When I was expecting my first baby, I read every magazine on the shelf, bought every pregnancy and baby book in Waterstones and was the overly keen one at the front of my ante-natal classes making notes. But nothing could have prepared me for the arrival of my son. Nobody can really explain to you the overwhelming feeling of joy and instant unconditional love when you gaze at that tiny newborn in your arms. And here are ten other things that nobody ever told me either:
1. You’ll feel like you have lost at least ten stone the minute that you have had your baby and will convince yourself that you have regained your pre-pregnancy weight literally overnight. But you haven’t. And it will be a long time before you can fit back into your jeans again so just hide them instead of torturing yourself by trying them on every day.
2. You’ll never sleep again. Well maybe you will but it will feel like that at least for a while. And even when baby does start sleeping through the night (if you’re very lucky!) then you won’t, because instead of being woken up by a crying baby, you will wake up in complete panic because baby hasn’t woken up yet so you will have to check on them anyway in a complete state of paranoia.
3. You’ll amaze yourself at just how fast you can eat your dinner. It’s either eat fast or don’t eat at all because you can guarantee that the minute your food hits the plate, baby will need feeding/changing/start screaming the house down. And then as they get older, of course you will never eat anything to yourself again because they invariably want whatever is on your plate and never what is in their own, even if it is exactly the same.
4. You’ll talk about poo/wee/sick/leaky boobs with anyone at any time. You will have whole conversations about the contents of baby’s nappies without so much of a flinch. You will have no sense of embarrassment and there will no such thing as too much information. Ever.
5. This tiny little person can generate literally mountains of washing every single day and although the washing machine is on around the clock, you will never be able to find the clean clothes you want when you need them. On a similar note, you will now buy clothes on account of how easy it is to wash baby sick out of them and dry cleaning only is no longer an option.
6. You will leave the house with unwashed hair/sick down your back/strange stains on your jeans. Sometimes in a complete state of sleep deprivation you won’t even realise and other times, you just won’t care. And be warned, when you look at your very worst you are guaranteed to either have unexpected visitors turn up or when out and about you will bump into a pristine friend who will make you realise how much you look like death with just one look.
7. The second you step into the shower baby will start screaming. There will never be a good time to have a shower because the second you step into the bathroom it is like it sets off some inbuilt trigger in baby and they will do all they can to stop you in your tracks.
8. You’ll never enjoy drinking another hot cup of coffee again. But you will quickly become accustomed to either downing coffee in the style of a tequila shot and face scalding your mouth just to get your caffeine fix or just drinking it stone cold regardless of how disgusting it tastes. And cold coffee is not a taste that you can become used to I’m afraid.
9. How sensitive your ears become. Nature provides baby with their very own siren and there can be no ignoring or sleeping through their cries and you will of course be on constant alert. They also have a habit of doing strange snuffly sounds in their sleep then going completely silent which throw you into a complete paranoid panic.
10. The baby monitor will be your best friend and your worst enemy all at the same time. You won’t go anywhere without it but you will never quite trust it either. If you can’t hear anything, you will go up to check on baby anyway just in case the monitor has stopped working and it won’t even enter your head that baby could just be sleeping.
But it’s all good. Honestly. Those first few days, weeks, months even will fly by in a haze of love and complete amazement that this little bundle is all yours. You won’t believe how incredibly lucky you are and this feeling has never left me. Being a parent is a truly amazing thing and all of a sudden, you feel like your whole life makes sense. This is what life is all about after all. And you don’t mind the not so nice bits because your baby makes it all worth while. So maybe it is best not to know everything that lies ahead after all because there is no stopping them – you just have to muddle your way through the very best that you can.
