It’s life, but not as we know it (or 15 ways life changes with a baby on board!)
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I like to think that I prepared myself well for impending parenthood when I was expecting my first baby. I read blogs and books and talked to my friends who already had children. Turns out, nothing can really prepare you for the monumental change to your life that such a tiny person can bring.
Nevertheless, I thought I’d try and give a little insight into 15 ways my life is not what it once was:
Pre baby: we used to take city breaks abroad to lovely sunny destinations.
Post baby: we’ve now chosen to take staycations in the UK (read: in the
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rain!).
Pre baby: nights out used to involve getting dressed up and drinking copious amounts of prosecco with my girlfriends.
Post baby: these have now been replaced with coffee and cake dates with mummy friends and our babies (who are fast becoming toddlers who move and don’t want to sit quietly while their mummies drink coffee!).
Pre baby: I used to enjoy dinner dates at nice restaurants with the hubby.
Post baby: the hubby and I share an M&S Dine In in front of the TV these days.
Pre baby: those nights out with girlfriends or the
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hubby were often spontaneous.
Post baby: nights out are now planned months and months in advance – and rare!
Pre baby: getting ready used to involve washing hair, styling hair, clean clothes and make up.
Post baby: getting ready now involves scraping hair into a mum bun and checking clothes for any obvious poo/sick stains.
Pre baby: leaving the house used to involve grabbing my handbag and car keys.
Post baby: leaving the house now involves grabbing the baby, a nappy bag (and checking that there are actually nappies in the nappy bag as
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well as everything else you need for a baby – muslins, wipes, toys, change of clothes, nappy bags – the list goes on!).
Pre baby: I used to often binge buy new clothes for every new season (shhh – don’t tell the hubby!).
Post baby: I’ll now only buy something if it has buttons and I can breastfeed in it.
Pre baby: I used to own a washboard stomach (ha – who am I kidding?! ok, so I had a flat-ish stomach).
Post baby: my stomach is a bit saggier these days.
Pre baby: I used to enjoy lie ins until midday most weekends.
Post baby: a lie
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in these days is feeling lucky when the baby doesn’t wake before 6.30am.
Pre baby: I needed to set an alarm to wake up in time for work.
Post baby: the baby now wakes us up long before the alarm ever would have.
Pre baby: I used to save up to treat myself to a new bag or new pair of shoes.
Post baby: I now save up to treat the baby to a Jumperoo – a plastic monstrosity that now fills our living room!
Pre baby: bathroom breaks used to be a mere necessity.
Post baby: bathroom breaks have now become a luxury that I enjoy!
Pre baby:
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I used to know no one in my neighbourhood.
Post baby: I’ve now spoken to everyone in my neighbourhood. Apparently having a baby makes people stop and talk to you.
Pre baby: I used to find even the thought of changing a nappy totally gross.
Post baby: I can now talk for hours on the subject of my baby’s poos.
Pre baby: I used to think I was happy.
Post baby: I now know I am happy!
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Emily Taylor - 26 Jun 17
I like to think that I prepared myself well for impending parenthood when I was expecting my first baby. I read blogs and books and talked to my friends who already had children. Turns out, nothing can really prepare you for the monumental change to your life that such a tiny person can bring.
Nevertheless, I thought I’d try and give a little insight into 15 ways my life is not what it once was:
Pre baby: we used to take city breaks abroad to lovely sunny destinations.
Post baby: we’ve now chosen to take staycations in the UK (read: in the rain!).
Pre baby: nights out used to involve getting dressed up and drinking copious amounts of prosecco with my girlfriends.
Post baby: these have now been replaced with coffee and cake dates with mummy friends and our babies (who are fast becoming toddlers who move and don’t want to sit quietly while their mummies drink coffee!).
Pre baby: I used to enjoy dinner dates at nice restaurants with the hubby.
Post baby: the hubby and I share an M&S Dine In in front of the TV these days.
Pre baby: those nights out with girlfriends or the hubby were often spontaneous.
Post baby: nights out are now planned months and months in advance – and rare!
Pre baby: getting ready used to involve washing hair, styling hair, clean clothes and make up.
Post baby: getting ready now involves scraping hair into a mum bun and checking clothes for any obvious poo/sick stains.
Pre baby: leaving the house used to involve grabbing my handbag and car keys.
Post baby: leaving the house now involves grabbing the baby, a nappy bag (and checking that there are actually nappies in the nappy bag as well as everything else you need for a baby – muslins, wipes, toys, change of clothes, nappy bags – the list goes on!).
Pre baby: I used to often binge buy new clothes for every new season (shhh – don’t tell the hubby!).
Post baby: I’ll now only buy something if it has buttons and I can breastfeed in it.
Pre baby: I used to own a washboard stomach (ha – who am I kidding?! ok, so I had a flat-ish stomach).
Post baby: my stomach is a bit saggier these days.
Pre baby: I used to enjoy lie ins until midday most weekends.
Post baby: a lie in these days is feeling lucky when the baby doesn’t wake before 6.30am.
Pre baby: I needed to set an alarm to wake up in time for work.
Post baby: the baby now wakes us up long before the alarm ever would have.
Pre baby: I used to save up to treat myself to a new bag or new pair of shoes.
Post baby: I now save up to treat the baby to a Jumperoo – a plastic monstrosity that now fills our living room!
Pre baby: bathroom breaks used to be a mere necessity.
Post baby: bathroom breaks have now become a luxury that I enjoy!
Pre baby: I used to know no one in my neighbourhood.
Post baby: I’ve now spoken to everyone in my neighbourhood. Apparently having a baby makes people stop and talk to you.
Pre baby: I used to find even the thought of changing a nappy totally gross.
Post baby: I can now talk for hours on the subject of my baby’s poos.
Pre baby: I used to think I was happy.
Post baby: I now know I am happy!
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I'm a first time mum, blogging about my adventures over at The trainee mum. I'm totally winging it and loving it! Right now my life is consumed entirely by this tiny little boy which is overwhelming and wonderful all at once. I'm hoping at some point in the future, I'll remember who I was again!