Motherhood

My sister-in-law Ravelle included a cute note on one of my baby shower gifts that said something along the lines of "Motherhood: the world's greatest sorority with the world's worst hazing." Oh my gosh, was she right. Parts of pregnancy were awesome, but other parts were really hard for me. As a 36 week pregnant woman, I looked at the note from Ravelle and thought pregnancy was the hazing. I can assure you, nearly 2 months into motherhood that THIS is the hazing. In fact, I'm fairly certain that this hazing might continue for the next 18 years rest of my life. All that aside, motherhood really is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am so thankful that I am able to be Samson's momma.

Perfect sweetness (1 day old) : What you expect  

Mr. Angry Face (2 days old) : What you (sometimes) get. Ah, the joys.

I know a lot of women who are lucky enough to be expecting little babies of their own for the first time and after being a mom for a month and a few weeks I already have some words of wisdom for you before your baby arrives and you get a crash course in motherhood.

• I won't tell you to sleep, Lord knows sleep can be hard to get when you are pregnant, but enjoy the peace and quiet while you still can. 
• Shower. Wash your hair AND dry it. If I'm honest, I normally go 3 days between washing my hair, but I haven't washed my hair for 4 days and I'm not sure it will happen until tomorrow. 
• Get out of your pajamas and put on real clothes and make-up. At least put on your nice yoga pants and a bra. 
• Make a meal and at it before it gets cold. Cereal doesn't count ;)
• Deep clean your house. Enjoy cleaning things yourself. Aaron has been picking up my slack for weeks, I don't even know where the vacuum is anymore...
• Date your husband. Dinner in or out, watch a whole movie without breaks, go out for coffee, walk around the mall, DO STUFF. Soon enough your time together will revolve around a very short window of time between feeding, diapers, and baby's good moods. 
• Stock pile food and basic necessities. You won't want to leave the house (unless it's for Starbucks) and when you do, you'll be surprised how little you can fit in a shopping cart with a car seat in it... or you might have a moment of panic when your baby spits out the only pacifier you brought on to the floor of Target and the whole store stares at you while your child screams bloody murder in the check out. Whatever.
• Have a hobby? Do it. You'll soon be enjoying a sabbatical from perusing the aisles of Marshalls in favor of snuggling your newborn on the couch because hauling around a carseat/stroller in below freezing temperatures with snow on the ground is no fun for anyone. 

Will you miss your sleep? Yes. Will you miss your solo Target trips on your days off? Yes. (Your husband & bank account will not). Will you miss wearing real clothes? Maybe. Will you gladly give it all up to watch your baby sleep peacefully in your arms or smiling up at you and your silly faces? Absolutely, momma.

Fact: Baby boys are sweeter with suspenders and bow-ties.