So how about you? What do you wish the books had told you while you were expecting your first baby? : )
Phot credits: Tape Measure – GenBug – Flickr Tickle tickle toes – Vermin Inc – Flickr Washing line – laundry tribulations – Flickr Coffee cup – Cafe – Flickr
Most embarrassing thing of my entire parenting life happened when I had just brought home my first daughter. A young guy who lived across the street from us came by to see if there was anything I needed from the store while he was out (awfully considerate guy) and I couldn’t help but notice he kept staring at my chest. As I had just had a baby I just figured my boobs were looking extra nice that day. As I closed the door I looked down. My breasts had leaked and I was sporting quite large wet circles on my chest. Ahhhh…yeah I don’t miss those days at all.
Oh noooo! Could have been worse though, you could have forgotten to have put your boobs away after your last feed! ; )
I’m laughing so much me sides are splitting because it is all so true and also smugly because my youngest is now 2 and we are NOT having another! However, there is still no good time to have a shower! I usually put my two in the bath and have a shower in our separate cubical, no privacy but at least I can keep an eye on them!
Privacy? What’s that?! ; )
hee hee. i relate to ALL of these. (bar the baby monitor which i got rid of early doors, if they’re screaming, you’ll hear them, honest).
the one that made me laugh the most was thinking you’d lost all the weight the week after the birth. you just feel so damn small!
http://marketingtomilk.wordpress.com
To be fair though, I think *anything* is slim compared to actually being 9months pregnant ; )
Nobody tells you this it isn’t all instinctive and you’ll find yourself worrying over all manner of silliness
I’ve spent two years searching for the perfect insulated mug to try and drink my tea warm – still searching
Cold tea – bleugh! ; )
I just microwave my coffee over and over and over again.
Hehehe! Never quite the same as a freshly brewed cup though is it?!
Ah, all so true!
As mummy to a newly-turned-one-year-old – I’d also add that there’s no point buying ‘nicethings’ anymore – you’ll only have to hide them outof reach as soon as your little bundle finds their feet, and your living room will eventually resemble a toy shop anyway, so just give in from the start
Ugh! Mountains and mountains of plastic – I swear it breeds overnight ; )
Wonderful list! Especially number 1 – I still struggle to get into my pre-pregnancy jeans now… They sit in my wardrobe tormenting me
Just hide them – I would ; ) x
I will say, watching my brother and sister-in-law go through the steps of parenthood is exhausting just to watch. I never realized how much work it can be! I know that when I have a child I better do everything to help my wife. Women have to do so much and I have so much respect for what they go through.
http://www.wutevs.wordpress.com
That is such a lovely comment – thanks so much
So true! And re no.4, we had a conversation, when C was just a week or 2 old, with a man in currys about the contents of her nappies! He had twins and was very interested!
Isn’t it funny how becoming a parent changes you. Before children I’d never have dreamt of having a conversation about poo with a total stranger!
I never even realised that it was possible to have a whole conversation about bodily functions *shudder*
Amen sista! I read tons of books, but nothing really prepared me for the real thing. It was so weird because during the first few weeks, whenever the sun went down, the fear sunk in. It was like we had some sort of vampire in our household and I needed to hang the garlic and the crucifixes. I do not miss those days.
2gabbygals.com
Hehehee! Little milk vampires – I like it : )
I could never have anticipated how deep the attachment would be, immediately after the birth. It was truly love at first sight.
That is such a lovely thing to say and I couldn’t agree more – it’s truly overwhelming isn’t it? x
Great list! Thanks for the heads up!
It’s not all bad – I promise : ) The good is sooooo good that it by far outweighs the not-so good for sure x
My children are grown up and now live in other countries from me (it definitely was something I said). When I was expecting the first one, people told me all sorts of bad things about what it would be like having a baby, but I don’t remember that anyone told me how happy he would make me!
On the down side, I was given a little book at the antenatal clinic on how to look after a baby, with a suggested daily timetable. It read something like 6am feed and change baby, 10 am feed and change – and I honestly wondered what I might do in between feed times!
If only things could run by a timetable like that, huh?! Hilarious!
This makes me appreciate my childless state…while I sip on this piping hot cup of coffee. But at the same time I secretly can’t wait to (some day) belong to this club of mothers who know exactly what you’re talking about.
