The prior post was written only days before the little one arrived. Now that Baby is nine months, I am beginning to crawl out from under the new-parent rock, hence a blog post.
It's true what they say: no amount of description, coaching, reading, etc. can prepare you for having a child. You thought pregnancy was tough? Labor & delivery make pregnancy seem like a cakewalk. You thought labor & delivery was tough? After a month with a newborn, that little marathon in the hospital is a hazy (and not at all scary by comparison) memory. You thought the first weeks and months were tough? After nine months of sleep deprivation, you can't remember any of the rest of your life up until today.
On the other hand, you will find yourself loving another being more than you ever thought possible.
