The Things They Don't Prepare You For

When I was pregnant, along with most pregnant woman, read tons of information about babies. Everything I looked at online was about my pregnancy and my baby to be. I learned how to swaddle, how to feel even what to do when the babies choking. However, there are certain things the books and websites fail to mention.

1. The amount of spit up- Yes they may mention it to you. Yes you may have read about this, but until you have a newborn you truly do not understand how such a beautiful little baby can create this amount of throw up. It will get on everything. You will go in public with it on your shirt. The scent is your new perfume. You will constantly have it in your hair. And it will never fail, when you finally look decent, maybe you even have makeup on, the baby will throw up on you.
2. Arguing with significant other- The books just so happen to regret to mention how often you and your significant other will fight. Combine the stress of a newborn and lack of sleep and it's just asking for a break down. There will be a point where you step back and look at what your arguing about to find you were just arguing about what speed the fan normally goes on. Just apologize and move on. Just don't hold grudges and pretend he didn't mean it.
3. Pre-pregnancy clothes- These won't fit right for months, if ever. The pregnancy weight doesn't just fall off like you see in the media. It takes work, lots and lots of work. Beware also for body shape change. Weight wise you may weigh much less than pre-pregnancy but those hips don't lie-and they wont be letting you back in those jeans! I suppose this probably does vary person to person, but don't beat yourself up if the weight isn't coming off as quick as you'd like.
4. Sleep deprivation- I don't really think an explanation is needed here. You will be surprised how well you can run on two hours of sleep.

All in all parenting is not just something you can learn from a book. It just happens. You probably will make mistakes but in the end those mistakes won't matter and won't be remembered. All that will matter is the fact that you raised a child. Your child will wind up only remembering mostly good stuff anyways.

The Best Friend I've Ever Had

I don't know exactly how the story goes. I don't remember if she was in girl scouts first or if we met at the YMCA. But I know we bonded over our love for Pokemon while in the after school program at the YMCA. Natalie has been and continues to be my best friend, since 1998. She literally is like my sister now and pretty close to a twin. When we get together it's hard to get us to stop talking. She knows everything there is to know about me. She has always been my rock to fall on. No matter what challenging time I may have been facing she has always been there to help guide me through. When she found out I was pregnant I know there was a little bit of worry between her and I. It wasn't exactly the plan we had been discussing for years. Both of us getting married around the same time then having children at the same time so they could be best friends as well. I know her and I both worried our friendship may suffer, but I think it has done the opposite. She was there every step of the way through my pregnancy, always asking how I was doing and if needed help. During labor she was one of the firsts one there and waited to see James. Since delivering she has still been really involved always wanting to be around James. It really warms my heart that I have such an amazing best friend. I don't know what I would do without her, because truly I would be lost. I love you so much Natalie!!!!!