Great post!
Thanks for the comment – and make the most of your hot coffee ; )
Actually, you can get used to cold coffee. It’s probably why all the coffee shop chains now offer iced coffee drinks. Really hot or really cold coffee is drinkable. It’s that room temp stuff that’s tough to swallow.
Room temperature – bleurghhhh! ; )
Somebody told me that the “first year is the hardest.” I got myself through that first year – no sleep, guessing the symptoms of a teeny person who couldn’t tellme what was wrong – PHEW!! I got through that! The hardest part is now OVER!! Okay, that was SUCH a lie. Because then came the second year, with multiple food allergies, and the third, with sand throwers and biters, and the fourth…then we added a second child. My son is now 14 years old, (Dating? Peer pressure? Braces?) and my daughter is 8 (Girl cliques? A new neighbor pal who at 8 swears and calls her boyfriend on her cell phone??) If I find the wench who told me that the first year is the hardest, it’s going to get ugly.
I have a blog, at 4initalia, about travelling around Europe and living in Italy, with kids. It’s funny….and a lot more than trying to figure out how to deal with the new neighbor!
I think there was another comment along the same lines.. I think it’s a case of dangling that carrot that it will get better in the hope that it might do one day!
Baby books can’t replicate the experience of childraising any more than descriptions of childbirth can prepare you for your own, unique experience of it. The carrot is very real “Wait till she talks!” Wait till he
walks – then it’s so much fun!” Each phase is different, and it’s different for every child. From the start, it’s better to let go of the expectation that raising kids is easy, that you can know everything, and that you’ll do it perfectly. And before you know it, they will be grown, and all those things you agonized over will be memories. It goes fast – so lighten up, and enjoy the ride.
Oh absolutely – it goes by way too fast that’s for sure : )
How very true. To add: when baby does start sleeping thru the night and you begin to trust that baby is alive and well and just sleeping, you will still wake up for a few more weeks at that same time every night because your body clock is now set to wake up at 2 am each night.
Also, not only are my ears so sensitive (I can hear him crying even when I forget to turn the monitor back on … and don’t ask why it was off in the first place) but my husbands ears are not sensitive at all. Therefor, he sleeps thru it all while I wake up at every squawk. Great.
I have to say, great post. I’ve experienced every single thing you write about! My son is two now… That’s for the sweet memories. I’d def do it all over again… altho I’m glad the hardest part has passed…. (all except for the food on my plate thing anyway….)
Loved it! Thanks!
Andrea
I don’t think I’ve had a good night’s sleep since I had my children – and my eldest has just turned 12 at the weekend!
And you are so right – Daddy’s manage to sleep through anything in my experience too ; )
“5. This tiny little person can generate literally mountains of washing every single day and although the washing machine is on around the clock, you will never be able to find the clean clothes you want when you need them. On a similar note, you will now buy clothes on account of how easy it is to wash baby sick out of them and dry cleaning only is no longer an option”
My ex-wife and I used to take up 10-14 washing machines at the laundromat…and that is with one daughter!!!
Sooooo much washing! : )
So much FOLDING too. lol
How very true : )
Just don’t fold it then – it is already so tiny
What a great post. I don’t have children, but my mom says that she felt the same thing.
It’s not all bad – I promise ; ) x
That’s what is called a new life, new life is much different than life when you do not have a baby
Absolutely – it’s just the best : )
When our oldest was a newborn, I found a trick that I have used with all 3 of our kids (now ages 4 1/2, 3, and 1). I brought their bassinet into the bathroom with me and after bathing them, snuggled them in while I got my own shower. They all have learned to fall asleep to the sound of the shower, I could keep an eye on them, and yes, have nursed each a few times while standing with warm water running down my back. It works nicely when they have a cold too, as the steam from the shower helps to clear their noses out so they can breathe better.
That is a great idea!
