Twenty Things That Change When You Have A Baby

Last night at the dojo, we had a student's sister come in with her 2 week-old. I watched in amazement, not daring to hold him, for fear of breaking him. He was a good baby, didn't scream or cry-just kind of squeaked and grunted when he was ready to eat. Watching her feed him made me realize I really know nothing about babies.

I never knew babies were so tiny when they're that new; I always thought 7 lbs. 6 oz. was bigger than that? And, how do you know what kind of bottles to use? How do you know when to hold them, or when to let them cry? What will my little boy look like? Will he be a good baby too, or will he scream his head off and make me wish for days of non-mommyhood again?

I realized how quickly time is passing and how he would be here very soon. Suddenly, I doubted I was ready, and wondered if I had done the right thing. I started thinking of sleepless nights, temper tantrums, and no more alone time with the hubby. I worried about not being the happy-go-lucky, free-spirit I once considered myself as. "Oh, boy..." I thought. "This is forever..." and then I went home afraid.

Ironically enough, I woke this morning to an email from Anna. This article was simply labeled:

Twenty Things That Change When You Have A Baby

1. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.

2. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.

3. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid.

4. You're less self-involved and more self-motivated.

5. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.

6. You respect your body ... finally. (Hooray for baby-making!)

7. You have stronger opinions and are stronger willed.

8. You respect your parents and love them in a new way. (Hooray for grandparents!)

9. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.

10. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child. (Hooray for the tooth fairy!)

11. You lose touch with the people in your life that you should have banished years ago.

12. Your heart breaks much more easily.

13. You think of your baby 234,836,178,976 times a day. In fact, you're so busy with this that you forget everything else.

14. Every day is a surprise.

15. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)

16. You think before you speak.

17. You become a morning person. (Hooray for watching the sun rise!)

18. If you have a son, you no longer curse men. (Hooray for all men!)

19. If you have a daughter, you hope she won't endure your same heartaches.

20. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

I suppose like any change in your world, you have to make adjustments. I guess I just have to think of it as another little adventure in my life, yet to be discovered.