.....and hilarious.  Sit back and be entertained by all the things these babies get into.  Laugh, and enjoy thinking about how cute your own baby will be.

2. It will remind you how much stuff we have...
....that makes our lives as moms here in Canada so comfortable.  Heat.  Electricity.  Running water.  Health care.  Cars.  You will be reminded of how thankful we should be for all of our everyday conveniences.

3. It will remind you how much stuff we have...
.....that makes our lives as moms way more complicated than they need to be.  Raising a baby is such big business here.  We're constantly surrounded by companies telling us we absolutely need their product to raise happy, healthy, smart babies.  Watch the mother and baby in Namibia -- they seem to be doing just fine without Baby Einstein or a wipes warmer.  Or diapers...(but that's another post).

4. It will show you how incredibly resilient babies are....
.....and how we can be a little less worried about everything.  When Jack started playing on the floor, I would worry about what kind of germs he was crawling through and sucking on.  But as I would start to get worked up, I would think about the Mongolian baby with the goat drinking out of his bath.  Or the Namibian baby putting her face down in the dirt to lick ground water.  And I would take a deep breath and remember babies are actually pretty sturdy little creatures.

5. It will give you a little glimpse...
....into the everyday magic that is all around you.  Nothing is mundane to a baby -- watch the wonder these babies have for everything they discover around them.  Think about the new wonderful and wonder-filled world that's about to open up for you through the eyes of your little girl.