5 Things No One Tells You About Motherhood

As we are getting closer to adding the second baby into our chaos I think about some things I wish someone would have mentioned at the beginning. Motherhood is an amazing blessing but boy is it tough! Nothing can fully prepare you but here are some helpful thing to keep in mind and remember you are not going crazy! Motherhood is one hell of a roller coaster. Hang on tight. It is all worth it! I promise.

1. You will cry. A lot! You cry when you see those first two lines on the pregnancy test. You will cry at doctor's appointments or driving to them when a random song comes on the radio. You will cry when your spouse eats the last bite of ice cream you have been craving all day. You will cry when your baby is born, while looking at the miracle you created. You will cry they are growing to fast or that you haven't slept in 3 days or crying because you can't stop crying. Then you are crying because your bathroom wall looks like a wig. The hair loss is unreal. It happens it is normal! Though let me say if the tears and ongoing sadness does last longer than a few weeks postpartum, definitely talk with your doctor. Postpartum depression is real folks! Do what is best for you and your children.

2. You will love your children like you never thought you could love before, it is terrifying. I never ever thought I would be able to love a tiny little human so much. I worry about being able to love another tiny human as much as Kinley. People keep telling me my heart will grow and I am holding on to that. You love them so much it hurts. You want nothing bad to happen to them. You worry about everything when it comes to them. No one can prepare you for the love you will feel and at the end of the day it makes everything all worth it. Even the sleepless nights.

3. You will miss some of the times that were the hardest. There were many nights it was so hard to get up 16 times to breastfeed her or the midnight screams. Let me tell you though, I miss some of those moments now. It was so memorable looking at her so innocent and amazing, knowing she just needed something only I could give her. I look back and think wow how I miss that look in her eyes. They are only little once and you never get that time back with them. Enjoy the snuggles at 2am because some day soon they won't want anything to deal with us and we will miss it asking for the snuggles back.

4. You can function on no sleep and you will. See number 2. It is all worth it. All the coffee and wine in the world can't help you after some of those nights. But you survive and guess what you are able to do it again the next night. I wonder how I survived some nights we had with Kinley. But we did and I managed to work full time and keep my marriage together. Don't get me wrong we almost killed each other a few of those nights but at the end of the day we knew we were in it together and we would not have survived it without each other.

5. And after all of that you will be willing to do it all over again. As we are getting closer and closer to meeting this baby boy all of these run through my head on a daily basis. I always knew I wanted Kinley to have a sibling and share some sibling experiences I have been able to make with my siblings. Matt on the other hand was adamant we were one and done. Though after much discussion we both knew that nothing could replace the joy in our hearts she has given to us. We know that deep down this little boy will do the same. Children are an amazing blessing and make you question everything in your life, but at the end of the day I wouldn't trade it for the world. I can't imagine my life without Kinley and I am sure very soon I will feel the same way about this little boy growing in me.

Lean on your supports, let people help when they offer. It truly takes a village to raise children and I am so thankful to have some of the best supports out there. Now go snuggle your little ones!