That’s a great idea! If I’m ever blessed enough to be a mom, I’ll definitely be using it.
Thanks for sharing!
so much carrot dangling goes on.
ooh the first month is the worst, they’ll soon settle down.
first month comes and goes.
did i say one month, i mean 6 – you won’t know your baby at 6 months.
6 months comes and goes
but i’m sure it’ll change when he starts walking…
And so it goes on.
That’s parenting for you. take one day at a time!
I think one day at a time is the way to go – definitely!
I wish I had “job shadowed” a parent before having my son just so I would know how much luxurious free time I had as a non-parent! What on earth did we used to do with all our time? It can’t possibly have been worth it, whatever it was!
I tell all my non-parent friends, “The hard parts are much harder than you think they will be. But the good parts are so much better than you think they will be, too. The whole experience, all of it, is just so much MORE than you think it will be.”
I say that all the time – what *did* we do with all that free time that we must have had before we had children? ; )
Haaaa…well I’m 23 now, live happily together with my boyfriend. For now I feel like it’s way too early for me to have that little precious thing called a baby.
But I am interested in the topic. I read your post all the way through, plus all the comments – and…Oh My God – it really sounds like a nightmare..I mean – what happens to you, to your life? Now I really feel more scared of it than ever – seems like the biggest and hardest compromise I could possibly imagine and thanks lord you are left without a choice! I guess it’s all the love and instinct that keeps you going, but if I would really have to forget about all of my other interests, passions, people, places – I would really rather wait a little bit more.
Thank you very much for sharing and I wish stay strong.
Cheeers,
Maya
The hard times are hard for sure but the good times are way better than you could ever imagine – honestly! : ) x
And that you will smell like sour vomit for the first four months…But in a good way…Kinda…LOL.
I think you get so used to the smell yourself that you get to a point of not even smelling it anymore… or was that just me..? ; )
Fantastic post and so true. I wish that they had told me about swaddling and swaddling robes. I read you weren’t supposed to and got grobags. Had I known I think I would have gotten some more sleep at the start. Also it’s impossible to sleep when they sleep that is the biggest lie they say. Who does the cleaning, washing and everything else when you’re asleep? xx
I know – the minute they fall asleep you are rushing around like a mad woman catching up on the housework! And I could never just fall asleep on demand either in the middle of the day – even though I would be exhausted – just could never do it x
Don’t forget the sixth sense babies have for when you need some down time… it won’t happen.
Any time I have my neighbor watch the kids, who are all sleeping when I leave, for a few minutes so I can do small errands without them, baby is always up when I come back. Even if it was only ten minutes. 
I should amend, when you REALLY need downtime, the stars align, and thank the good Lord, you get it.
I still fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans and I’ve got one week to go till due date… I refuse to think about the fact that they used to be my ‘fat’ jeans hahaha!
We live in a small apartment so we’re not investing in a monitor. It would stress me out too much. It would be different if we were in a house, but our apartment is small enough and not-soundproofed enough that I will hear the baby when its awake and I will most definitely hear the baby when its hungry.
-I wish wish wish that my pregnancy/baby books had told me how to ignore the comments from the inlaws/stupid people. I would have had a MUCH easier 9 months stress-wise.
-That its OK to look at a piece of ‘advice’ and think “that’s stupid I’m not doing that” (such as waking baby up every two hours from a dead sleep because OMG it’s gone more than an hour and a half without eating, it must be STARVING– any child of mine will be MORE than capable of waking up and letting me know when its hungry).
-That its OK to feel nervous and terrified and sad and impatient and happy and excited all at the exact same time; and its OK to mourn the upcoming loss of my own life while being breathlessly excited about meeting my baby at the exact same time.
-That its OK to NOT be over the moon thrilled about being pregnant until around 30 weeks when things started feeling more ‘real’.
