I just came across a draft of a post that was never put up. It was an updated best/worst list (I did the first one when Zoe was just three weeks old), and it was written when Zoe was six months. It was a really fun thing to discover, and I thought I would do yet another update – to see how (or if) my views on parenting have changed.

Best thing:
then: seeing Zoe – who greets us with smiles, giggles and flailing arms/legs – in the morning.
now: cuddling with Zoe just before bedtime. (It’s usually the only time she wants to be held.)

Worst thing:
then: not being able to sleep in, ever!
now: same, though I’m grateful Zoe wakes up a little later (7 vs. 6 or 6:30 AM) these days.

Best moment:
then: tie: meeting Zoe for the first time (at delivery) and seeing her smile for the first time.
now: I don’t think anything can beat when they plunked Zoe on my stomach in the hospital.

Worst moment:
then: learning Zoe was going to have to stay at the hospital for an extra few days (because of her platelet problem) and, later, having to watch her get her blood taken repeatedly. (ouch!)
now: same. Luckily, we haven’t gone through anything as painful since.

The one thing I do that all the parenting books told me I would do:
then: frequently check on Zoe to make sure she’s still breathing.
now: same. I still listen for her breathing sounds before I go to bed each night.

Best advice:
then: time goes so fast – so savor every moment you have with your baby.
now: same. It really *does* go fast!

Worst advice:
then: none (thankfully!)
now: same. I think I tune out the bad (or stupid) stuff.

Thing that no one tells you about parenting:
then: parenting is 90% instinct. Despite not knowing much about babies before having Zoe, a lot of things just sort of came to me. (So much for all those parenting classes!)
now: same. I was really clueless about kids before Zoe, but now I feel like an old pro. :)

Cliche that has proven most true:
then: after just a short period of time with your child, you can’t imagine your life without her. (I keep asking myself: what did I do with all my time??)
now: same (I definitely have a hard time remembering my pre-Zoe days), but also: time goes so fast. I’m still amazed at how much Zoe has grown and how fast two+ years have slipped by.

Thing that has taken me most by surprise:
then: how quickly you adjust to your “new life.” And how great it really is.
now: how happy the smallest of things can make you. Zoe said “I love you, too” in response to my “I love you” the other night, and I practically burst with happiness.

-M