The real deal

The past 5 weeks have been the most amazing time of my entire life. Actually this whole past year has been amazing. The reality of being a parent far exceeds anything I ever fantasized about. Zoey brightens my world on a daily basis and I still look at her every day and think“HOLY CRAP! We have a daughter, and she’s beautiful!” Having said that there are some things I wish I had paid better attention to before she was born. I know that some of you are waiting for your perfect little baby (ies), and if you’re like me you can’t imagine it being anything other than perfect. It is perfect… and harder than I thought. So I wanted to share the things I wish I had paid more attention to.

Soak up the one on one time with your partner now. I thought because Tony and I wanted this baby so badly, that we would be content with doing things together with the baby. We are, but we also sort of miss each other. I mean miss snuggling for hours, holding hands on the couch while watching TV, or just being close when one or both of us aren’t smelling like spit up, poop, or breast milk.

There will be no time to do anything. I have learned to break up chores into 5 minute increments. I have just enough time to fold three outfits, wash 2 dishes, or dust one table in between times when the baby wants me. I LAUGH at myself now because I thought, “I am a very organized person, I will NEVER have unfolded laundry, or dishes in the sink, etc. I will just time manage better”… Sigh... oh the naiveté.

You’re going to change. He/she is going to change. Your relationship is going to change. That is not meant to scare anyone, but it’s true. I have changed, my priorities have changed, and my thought process has changed. Tony’s have too. It’s all for the good, but sometimes it’s hard to catch up with all the changing emotions, thoughts, and circumstances.

And last… the thing I wasn’t able to conceive of at all, but thought I knew. You’re life is going to be so much better. DIFFERENT for sure, and that will take adjustment. There are mornings where all Zoey wants to do is make eye contact. We just sit and stare at each other, she coos and I gush at how pretty she is. Inevitably I end up in tears.

Get ready for the best most amazing time of your life. Smooches!