What a great comment – thank you so much! Sounds like you have it well sussed already : ) x
And all the best to you for the upcoming arrival x
this comment could have been written by me. Im 36 weeks tomorrow with our first (a “planned” pregnancy, I should add). Am I excited? Yes. Do I love being pregnant? Nope (I *loved* my prepreg body). Am I a little terrified Im in way over my head and maybe made a HUGE mistake? Absolutely. Do I have to put faith in the fact that, despite hating almost every child I’ve ever met, I will honestly believe the sun rises and sets out of my own childs ass? Sho’nuff.
Did this blog make me want to cry and hide under my bed? You better believe it.
Wish me luck…
I had those very same doubts at the end of my first pregnancy too – I think it is really natural to feel that way but you will be just great – I’m sure of it! Wishing you lots of luck (not that you’ll need it though x ) Enjoy your prescious new baby : )
I’m one of those women who cannot wait to have children, not because babies are oh so cute, but because I looove taking care of children. The worse behaved they are, the more I want to be a parent! LOL
But this post is making me rethink a few things. lol No, no just kidding. But this seems like a realistic portrait of what to expect. Thanks for putting it out there.
Keep blogging and feel free to check out my blog at http://www.norasalemwrites.wordpress.com
Looking forward to more posts!
~~NS
http://www.norasalemwrites.wordpress.com
Thanks for that x
Oh babies are a bundle of joy, aren’t they?
Anybody hear this before? A million dollar baby. I presume thats the cost of one and not including the love and care you put into him/her.
Remain.Simple
An absolute joy, that’s for sure : )
The books never told me how quickly they would grow up. My little baby boy is 18 on saturday…but he still needs me..just in different ways….Oh and enjoy the time when they do sleep because it will be all to soon when you’re up all bloody night waiting for them to come home..
I’ve got all that to come of course… But yes, time really does fly – I can’t believe how quickly mine seem to be growing up
I am a 62 year old grandma and my son is going to be a daddy soon. His 19 year old girlfriend is about 2-1/2 months along and I am going to point her to this blog!
Although they are both very excited she has no idea yet of how much love and joy she will experience immediately after the birth of her first child.
My son was delivered Frank breach (butt first) into this world and delivered naturally – there was no time for anything else and he was 1-1/2 months premature. Even at 6 lbs 5 oz it was a bit of a squeeze. Then after a matter of weeks I got the flu which caused my milk to dry up and I substituted Similac – was not the best choice as it turned out. He was very allergic. I rushed him to the hospital when he began projectile vomiting.
The remedy was round the clock feedings (for two weeks)of not more than 2 oz Pedialite at a time every 2 hours and it took him an hour to finish! Talk about no sleep.
All grown up now, he is still my pride and joy and we are very close. He is a very successful tattoo artist here in Southern California.
Thanks so much for the comment x
Brilliant list! And so true. I actually quite like cold coffee which is just as well. Baby books never tell you that your baby doesn’t behave in the way baby books say it should. And baby books never say ‘don’t buy this book, you’re wasting your time!’. Nothing like the feeling of being thrown in the deep end when you have your first!
And boy is it deep that deep end!
But I can’t believe you actually like cold coffee? I can’t stand it – but drink it all the same – I must be mad!
This was great! Any expecting mother should definitely give this a browse for a glimpse of what post baby life will be like
Just hope it wouldn’t put them off!! ; )
All great advice for when my time comes for being a Mommie. Great blog.
Enjoy your coffee while it is still hot and make the most of your dry-clean only clothes ; ) x
My daughter is 3 and I’m still attached to the baby monitor! My husband says I need rehab. The books never told me how I will worry about something related to my child until the day I die. It never stops. But she makes me laugh, so it’s all worth it.
Oh you are right, the worry never stops.. My eldest just turned 12 and I still check on him every night (and my others – I have four children) to make sure he is still breathing.. madness!
Found so much truth in each one of those… my son is 5 months old now and it is all still so true. And he is a terrible sleeper so until that improves i will continue to be a hot mess.
