dear friend,
no one will tell you...
... that you just might love this new little being more than any one person on planet earth. And it doesn't matter if you've only met face to face for a few seconds... the love is deep, instant, and unconditionally unfathomable.
... that your boobs will leak milk in the middle of the night and that you might wake up drenched in a puddle of it.
... that the days will often feel monotonous, like a steady tide of eat, sleep, poop... but yet somehow God will give you the energy to repeat the cycle over and over again...
... that the opinions of others will never matter so little to you as they do now. once you used to care what other people thought, but now you have gained a deeper, more secure confidence in yourself to say what needs to be said and defend yourself and your baby. your mama bear reflexes will come out of nowhere and you will often be left wondering just where, and when, they kicked in.
... that there are parts of your body that will take awhile to get back to the way they used to be. but it's okay, because, I mean seriously... look at that little, gorgeous human being that you just birthed.
... that even though no one asks how you are feeling anymore now that you are no longer pregnant, it's okay to volunteer the information that you are tired.
... that it's okay to say no to company and to give people the hint that it's time to leave while visiting... there is nothing more taxing on a new mom than visitors that stay too long.
... that it's okay to order pizza every day of the week instead of cooking dinner if that means that you get to hold onto one more second of that baby sleeping in your arms.
... that mommy guilt is real. very real. and don't give into it. it's okay if that baby is in the swing for 20 minutes so that you can just eat that breakfast hands-free.
... that strangers will want to touch your baby in public. usually, you'll probably want to say no to their touch. but sometimes, like the time an old, wrinkled-faced man looks at your baby in awe and says he misses his grandchildren... you will delightfully hand your baby over just to make his day.
... that your relationship with your husband changes. Your love is now richer, deeper, and unexplainable... this baby in your arms is the perfect combination of you two.
... that watching your parents become grandparents is one of the most amazing things you will ever witness.
... that you will truly understand the depth of God's love for you once you hold that baby and understand the sacrifice when God sent His one, and only, Son to die a gruesome death for us. His love for you will now truly make sense now that you know what love is.
... that this is the rewarding job you'll ever do. hands down. savor it.
love,
me
