Things I've Learned

There are a lot of things I've learned in the past six months as a mom. And there are a lot of things they don't tell you about before you become a mom. Or they do tell you, but you're not really listening or you don't fully understand. But whatever the case, there are a lot of surprises about being a mom. And they're not all bad, just surprising. Here's my list.

•  It is amazing how well you learn to function on so little sleep and how quickly you learn
• Breastfeeding is hard. Like really hard. And there's a lot that goes along with it. Yes, it's better for baby and much cheaper than formula. But breastfeeding comes with it's own struggles. Like how so many things can affect your supply, how time-consuming it is to breastfeed and then if you're going to back to work, how time-consuming pumping is, how inconvenient it is to breastfeed outside of your home if you're not comfortable with it, how you're always wondering if you have enough milk for baby... I could probably go on
• Having to leave your baby at daycare for the very first time is one of the hardest things you'll have to do
• The constant worry you'll do about everything. Is my baby's head flat? Is he getting enough to eat? Am I taking care of all his needs correctly? On and on it goes...
• Being a mother is time consuming. The first few weeks, it seems like all I did was feed and change diapers. It was a never ending cycle! Then as he got older, it was still a lot of feeding but with more awake time, it was making sure he was having play time but always watching to make sure he was safe. And now , as we've started rice cereal and a bedtime routine, it seems my evening is gone before it even started. Getting the cereal ready, feeding (which takes a lot longer than breastfeeding!), bath time, stories and some songs and then trying to put him down and then I still need to pump before going to bed. Being a mom is exhausting.
• Even though being a mom is exhausting, it's amazing how you manage to still function and do what needs to be done. Before becoming a mom, I was pretty lazy. I enjoyed doing nothing, laying around and napping as often as I could. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to transition into being a mom and being responsible for a little one
• You also become a pro at multi-tasking. And also multi-thinking or multi-list making! :) Being able to do and think about so many things at once! Get the bath started, find some pajamas, warm some milk, find myself something to eat, call the doctor... the list could go on and on!
• And along with that, your to-do list is never-ending! There is always something to do, someone that needs to eat, dishes that need to be washed, laundry that needs to get done, books that you want to read.... But never enough time!
• There are no amount of words that can describe just how much and how deep you love your baby. And that you would do absolutely anything for that little one
• Listening to your baby cry is not fun, even when you know the crying is 'okay' (i.e. getting his nose suctioned out by the doctor), it's heartbreaking
• Having a baby is expensive. Yeah, we've all heard this one before. But it seems to hit you like a ton of bricks. I'm not just talking about things like diapers, wipes, food, etc. I'm talking about things that maybe slipped your mind... hospital bills (even more so if you have a c-section!), doctor visits, daycare and health insurance! Do you know how much a family insurance plan is versus a single? Let me tell you, it's a crap ton more.
•  You forget how to take care of yourself when you become a mom. You get put to the backburner. Baby comes first. It's a big adjustment to learn how to take care of a baby but also take care of yourself, because if you aren't well (physically, mentally, emotionally), your baby won't be either
• Even after the sleepless nights, the crying, the spit up, the poopy diapers, the exhaustion, you realize your baby isn't such a little baby anymore. And you want another one. Even if you had a hard pregnancy, a tough delivery, you miss being pregnant and you want to do it again. It's a crazy feeling. One that can't be explained to your husband who is still very much adjusting to life with just one little one around!