Ahh, sleep deprivation is sooo hard – one of mine didn’t sleep properly until she was 8months old – it was really hard going. But your baby will get there though, I’m sure – just hang on in there!! : )
It’s been 18 years since my son and I were at that stage in our lives but your post brought it all back to me in living colour. Thank you for putting the “teenage years’ into perspective for me. These days I get to sleep through the night, eat my dinner at a relaxed pace, shower when I want to, and get dressed and stay clean at least until I make it to work . . . and my son does all his own laundry. Life is good.
It’s been 18 years since my son and I were at that stage in our lives but your post brought it all back to me in living colour. Thank you for putting the “teenage years’ into perspective for me. These days I get to sleep through the night, eat my dinner at a relaxed pace, shower when I want to, and get dressed and stay clean at least until I make it to work . . . and my son does all his own laundry. Life is good. Hang in there new moms. It gets easier.
It sounds like your son is v well trained! : )
Thanks so much for the comment x
How terrifying is it when the baby stops makings sounds at night. I lost count of how many times I would wake up in the middle of the night because my babies were not crying and go check on them. Thankfully, now they’re school aged that’s not such a problem!
It really is terrifying! They certainly know how to keep us on our toes ; )
I laughed so hard i thought i was going to pee myself
Thank you (I think!!) x
I don’t think I want to read the ten things they didn’t tell you about potty training… Kids are tough but only us Parents know why its worth it, we don’t need to explain why we just know.
Now potty training would be whole other post in itself…
But I couldn’t agree more – it is worth every bit of it and we *do* just know x
Thanks for your honesty
I think the 10 things you wrote is what happens with my sister and brother in-law, that’s why I get a bit worried it might happen to me. but my niece is already 3 years old now, so they are now a bit ‘cooling down’ he2
They’re at a whole new stage then : )
Thanks for the lovely comment x
#11. ALL of the above is barely the first six months of a very long career in parenting.
#12. NONE of the above will matter a bit when you’re trying to get them through what we call middle school with your sanity and theirs intact.
#13. You won’t even think about how bad you looked to your friend with baby puke in your hair when you’re walking university campuses with your youngest; and you have to ask him which dorm he wants to live in because he’s going there in the fall.
#14. You will sleep past 8:00 am again; and some day you will go to Paris alone with your honey.
What fabulous additions! Thanks so much for taking the time to make such a great contribution to my post – truly x
The sleep deprivation rings a bell…an extremely loud, ear-splitting gong of a bell. My baby turned 1 yesterday, and I was horribly, staggeringly sleep deprived for the first 11 months. Then, we managed to get him to sleep in the crib and through the night…magical. What I didn’t know was the downside of baby sleeping is that my milk supply plummeted, which invited my period back and a several-week-long hormone rollercoaster which is making up for all of the periods I’ve missed for the past 21 months.
Oh that doesn’t sound good – poor you : ( Let’s hope things soon get back on track for you x
I love this post, you are absolutely true. But most of that, having a baby is a amazing moment ever in my life especially, baby’s breast feeding, it’s incredible moments.
There is nothing quite like looking down into your baby’s eyes as you nurse is there.. ahhhhh x
My oldest is 5 and I still can’t shower in peace. Somehow the world is falling apart just when Mommy decides to take some time for herself.
Isn’t that the truth?! ; )
I haven’t the slightest what it is like to be a parent. I’m 26 and I have had the God-sent good fortune of getting out of ‘on the verge’ bad dating situations very unscathed. I’ve met a wonderful man and we feel like a fairy tale on most days. He’s got a son, 8 years old, from a previous marriage, both from whom I am learning A LOT. I have observed for a very long time, especially friends on facebook who are my age and already have a child, or more. I’m glad I have waited, and that I am still waiting. But, I must say, I am eager to experience that ‘rush’.
Oh, and a friend had a baby shower when she was 6 months pregnant. A mutual professor of Psychology had suggested setting out a ‘suggestion box’ at the shower. She said that it’s more likely that you’ll be willing to hear or read advice at this stage rather than when you’re in the thick of it and don’t know which way is up.
