Five months ago, I became a mom. Five months ago, my world shifted in ways I could never have fully prepared for. My days became measured in feedings, naps (if I’m lucky), diaper changes, and the sweet smile that lights my daughter’s face. My priorities have drastically changed and become rearranged, yet my heart somehow expanded beyond what I thought was possible.

Motherhood so far has been beautiful. But it has also been extremely difficult. And lately, I am realizing that both of those things can be true at the same time.

I often find myself focusing on everything I haven’t done. The laundry pile that keeps growing. The texts I forgot to answer. The dishes in the sink. The goals I’ve put on hold. The version of myself that seemed to have endless time and energy before becoming someone’s entire world. It’s easy to look at social media and compare myself to other moms and wonder if I’m doing enough. But throughout this experience, I have learned that the small wins are just as important and worthy of celebration.

It is still a work in progress, but I have been correcting my mindset to go from “I got nothing done” to:

I fed and nourished my baby six times today.

My daughter and I both got dressed in actual clothes, not pajamas.

I managed to cook a healthy dinner.

I responded to others with patience, even when I felt overwhelmed.

But the biggest win that warms my heart every day: My daughter smiled when she saw me this morning as if I was her favorite person in the entire world.

I’m coming to learn that motherhood isn’t just made up of milestone moments. Of course those make it all worthwhile, but the vital moments are the ones we tend to overlook. The contact naps, reading a book and seeing your baby’s eyes widen in excitement, the little fingers that wrap around yours like they’ll never let go. Not only do these moments matter too, but they might matter the most.

It’s on my most difficult days, where I hope I can remind myself that taking care of a tiny human is tremendous work and I should be proud of myself for showing up the way that I do. My daughter doesn’t need a perfect mother. She needs me – the mother who shows up every day, even when she’s tired. The mother who is still a girl; who is still learning and growing.

So today, I’m celebrating the fact that we’re both still learning. I’m celebrating the bond that we’re building, and the woman I’m becoming alongside the little girl who is growing before my eyes.

There will always be a to-do list and something that needs to be cleaned – but I know that the sleepy cuddles, the gummy smiles, and those tiny fingers will grow quicker than I can anticipate. If all I accomplished today was loving my daughter, then that is a huge win in my book.

I hope all moms can celebrate the amazing work they put in every day, just as much as they would celebrate their child’s.