Nobody told me...

There are so many things that nobody told me about becoming a mom! I guess before you become a mother, there is no way to fully comprehend how completely your life will change in an instant. I can't even remember what things were like before. What I did, what I said, how I felt, what in the world I did with all of that free time! But I can definitely say that my life changed completely. I fell so deeply in love with these two in such a short amount of time and life as I know is will never be the same. So...for all of those mothers-to-be or those who are still in waiting, here are a few things that no one really tells you. (or maybe they do and you just don't understand!)

1. Pregnancy is the weirdest thing that will ever happen to your body. Your body will change in ways that you can't even imagine. And it will never "go back" to how it is. But after the babies, you really don't care anyways.

2. Pregnancy is not always magical. It is ok if you don't enjoy it. In fact, the people that enjoy pregnancy may be a little strange.

3. No matter how much you prepare for childbirth or becoming a parent, when it comes down to it, you will have no idea what you are doing. Put down the pregnancy books and leave childbirth class early and just sleep instead. When the babies get there you will still be clueless. For a long time.

4. Even though you are clueless, you will somehow know exactly what to do. God created your body to do this. He equipped you with all the tools to become a mother. Your body will do things you never knew that you could. You will be able to function without sleep. You will be able to calm your baby when they are crying. You were made for this.

5. Even though things are "natural" that does not make them easy. Pregnancy is natural, but not at all easy. Breastfeeding may be natural, but it can be one of the harderst things ever. Natural does not equal easy.

6. You will probably feel the urge to strangle your husband at some point during the first week/month/year of your baby's life. It may be a daily occurence. Remember that you love him. Remember that he has different strengths than you. Remember that God made men and women different. And being a good mom is not the same as being a good dad. SO when they are snoring while you get up for the fifteenth time that night, resist the urge to smother!

7. The ceiling may not open and you may not hear angels singing the first time you hold your baby. Its ok. Hormones, drugs, labor, childbirth, and lack of sleep may be in force. This doesn't mean you are a terrible person. Learn to forgive yourself. Repeatedly. Your experiences do not equal others.

8. As soon as you feel like you have it together or are getting things down, life will completely change. They will sleep through the night for a week, and then not for another three months. They will like apples one day, and hate them the next. They will want to lay down to go to sleep, and then the next time want to be rocked. Anytime you feel like you have a grip on things, just brace yourself for things to change.

9. Motherhood = laundry and dishes. A lot of them. For a long time. You will be amazed that other mothers can cook, clean, and get laundry done while keeping the kids alive and well. I was 100% unprepared for how much laundry and dishes two little bodies would add to our lives.

10. Prepare to be puked on, peed on, pooped on, spit up on, bitten, slobbered on, slept on, climbed on, hair pulled, hair messed up, dirty, disheveled, and otherwise a mess pretty much every day. Most days you will be proud to make it through the day in one change of clothes. That is highly unlikely. When your husband starts saying that you are looking "HOT" in those sweatpants, you may consider actually getting dressed up from time to time.

11. The amount of love you will feel for these tiny little beings is BEYOND what you can ever imagine. Completely. You will be ECSTATIC when they learn to walk. You will cry when they hurt. They will make you laugh and cry at the same time. Every milestone will be the BEST thing you have ever seen. Your JOY will be so intense that you will never know how in the world you made it through life before this feeling. Your love for them is so FIERCE that you cannot describe it. Enjoy it. Delight in them. Breathe in the most amazing blessings that God has given you.

12. People aren't lying when they tell you it goes by way too quickly. The first year is a whirlwind. One minute they were just laying there and the next they are learning to walk. One minute they were trying food and the next they are climbing in the dishwasher. Life goes SO SUPER FAST that you blink and they change. Enjoy each moment. Treasure it. Write down the things they do so you can remember. Hold them a little longer when they let you because in an instant, they no longer need you. Slow down and enjoy.


Love to all you mamas and mamas-to-be!
Heather