How easy having a newborn was. It’s much harder now she’s mobile! I couldn’t imagine what having a baby would be like, despite knowing many and having several younger siblings. The drudgery isn’t as hard as I’d imagined and she’s a healthy, sturdy, easy going baby so it’s been much easier then I’d worried.
The hardest thing, which I never saw coming, was the grinding weight of responsibility I feel. I remember sobbing on DH’s shoulder when she was a couple of weeks old, a tiny scrap of a thing snoozing away and saying I can’t cope with how responsible I feel now, it’s like a heavy weight of my shoulders, she only has us to keep her safe.
At the risk of making anyone puke, I’ve also been amazed at how having a baby has strengthened our relationship, how much more I love DH, respect and admire him. He was already a dad to my DSC and I knew he was a good parent but to see him chatting with DD, singing her songs, changing her carefully and dressing her and entertaining her, supporting me and how he kept everything going when I was recovering, he’s the best decision I ever made. All you ever hear is how a baby can ruin your marriage and, so far, I’m glad that’s not been the case for us.
Getting and staying pregnant was a shit load harder than expected so I may be blinded by the sheer relief that stage is over.