7 weeks & things no one tells you about

First up, my little boy is 7 weeks old and as adorable as can be, especially when he's smiling and cooing at me after he first wakes up and has a full tummy. See case in point, picture below:



Second, I've decided to compile a list of things no one ever told me about after giving birth to my first child, hence things I've had to learn on my own based upon personal experience (feel free to add in your own....)

1) that one boob would produce more milk than the other, making my boobs lopsided!

2) that because said boob produces more milk than the other, its uncomfortably full often and prevents me from even sleeping on my tummy or even on that side of my body (which happens to be the side on which DH sleeps in bed...boohoo)

3) that you'll have to wear breast pads and bras 24-7 because either one or both boobs will leak, always when breast feeding, and often even when not!

4) that you cant get away with the thin breast pads, because they're not thick enough to soak up all the milk and the milk will then leak through your bra and onto your shirt

5) that even if you somehow get rid of that pooch in your tummy that wasn't there prepregnancy, you still wont fit into many of your prepregnancy clothes because your hips are just a tad bit fuller/rounder and those boobs....they are so huge, none of your tops fit you like they used to...New Wardrobe anyone?!!?

6) your boobs will never be those perky little guys again...nope, droopy, droopy, droopy (I now understand the desire for breast implants after you've finished having children).

7) that if you dont let your body rest after giving birth (and I mean really really rest, we're talking stay on your butt on the couch all day everyday), it'll take longer for your bleeding to stop (5 weeks for me!!!!)

8) that you'll have to go through copious amounts of clothes for your baby daily because your little one will undoubtedly spit up, pee or poop on at least one article of clothing a day.

9) diaper explosions occur more frequently, than you'd expect

10) that your baby may not actually like to be in that beautiful sling that you begged your friends to get you or that posh carseat that you had your dad spend the big bucks on (yeah, malia - kaua screams like bloody murder when we put him in the sling.....but he does loves his baby bjorn...maybe baby #2 will like the sling better?).

11) that when they bring your son back from circumcision and he's screaming due to the pain he feels, it'll make your heart hurt and you'll cry because its the first pain you inflicted upon him (which could technically have been avoided if you didn't have the procedure) and there's nothing you can do to make it stop other than cuddle him and allow it time to heal (boy was that hard to hear for the first time!).

12) that it will take you twice as long to do anything with a baby, especially get up, get ready and leave the house. I now prepare to leave the house two hours prior to my usual time of 1/2 an hour.

13) though you're staying at home (not working), it's not as if you're not really doing anything. Nope, in between feeding, burping, changing, playing, and comforting your baby (which happens A LOT), you're trying to eat breakfast, brush your teeth, comb your hair, do the dishes, the laundry, pay your bills, clean the house, run errands, cook, etc. You're lucky if you get even half your intended errands done. It really is a full time job being a mommy, and it never ever ends..ever.

14) the intense protectiveness that you'll feel over your child (as if no one can take care of your child better than you can <--- or is it just me because I'm a control freak?)

15) and finally, though I was told about this, nothing compares to experiencing it first hand: the endless love you'll feel for your child every second of every day. And the hapiness you'll feel when you look at your spouse because together you created this little miracle, who is half you and half your spouse, and for now, the dreams are endless.

And now, I leave you with a song - though its about a girl, it made my heart melt when I heard it on a fellow blogger's blog the other day (thanks Faith's mommy!)