Some thoughts on motherhood, from my third month of being a mother.
I don't actually mind advice. Lots of people have done this raising babies thing before and have lots of handy tips and tricks that I've never thought of. Some of the things that have made my life WAY easier have been suggested by other people. I'm not sure why everyone complains about getting advice as a new parent. If someone found a way to make things easier, why would you not want to hear it?
But please don't tell me to enjoy the hard parts. "Soon you'll be wishing for those 3 am feeding and snuggles!" No. No I won't. How about I come to your house and hang out with you for an hour at 3 am and see how much you enjoy it?
I still really hate spit up.
Going back to work is weird. I love it, but I miss her, but I like being away from her for awhile, but I don't feel like I get to see her enough when I get home. I simultaneously love working and want to be a stay-at-home-mom. It's like Schrodinger's Baby.
Babies are invitations to really weird conversations with strangers in public.
But it also gives me something to talk about with people I don't have anything to talk about with. How's the baby? Great. Let me tell you all about her until this awkward social interaction is over.
I appreciate my own Mom so much more than ever before.
Maternity pants are the best invention ever. I will wear these until I die.
I got sick for the first time since I had Leo. Thankfully I was at my parents' house when it happened so I had lots of help. But how in the world can you be sick AND take care of a baby at the same time on your own? And what if you're sick AND the baby's sick? How does that work?
And how do I get a haircut? I can't schedule anything more than a couple hours in advance. How can I know when I'll be free a month beforehand?
Parenting on TV is dumb. Where is Rachel's baby? Or Howard and Bernadette's? Why do people have babies on TV and they only show up once every 5 episodes? Who's watching the babies!?
It's amazing how easily poop comes out of clothes. I really thought it would stain more. This is a happy surprise.
Being a working mom has introduced my first round of Mom Guilt. I do not like it.
It's insane how much she already loves TV. We had to build a blanket fort around her swing so she wouldn't watch it. But then I let her watch TV during tummy time so she would stop screaming. So I think it evens out.
Pacifiers are great. It's like a baby mute button.
If I had known how well a Christmas tree would hold her attention we would've put it up in October.
It's weird to be so proud of someone for doing such small things, like holding their head up or gurgling. No one is proud of me when I hold my head up or gurgle. Maybe they should be. It would be good for my self-esteem.
There is nothing better than when she talks back to me (I realize those words will have a very different meaning in 2 more years).