I come from a pretty huge extended family, where there were always little ones running around.
I babysat a lot in high school, and I've worked in the church nursery countless times.
But really, I didn't know nearly as much as I thought I did.
I've learned a lot about babies -- and mostly, I've learned that each and every one is so different -- since I became the mother of a beautiful baby boy.
Here are some of the things I've learned over the past 5 months, starting with labor and delivery.
You don't always get the birth experience you imagined.
If you haven't read Colin's birth story, you can read it here. Long story short: my labor was long, I had an emergency c-section, and my little man came into the world 3 weeks early.
Breastfeeding is hard. No, really. It's hard.
Lots of women in my life have breastfed their babies, and they always made it look so easy. Well, it most definitely was NOT easy for me. You can read about my short-lived breastfeeding journey here. I still have regrets about how things went down in that department, but Colin and I are both healthy and happy and that's all that matters.
Not all babies sleep through the night from the get-go.
In fact, most of them don't. Learning to sleep through the night is a gradual process for many babies, as it has been for Colin. The first couple nights in the hospital he was up every 45 minutes, no joke. Those first few weeks were a total blur for Justin and me. It has gotten better though, and last night I am happy to say that little C-man slept from 8 pm to 6:30 am without making a peep. Yeah! All three of us were well rested this morning, which is an awesome thing to be able to say.
It really is different when it's YOUR baby.
We've all heard people say it: "I love being a ____ (grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend, whatever) because when the baby cries, I can give him back to his momma!" Well... it's very different when you are the momma. When baby gets fussy, you're the one he turns to for comfort. And when he can't be comforted (which for us is rare, I'll admit -- but it does happen), you're the one who gets to hold him and wait for the crying to subside.
Alone time? What's that?
Being a parent is a full-time job, it's true. And when you have an actual full-time job on top of being a parent, you end up with very little time to do what you want to do. Since we planned for this pregnancy, we knew exactly what we were getting ourselves into... but imagining it and actually doing it are two very different things. Colin is so little (although he's getting bigger all the time) and so dependent on us that he is our top priority. We have to make sure he's fed and happy before we can think about ourselves. Even first thing in the morning, or right after work. I can't remember the last time I blow-dried my hair or painted my nails. I'm so busy being "mom" these days that I don't have a lot of time to think about just being "Katie."
Becoming a parent is good for the soul.
It's true. I love being a mommy so, so much. Yes, it's hard work sometimes. Yes, there are certain little things I miss about my "old life." Yes, my life has done a complete 180 since our bundle of joy entered the world. But I wouldn't change a thing. I love my husband very much, but there is something special about the way you love your children. I loved my sweet Colin the moment I knew he existed. When I saw him on ultrasound for the first time, that love grew even more. When I heard the swisha-swisha-swish of his heartbeat, I knew I would never be the same. The joy of being a parent isn't something that can be put into words. It's something you have to experience to really understand. I love my child unconditionally and immeasurably, and nothing will ever change that.
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