Thoughts on Motherhood

So we are 4+ months into this bad boy and I have some thoughts on motherhood so far.

In no particular order:
1. Formula is expensive. Even the generic brands (because that's how we roll). BTW - I just typed role, then laughed and fixed it. Mandi, you're welcome. :)
2. If you can avoid the use of formula, I would recommend that. We could not, as we inadvertantly starved our child for a quick month.
3. If you can avoid starving your child for any amount of time, I would recommend that.
4. Do NOT listen to people who make little comments about how they knew someone who let their kid "snack" every hour. If you think your child might be hungry, feed them. This will save you endless guilt and money (see points 1-3).
5. It is so fun and great to talk about your baby. What they are doing, what they are not doing. What you are unsure of, etc. But know that each baby is different. Yours may not crawl when others do, yours may not sleep through the night as quickly. It does not matter.
6. Those sleepless nights that seem to never end? They do. And you quickly forget how hard they were. And you never take sleep for granted again.
7. My baby can poop. She does so with vigor. Pete and I do a high five and snicker in the parking lot at church whenever she does so during service. Those poor volunteers, didn't see that coming from such a tiny lady.
8. Those nights, when you hold your sleeping baby in the dim light, with her hair tickling your lip and your thumb mindlessly rubbing over her sweet, soft, baby hands...cherish those.
9. If you chose to breastfeed your baby, and you go back to work - it's hard. It might be awkward, it might seem overwhelming, but it's ok. I had visions of exclusively breastfeeding for the first year. But then I inadvertantly starved her, my milk supply suffered, and I work in an on-the-go kind of environment that is not always conducive to pumping on schedule. It makes me really, really sad. But it's ok. And I'm not upset to have my parts back. It's hard to be a milk machine.
10. Speaking of it being hard. When you are ready to give up breastfeeding - stick with it! It gets better!
11. Invest in what matters (safety), buy used what doesn't (clothes, bumbo, etc).
12. Spend some time recording your thoughts for your kid. Because by the time you catch your breath, catch up on laundry, clean the house for the first time in a month, your kid will be 12, and you'll have forgotten the smell of her chubby, lotioned legs after a bath. The memory of her first throaty giggle won't be as strong or clear. And you'll have something bigger to worry about. Boys. (Yikes!)
13. Take pictures. Tons and tons of them. We live in the digital age, go forth and snap photos.
14. Life will never be the same. And afterall, isn't that what you wanted?

Don't mind that frothy mouth, those are my two favorite people on earth. I love them beyond words.