Joey

1. Her smile 😁 I can’t get enough of her smile.
2. 4-5 hours of sleep used to feel like not enough sleep. Now it feels like a dream. 😴
3. Strap the diaper on nice and tight or else you’ll be cleaning poop off of the baby’s clothes, body, and possibly whatever else she was laying on… However, getting pooped on isn’t as bad as you think.
4. The days are short and the nights are loooooong.
5. Always be on your toes when changing the diaper because shit happens. (Explosive shit)
6. Just when I think I have it figured out…. I don’t. Roll with the punches. As Bruce Lee says “be like water” and adjust. It’s easier that way. (It also helps to have an amazing partner to go through it with)
7. A solid burp and a warm bath go a long way. 
8. My nipples are useless…
9. If you plan on leaving the house at a certain time.. it’s not happening. Give yourself a head start. Start leaving at least an hour before you plan to.
10. How to stop a crying baby: I have no idea… I don’t think anyone knows!

Amanda

1. There is absolutely nothing like holding your newborn baby in your arms. I could hold her forever. 
2. The whole “sleep when baby sleeps” thing is impossible. I mean, who came up with that and does it even work for anyone? 
3. I’m really good at functioning with only one hand/arm while holding baby with the other. 
4. Singing to baby is so much fun, especially when you finally have an excuse to play Disney soundtracks at any hour of the day/night. (Avery’s current favs are “You’re Welcome” and “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana and watching Joey sing them to her is perhaps one of my new favorite things). 
5. Never put off something you can do in the moment. You never know when this tiny human is going to need you. What did I do with all my time pre-baby?! 
6. Spit up happens (shit happens too).
7. Speaking of, getting pooped on isn’t as bad as I thought 🤷🏻‍♀️
8. My nipples are magic. 
9. It’s okay if the child you carried for 9 months comes out looking more like dad… I mean I think he’s pretty cute anyways. 
10. Parenthood is quite the journey and having an amazing partner to do it with is the cherry on top of an already amazing gift.