If I’ve said this once, I’ve said this 1,000 times: Women who swear that the moment their child was born was the moment being pregnant was worth it, are liars. Either they’re liars or they’re much more maternal than I am naturally – but I prefer to think they’re liars. It makes me feel less guilty for not looking at my newborn and thinking This makes all of the tear-inducing leg cramps and sleep-depriving heartburn worth it!
Newborns are just so…unresponsive. Yeah, they have your unconditional love, that’s undeniable. But – until they actually start reacting to you? It’s hard not to find yourself thinking, why do I love something so much that couldn’t give two flying shits if I’m in the room or not? At least that’s how I am.
Until they starting smiling. I mean – the real smiles. The ones that can brighten even the darkest of moods. That’s when the weight gain and swollen feet finally fade into the background. The post-delivery recovery pains suddenly don’t seem that big of a deal. The flabby belly, the stretch marks, even the post-birth constipation…don’t seem as traumatic. This kid thinks I’m funny! He smiles when I talk like and moron, he laughs when I tickle him, he wiggles with joy when I spin him around.
I think I’ll keep him.
You & me BOTH!! I am so glad to hear someone else say this. I was a miserable, pre-eclamptic mess the last few weeks of my pregnancy, and succumbed to a c-section 3 weeks early. I felt like I had been near death… and THEN I started to breastfeed! LOL.
It does eventually become worth it though… worth it a thousand times over. AndyZ’s smile is precious, priceless, and SO worth it.
(Hope work is going okay for you too. My girl is 6 months old today, and MAN it hurt to leave the house this morning. Never stops, does it?)
What an adorable picture!! And I must say that I agree with you. While I’ve never been pregnant and have no children of my own, I have been around enough babies to know that the best times are when they start responding to you! However, if you ever feel the need to lose this new little one, I’ll gladly take him off your hands for you! =)
What a cutie. I love to cuddle newborns, but it is SO FUN when they respond to you.
I agree. It took me about 2 days for it to sink in that I was actually a mom (her being in the NICU didn’t help). I loved her then, but the love is definitely different now that she reacts to me. I think it is that I can actually see her love for me. It makes my love greater.
Awwww, look at his grin! I’m so incredibly jealous though. My daughter was born a week after he was, and I can NOT get her to smile on camera. She’ll grin at me until I grab the Nikon, then stare it down. Gotta love it.
I think this is where the fun begins. They start noticing things, smiling, reacting to the world around them. It really does make it all worth it. Then people start looking at you oddly when you act like a moron just trying to get the kid to grin or laugh.
Oh my. What an adorable little gummy smile. I tend to think that anyone who thinks I’m funny is worth some amount of discomfort.
I’m a bit harder to please. i just tolerate them til about 10 months. That’s a LOT of tolerating!
Aw! How cute is his smile?!
I am one of the weirdos that actually ADORES that newborn stage. All baby stages, actually, but there is something about the newborn that just melts my heart, unresponsiveness and all.
That is pure joy right there.
Aww. What an awesome smile! I think this is the best time. When they can respond.. But before they are getting into trouble walking around.
Newborns are cute, but a smile is even better!
Gummy smiles are the best!
That is an awesome smile. You’re right…babies smiles are the BEST. When that laugh starts?? EVEN BETTER!!
God, I can totally relate
He gets cuter everyday. I was more of the instantly all worthwhile type. I love the interaction too but I just savored those quiet moments at first, especially with my second.
hiii. I am a first time commenter I suppose you would call it. First off, your baby is adorable. Second, as someone who is maybe soon going to be planning/starting a family, it’s nice to hear that insight from you, because no one really gives it to you straight, like, pregnancy and soon after isn’t really fun. But I imagine the moment they know who you are, know your their provider and have unconditional love for them, it becomes worth it. Even as a sister, I knew I was head over heels in love even more with my sisters when they realized who I was and I could better “relate” to them (i.e. make them laugh, smile, etc). Enjoy your week, and I’ll be around, still reading 🙂
I do love the unresponsive newborn stage. I do! I genuinely do! (Though BARF about it all being worth it the moment etc.) But I also love when they start responding.