The lack of sleep was the biggest surprised. Who knew that you can lose an entire YEAR of sleep in the blink of an eye? LOL! (oh, and combined, I lost 3 years of sleep if you count all the kids).
The best surprise is just observing my kids - the stuff they come up with is just mind-boggling!
Mommy to Barbara 11/8/05, Elisabeth 5/13/07, Loukas 12/23/08 and Lazarus 09/25/12
How much I could love somebody even when they're being a complete a$$hole. Also, just how unselfish I can be.
The most difficult was realizing I will never be alone...I'm an only child and I love alone time. But even when she's not here, I'm thinking about her or something to do with her like her dirty clothes I just tripped over.
The best surprise is how much I truly enjoy being around her. Sure there are days when I'm aching for some adult interaction, but most days, I'm prefectly content being with just her. I never though playing with playdough for hours a day, or reading the same book over and over again would make me happy, but seeing the look on her face whenever we are doing something together is the best thing in the world.
The sleep has been the biggest adjustment or lack of sleep. I'm not planning on sleeping more than 3 hours in a row till my youngest kid is in middle school. Ha! so in about 15 years or so.....
My patience surprised me (pleasantly!) P wakes up screaming at 3am after being up every hour- I am ready to punch somoene in the face, rip my hair out, stab myself in the eye, etc. but when I walk into his room to get him, I am all smiles and calm voice. I don't even have to try, he just has this amazing calming effect on me, even when screaming! LOL
The biggest adjustment has been the lack of time- for sleep, for "me time" for anything really. It is no joke that kids are a 24/7 job. Still the best job i've ever had, though
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The best surprise was how natural being a mom felt to me, instantly! The love I felt for my babies as soon as I saw them was such an amazing blessing.
The most difficult thing was definitely not sleeping 8-9 hours a night, but I slept terribly during my first pregnancy, so I'm kinda used to it after 4+ years. Would I love a good night's sleep? Sure! But someday it'll happen!
That I have no desire to off load my kids. I thought I would want to have them away from me more often, but I don't.
What was the most difficult adjustment?
2 kids. 2 kids was/is much harder for me than one was. DS's birth also coincided with DH getting a promotion that means he is less available to us. It is just a lot harder for me than 1. DD is in school now, which helps tremendously. Also, the sickness. I have been sick all 3 winters I have had DS for most of the winter. I constantly have a runny nose or a cough. I have been on 3 rounds of steroids, and 2 antibiotics since 10/31 and still have a sore throat cough, and stuffy head.
The best surprise: How everything came naturally. My mother's instincts didn't turn on until she was born.
Most difficult adjustment: How hard it was to get out of the house. I hated not being able to run out the door without thinking about meal and naptimes.
The surprise? What a big sap I became...the littlest thing brings a tear to my eye now (my husband used to chastise me because I didn't even cry while watching PS I Love You). But now I cry at dumb Folgers commercials.
The biggest challenge?? I gave up my job to stay at home, so it has been a big challenge navigating this new role and trying to figure out how to divvy up household responsibilities...I always feel like a maid more than a mom and I'm having a hard time accepting that it's now up to me to do EVERYTHING, but my husband is lazy and I guess that's how it will always be.
Best surprise? That I really do have motherly instincts. I knew nothing about babies before DS and had never changed a diaper. It's amazing that most of it I "just knew."
Most difficult adjustment? DH and I have no time to ourselves or just the two of us. All of our family is out of state so we never get nights off. It's tough sometimes.
The best surprise - how much I actually "like" DD! I am not a baby/kid person. I think even if I wasn't her mother I would think DD is the most awesome person ever lol! Also what a great Dad DH is!
The worst surprise - how little DH's parents want to be grandparents, very sad but their loss.
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I was, hands down, the most inpatient person on the planet. With my job before I became a SAHM, I was required to be going nonstop and demanded a lot from people. Since having DD I am so laid back, it actually shocked my husband. I enjoy myself so much more now, I wish I had been more easy going all my life.
The most difficult adjustment is finding time to get things done that I have to do by myself. I hate dropping DD off on people since I EBF because I have to time things exactly right with her feeding schedule and with my husbands work schedule it's hard to be able to rely on him consistently. This hasn't been too much of an inconvenience though, just occasionally I wish it was easier to go do things.
The best surprise - how much I actually "like" DD! I am not a baby/kid person. I think even if I wasn't her mother I would think DD is the most awesome person ever lol! Also what a great Dad DH is!
The worst surprise - how little DH's parents want to be grandparents, very sad but their loss.
oooh I love this!
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Re: What surprised you most about becoming a parent?
