What they don't tell you!

I've been a mom for 18 weeks now. I'm sure I'll get around to writing an update (when I get bored... hahaha) but I figured I'd just start by writing down some thoughts on what people didn't tell me about having kids. I heard PLENTY of advice (and still do - and I sincerely appreciate most of it) but somehow there are several very important factors that no one warned me about. With my newfound wisdom (hahaha - motherhood also brought me a renewed sense of humor) I give you my first list. 

Disclaimer: some of the following could change as my little one grows (doesn't everything?) so this is just my view as of today, April 25, 2014 - 18 weeks postpartum. 

What no one tells you about being a parent:

1. You will always ALWAYS be 10 minutes late. This is so hard for me, as I've been a punctual - if not early - person my entire life. Somehow, no matter how much time you have, it is never enough time to wake, change, feed, dress, eat, change, pack, load in car, drive away, return home to grab forgotten bottle/stroller/spare clothes/etc, change again, reload, and transport baby to location. Though we're getting better each week, I now have a newfound respect for punctual mom friends - and way more patience for tardiness. 

2.  There is no such thing as too much coffee. While pregnant, I limited myself to one regular coffee in the morning and one half-caf cup in the afternoon. I used to have a hard time falling asleep if I drank a full-caf coffee past lunchtime, even if I had a hard workout. Now I can successfully drink a Venti black-eye from Starbucks and promptly fall asleep as soon as the little one goes down for her afternoon. In fact, I've done just that. There is no upper limit. I think the half-life of caffeine is quartered with the introduction of a new baby in the house.  Yes, we've already had to replace my keurig already (true story) but I'm sure this was a coincidence ;)

I'll get to #3 after I brew my next cup. 

3.  Emotions (hormones?) are a tricky thing. It becomes a whole new ball game after childbirth. My poor husband. There are seriously days he can do no right. He could wash dishes, fold laundry, and put the baby down, all while pouring me a glass of wine, and I would still be crying about the garbage can that wasn't taken out to the street. On the other hand, there are moments that my eyes well up just thinking of how much he loves his girls and works so hard to make sure we have a great life, and I swear he could do no wrong. Poor guy, he's still hanging in there with me though. Buy him a beer if you see him out, he deserves it. At least I gave him a cute baby :)

4. Recovery after delivery is NO JOKE. I was totally prepared for labor (sort of), semi-prepared for what I had to do to keep this baby happy, and NOT AT ALL prepared for how long it took to feel like myself again. Though I'd say I'm about 90% of the way back to former-Katie, it was a looooooooong time in the making. Why does no one tell you about this part? OH YEAH, CAUSE NO ONE WOULD HAVE CHILDREN - EVER if the secret got out. Oops. Better stop here. 

5. I only thought I loved something before. Okay, to be honest, lots of people did tell me this before, but I never understood it until now. Even middle of the night inconsolable temper tantrums seem bearable. I swear I would move heaven and earth for this little girl and not think twice. She may wake me up at 2am every night, but she is the cutest red-faced-teary-eyed-screaming-flailing-barely-conscious thing you have EVER seen. I think it's something about creating a person, growing her, birthing her, feeding her, and seeing it work day after day that instilled a new sense of purpose in me.  I'm no longer just a wife/daughter/sister/friend/coach. I am a MOM. And this little one only gets one of those. I'm so lucky she chose me. 

Of course, it could be hormones. See #4. 

Well, duh. 

Next up: my fitness update. 

Happy running :-)