22 Things about parenting they don't tell you!

1. Breastfeeding really really hurts.
2. Your sleep will never be the same. Don't expect to get any in the first three months. If you have more than one child, don't expect anything.
3. Say goodbye to Nordstrom and even Nordstrom Rack because Value Village has become your new best friend.
4. Kids have as much fun with a dollar store toy as they do a toy you bought for $50, at Babies R Us.
5. Stop the stuffy gifts as soon as you can, or your house will look like it exploded with stuffed toys.
6. Make sure you have a good supply of bubble mix.
7. Potty training is hard... It is very hard!
8. Co-sleeping in your bed is very normal. When your child is a toddler, you can expect to see your child coming into your room to snuggle.
9. Get into a routine as fast as you can, or you will regret it!
10. Sleep training is hard; Hence the routine.
11. Buy a cheap couch for your first 5 years of having children because yes, it will smell like urine eventually.
12. Getting out of the house will take at least a half hour to an hour longer than what you would expect it to. Leave yourself a lot of time.
13. The floor of you car will always have fruit snacks, gold fish crackers, and who knows what else scattered around everywhere, so invest in a good vacuum.
14. As per the floor of the car, your backseat windows and doors will have splatters of milk and juice everywhere consistently.
15. Always have a diaper bag handy... ALWAYS!
16. Your bedtime is way earlier than you would have ever imagined.
17. For the ladies, regular make-up and styling hair is a thing of the past. Say hello to your friend mascara and ponytails, or you cut your hair so short all you need to do is brush it.
18. The expectation of how you want to dress your child and how they end up dressing is totally different: lots of mismatching, just role with it!
19. If you were never a runner, well now you are! You'll become very good at chasing your toddler around the house to either brush her hair, brush her teeth, get her clothes on, get her shoes on, etc.
20. Your free time is your child's time.
21. You cherish your babysitters and pay them well because you found a good one that your toddler really likes.
22. Every single one of these crazy changes is worth it because you have this amazing little child who loves you and thinks the world of you.