10 Things I've Learned About Parenthood Recently

1) There is nothing more frustrating than walking and rocking your baby to sleep and then they are instantly wide awake as soon as you put them down.

2) It really does take a village to raise children. I'm not great at letting people help me, but I've been so lucky to have friends and family who want to come visit and help.

3) Bringing new parents a meal is an amazing gesture. It's even better when you bring a hot meal for that night and a freezer meal for later. I'll be doing that from now on. I also will forever insist that new parents not write me a thank you note. It's hard to get those suckers out in a timely fashion.

4) Everything is new to you as parents, but everything is also completely new to baby. When they cry they don't necessarily know what they want either.

5) Showers are the elixir of life. It's amazing how much better you can feel after a 15 minute shower.

6) You will do anything to make your child happy. To hear them cry, especially if you know they are uncomfortable, is heartbreaking.

7) You never realize how quickly three hour spans are until your life revolves around them. I can't tell you how many times I've been trying to figure out why the baby is crying then realize that it's been three hours since she last ate and she is hungry. Sometimes it feels never ending.

8) You will do a lot of things you said you would never do. You will give you child a bottle/pacifier, you will snap at your spouse in the middle of the night, you will buy all kinds of random stuff in hopes that they will sleep/eat/calm down.

9) You will become that crazy parent who is very tuned in to who holds, touches, and cares for your child. I'm already starting to steel myself for the day I have to take Anna Grace to daycare.

10) You will love your child more than you ever thought you could. You will do anything to make them happy. Everyone tells you about this indescribable love, but you don't understand it until you feel it.