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I think parts of it are more wonderful than any picture or story on Facebook and blogs. Other parts are frustrating and hard just like anything else in life (work, finances, relationships). Parenting is rewarding but sometime you don't feel it right away. For me, people described being a new parent as though it was so difficult, nearly impossible but I never experienced that. The hardships pass and then you will you baby was still tiny!

It is as wonderful and beautiful as depicted in blogs and photos in terms of the overwhelming amount of love and utter adoration you feel for this tiny little being.

But frankly, I was not a fan of the newborn stage and seriously contemplate being one and done. I'm at the point now where I have forgotten some of the hardest moments and where I can tell others who have just given birth that it does get better even though it feels like an eternity while you're in it. It definitely was not all puppies and rainbows and I didn't expect to dislike that stage as much as I did.

It's better than I ever imagined, and I thought it would be pretty awesome to begin with.

Honestly, I struggled a lot in the beginning. Don't get me wrong, I love my two kids, but that newborn phase is a BEAST! It is so much work with not much reward back (they can't smile yet, they can't hug or anything..... newborns are blobs). I didn't expect it too be so much work because of TV and movies, and so I was underprepared. When I speak candidly with other new moms they feel the same way. I didn't really like being a mom until DD laughed for the first time. That was just a glimmer of what lay ahead and it helped me get through the sleepless nights, feeling like a cow (literally because of the nursing), the unending loneliness of watching DH continue with his normal life, and frankly the existential crisis of my new life status.

Perhaps that's just my experience, but many new moms I speak with have gone through the same thing. I think that this is such a valid question and something that not many people speak about. As if admitting that it is hard in the beginning is saying you don't like your baby or being a mom, which isn't the case. I couldn't imagine my life without DD or DS (I want another one!), but the initial shock of it all was not what I thought.

@MamaBehr: I am with you! I had NO clue how difficult it could be. Especially kissing your old life good bye but you said it better than I could have. I don't think I really bonded with my daughter until she was 4-ish months. I always loved her but motherhood was not all it was cracked up to be (to me) until she was older.

It's been a journey of mixed feelings... I had some ppd and that affected how I felt toward my lo. It's been hard yes, but I feel like six months was that magical mark that things finally started looking up and I actually began to enjoy being with my baby. Part of my ppd was because even though getting pg was purposeful; it was initiated by DH even tho I'd wanted to wait longer: so part of it was not really ready.

There are great days and bad days. Days he doesn't sleep or I just want to sleep and only worry about being responsible for myself. There are days I want to take a day off because even when I get a break from him, I think or worry about him the whole time. My life is now consumed with his life- I do everything for him, I make all decisions based on him. But you know... You get used to it and then it becomes a joy. I cannot imagine life without him. He totally completes our family and no matter how hard it is I wouldn't trade it for anything.

@Dapple Grey Thank you! Sorry, not trying to scare anyone. Every mother, every baby is different. Some people love this stage. Whichever way you feel about any given stage..it's temporary.

@Andrea Thanks for that comment!

@andrea I've already gone through a period of mourning the second child I don't think I can have/handle. Lol. I don't know what the future holds but I don't want to be in this stage very long!

My son is a newborn and I have ZERO time for myself...my nipples are throbbing in pain and I don't sleep at night..*but* it is so so worth it and amazing and better than I could have ever imagined! I loooooove it! My husband and I feel like we are living a dream:) I am in so much love and I don't remember life without him, honestly.
Good luck on TTC... Nothin is better than getting that BFP and dancing around the house like you just won the lottery:)

@Dapple Grey: I am pretty sure I remember but it is worth doing again!

It has definitely been both harder and easier. Harder, because breastfeeding is really tough, and so is adjusting to this new role as a mom (it still feels somewhat surreal for me). And easier because I honestly don't mind getting little to no sleep, having breastmilk constantly leaking all over my clothes, and living in two hour spans between meal time.

it is more exhausting than I thought it would be, but still better than I ever imagined!