The lack of sleep was the biggest surprised. Who knew that you can lose an entire YEAR of sleep in the blink of an eye? LOL! (oh, and combined, I lost 3 years of sleep if you count all the kids).
The best surprise is just observing my kids - the stuff they come up with is just mind-boggling!
How calm I became
3am feedings
How much I could love somebody even when they're being a complete a$$hole. Also, just how unselfish I can be.
The most difficult was realizing I will never be alone...I'm an only child and I love alone time. But even when she's not here, I'm thinking about her or something to do with her like her dirty clothes I just tripped over.
 
Guess I should answer my own question.
The best surprise is how much I truly enjoy being around her. Sure there are days when I'm aching for some adult interaction, but most days, I'm prefectly content being with just her. I never though playing with playdough for hours a day, or reading the same book over and over again would make me happy, but seeing the look on her face whenever we are doing something together is the best thing in the world.
The sleep has been the biggest adjustment or lack of sleep. I'm not planning on sleeping more than 3 hours in a row till my youngest kid is in middle school. Ha! so in about 15 years or so.....
I am not sure if this is the "best" but I loved how I was suddenly the coolest person in the room at every family gathering. I didn't expect that.
The most difficult adjustment was how I felt about my career after having children. I never in my life thought I would do anything other than work FT.
My patience surprised me (pleasantly!) P wakes up screaming at 3am after being up every hour- I am ready to punch somoene in the face, rip my hair out, stab myself in the eye, etc. but when I walk into his room to get him, I am all smiles and calm voice. I don't even have to try, he just has this amazing calming effect on me, even when screaming! LOL
The biggest adjustment has been the lack of time- for sleep, for "me time" for anything really. It is no joke that kids are a 24/7 job. Still the best job i've ever had, though
The best surprise was how natural being a mom felt to me, instantly! The love I felt for my babies as soon as I saw them was such an amazing blessing.
The most difficult thing was definitely not sleeping 8-9 hours a night, but I slept terribly during my first pregnancy, so I'm kinda used to it after 4+ years. Would I love a good night's sleep? Sure! But someday it'll happen!
 
Noel - August 2010
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My good, old, rarely-updated toddler food blog
What was the best surprise?
That I have no desire to off load my kids. I thought I would want to have them away from me more often, but I don't.
What was the most difficult adjustment?
2 kids. 2 kids was/is much harder for me than one was. DS's birth also coincided with DH getting a promotion that means he is less available to us. It is just a lot harder for me than 1. DD is in school now, which helps tremendously. Also, the sickness. I have been sick all 3 winters I have had DS for most of the winter. I constantly have a runny nose or a cough. I have been on 3 rounds of steroids, and 2 antibiotics since 10/31 and still have a sore throat cough, and stuffy head.
The best surprise: How everything came naturally. My mother's instincts didn't turn on until she was born.
Most difficult adjustment: How hard it was to get out of the house. I hated not being able to run out the door without thinking about meal and naptimes.
The surprise? What a big sap I became...the littlest thing brings a tear to my eye now (my husband used to chastise me because I didn't even cry while watching PS I Love You). But now I cry at dumb Folgers commercials.
The biggest challenge?? I gave up my job to stay at home, so it has been a big challenge navigating this new role and trying to figure out how to divvy up household responsibilities...I always feel like a maid more than a mom and I'm having a hard time accepting that it's now up to me to do EVERYTHING, but my husband is lazy and I guess that's how it will always be.
Best surprise? That I really do have motherly instincts. I knew nothing about babies before DS and had never changed a diaper. It's amazing that most of it I "just knew."
Most difficult adjustment? DH and I have no time to ourselves or just the two of us. All of our family is out of state so we never get nights off. It's tough sometimes.
Our family blog
The best surprise - how much I actually "like" DD! I am not a baby/kid person. I think even if I wasn't her mother I would think DD is the most awesome person ever lol! Also what a great Dad DH is!
The worst surprise - how little DH's parents want to be grandparents, very sad but their loss.
I was, hands down, the most inpatient person on the planet. With my job before I became a SAHM, I was required to be going nonstop and demanded a lot from people. Since having DD I am so laid back, it actually shocked my husband. I enjoy myself so much more now, I wish I had been more easy going all my life.
The most difficult adjustment is finding time to get things done that I have to do by myself. I hate dropping DD off on people since I EBF because I have to time things exactly right with her feeding schedule and with my husbands work schedule it's hard to be able to rely on him consistently. This hasn't been too much of an inconvenience though, just occasionally I wish it was easier to go do things.
oooh I love this!