New Moms

Recently, one of my best friends had her first child.  When I sent her a congratulatory text, I also told her I was thinking of her because this was, in fact, a very stressful and emotional time.  She responded saying she had no idea it was like this and she was adding new moms to her daily prayer list.
She's right.  When you think of having babies, you think of the blissful pictures of sweetly sleeping babies all wrapped up like little burritos.  You think of the happiness Moms and Dads must be feeling as they finally get to see the little one they've dreamed about for 10 mths.
But the reality involves so much more.  Again, I speak from my own experience only, but the first few months of Emerson's life were probably some of the hardest in my life.  I cried more in that time than I have in my entire life.  This was not just the hormones, but a result of the fact that I was sleeping about 2 hours at a time.  And when I showered, if I was home alone, I was freaking out the entire time that my helpless little baby was out in the house all alone (because God knows what I thought could happen to her!).  All rational thought is out the window though!  I didn't know why she was crying or why she wouldn't sleep when I put her down or how in the world I was supposed to accomplish anything more than just staring at her all day!
My mom saved me.  She would come to my house during her lunch break, bring me food, and hold Emerson while I ate.  Then she'd get me to put a load of clothes in the wash.  Make my bed.  Sweep up some cat hair.  Small little chores that, in my mind, were impossible to do while watching this newborn.  She'd even convince me to leave Emerson in one room while I - gasp! - went into another.  Milestones, I assure you.
Before long, I was figuring it out.  I relaxed.  My hormones returned to normal.  I slept a slight bit more.
But being a new mom is no joke.  They are a new addition to my prayer list as well.