That’s really interesting, thanks so much for the comment x
What a good read. I am not a mother myself but my best friend has just had a baby and dealing with a lot of the issues highlighted here- I will forward her the link!
)
That’s great – thank you : ) x
My baby was born on 26th April (yesterday), 25 years ago!!! AND I still remember all of it
And I bet it feels like it was only yesterday too ; ) xx
I LOL’d at the first post yeaa they don’t tell u u will be in excruciating pain with mammoth breats that soak the bed and your clothes as they leak in the night!! One of my down points of motherhood!!
Its so true about the poo part I found myself talking about it to poor unsuspecting people who probably felt sick everytime I did it!
They should just make a book titled “so your life is about to be thrown into a whirlwind” it would be more appropriate!
But that said motherhood is a joy! Everymoment a first! And a beautiful memory! Even if it does involve poo and sick!
Xx
I couldn’t agree more with the joy bit : ) x
Great list. I think my wife would agree; especially with the sleep thing.
The sleep thing feels never ending at the time but as with all things, it passes of course : )
Hello! I’ve been thinking that I sorta knew all that, except that babies do strange sounds in their sleep…. Anyway. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, nor have I ever watched over a baby for more than 20 minutes, but I would like to have some too, in a few years. I do know that babies like some people and dislike others. A teacher of mine had a baby that liked me fairly well (she laughed at me and was silent otherwise) and strongly disliked her aunt (she started screaming hysterically whenever her aunt got near her or held her in her arms).
Really nice post! And how on earth do you manage to answer to all the comments???
Good job!
Honestly, I am a little overwhelmed by the number of comments that I have received but I truly apreciate every single one of them and am trying my very hardest to try and keep on top of them : )
after this blog, im definitely using protection for another 20 years!haha
Oh my! That really wasn’t what I intended by this post!! : )
Isn’t that the truth! What a great post.
This blog started an office discussion on the topic. Most parents here can’t believe how impossibly messy their homes get and how many fingerprints are all over the windows and walls!
Congrats on a brill blog.
- Shayna from FabulousSavings.co.uk
Thanks for that! You have a real point about the fingerprints thing too – they are everywhere! ; )
keynar The ten things they don’t tell you about potty training….
Start early. My mother had me potty trained by my first birthday. I am not the least bit anal retentive. But, my kids… I potty trained 6 and the only one that didn’t give me a fit was the one that I started training just before her first birthday. The rest I was afraid were going to start school in pull ups. You have to get it done before the terrible two’s Once that 18 month to 2 year mark hits and they learn the word no… Your screwed.
As to what they don’t tell you in the baby books. It is possible for the two year old to glue her eye shut with super glue when you turn your back for five seconds and she finds your mothers make up bag. Becoming an expert in the 15 minute cat nap is the best thing you can do for yourself. I get my 8 hours of sleep 15 minutes at a time even today.
Don’t buy anything new, Don’t repaint the walls, Don’t replace the carpet or furnature until your youngest is at least 12. Even then, if it can break don’t put it out where the kids can get close to it. Once they get older, it goes from, don’t touch to will you get that ball, water gun, baseball bat, tennis racket, Nerf Gun out of my house right now before you break…. I told you you were going to break something. LOL
I don’t even bother hanging up pictures. When they are all grown and gone I will hang up the pictures of them but until then… Not a chance frames and glass break way to easy.
Hehehehee! Some great additions there : )
What a brilliant and very true list. Maybe you need to write an alternative Baby book??? I still don’t sleep now and my baby is 7!!!! Lol at Becca’s list….again all true
Brilliant post, and oh so true. the hearing thing really amazed me and also my sense of smell heightened incredibly – which is hardly fair considering how stinky babies can be.
You are so right about the heightened smell! I can smell a nappy in need of changing at ten paces ; )
Thanks so much for the comment x
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