Here is my version of the things I have learned the past year:
1. You really can sleep anywhere if you are tired enough. I used to be fairly picky about my pillow choices, laying as flat as possible, blankets etc. On maternity leave that all went out the window. Sleep sitting up, no problem. A thick pillow instead of my cushy one on the couch... Didn't care. If you want sleep enough, you don't care how it comes.
2. You will realize you have spit up on your shirt and not know when, how, or how long it has been there. This happened to me multiple times.
3. Babies have a sixth sense about nap time. Once you put them to sleep, you then have time to do a few things around the house. After that is done, you will sit and take some time for yourself. Babies sense when you are sitting and will give you a maximum of 10 minutes before waking.
4. A day won't go by without talking about your baby's poop. See #5-6
5. I just changed you!! Remember that huge pee diaper you just changed? Thanks, Mom. I needed that. Cause I really wanted to poop in the new clean one you just put on me. So guess what? You get to change me again.
6. Babies don't poop all at once. After changing Rogan 3 times in 30 minutes we slowly learned We need to give Rogan some time to make sure he's done. As a first time mom I didn't want my baby in filth more than needed, so I wanted to change him immediately. A year later: as long as the smell is tolerable he can hang out for 5 minutes to make sure I'm not interrupting his business.
7. As much as you will try not to, you will compare you baby to others. It is totally dumb, but it happens. Babies progress at different rates. Just because it's in the baby book one month, doesn't mean your baby will magically perform these skills on that date. But irrational baby brain doesn't understand this.
8. Babies get sick, and sometimes the only remedy is TIME. As an adult, we get sick, we wait, we might take some over the counter meds, and then if it's gone on too long for our liking we call the doc. But as first time parents, any symptoms of illness merit a call to the doc. And hearing the doctor tell us to wait 72 hours and call if it's not better was totally unexpected for me. Just needs time? Oh, ok. Luckily for us, Rogan has had a very healthy year. A few colds, 1 ear infection, and 1 stomach flu. I'll take that.
9. They will make you forget a bad day. Rogan has a smile that doesn't quit. Picking him up from daycare after a long day is something I always look forward to. I walk in the door, and once he hears me he stops whatever he's doing and super-crawls to me so fast. Demanding to be picked up. Of course i happily oblige. He and I have a special bond of mother and son. And as bad or crazy as my day was, picking him up, singing in the car, babbling about his day, eating dinner, and then playing as a family is a great end to any day.
10. No one can tell you how much you will love your child. Words cannot describe how much my heart swells for that kid. I see my husband, myself, and our future in his eyes. Becoming a parent has been the most challenging and most rewarding thing I will ever do. That part everyone tells you beforehand. But the undying and unconditional love that begins in womb, becomes real at birth, and then grows as every day passes is something I am so fortunate to know and appreciate. I love you, Rogan. With all my heart.
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