Things I've learned and can't forget when the next one comes along...

ASK QUESTIONS during the hospital stay... Having siblings so much younger than me, I was fine with changing diapers and how to handle a newborn, but I should've asked many many questions about breast feeding. Once you're discharged it is much more difficult to get help and advice without paying an arm and a leg.

You don't get much sleep, even when the baby stays in the nursery at night, and you can forget getting any rest during the day because of all the visitors.

Chandler and I are Waverly's advocates. This lesson was hard for me to learn because I wasn't used to claiming a person as "mine". Being with her most of the time, Chandler and I know how she operates, we know what is best for her and we are the ones who stand up for her and make sure that her needs are being met. I appreciate my mom bringing this to my attention because honestly, I had never thought of it.

Girls pee mid-diaper change, just like boys... who knew?

A feeding schedule is the best thing we could've done for our family. Waverly is going to be 11 weeks old on Tuesday and has been consistently sleeping through the night since she was 7 1/2 weeks old. We started on a 2 1/2 hour feeding schedule (feed, wake, sleep), then stretched her to a 3 hour schedule. That was a difficult transition, but two days ago we stretched her again to a 3 1/2 hour schedule and she's been doing awesome, sleeping 8-10 hours straight every night. I couldn't ask for anything better, especially since the lack of sleep didn't really hit us until a month after she was born.

Let the dog be involved.. not like changing diapers and giving the baby a bath, but we were careful to not scold her for simply being around Waverly's stuff or being close to Waverly. Don't get me wrong, Fenway won't be carrying Waverly off in her mouth any time, but she likes to lick her feet and her head. She even carries some of Waverly's things when Chandler and I are too lazy to carry it up or down stairs ourselves. I think they're going to be the best of friends :)

Always, always, always make sure you have more than enough diapers and wipes. Nothing ruins an outing like having to go back home to change a poopy diaper.

Oh, and have an extra onesie and outfit. Yes, we've been out (in the boondocks, mind you) when Waverly has had an explosive diaper and ended up wearing nothing but a diaper and blanket.

There are a lot of "firsts" in a baby's first year; get a calendar and write it all down.

There's no possible way to store up sleep before the baby is born. You're just gonna be tired.

Child-rearing is a continuous lesson in patience. It extends your boundaries like you've never known. (This one courtesy of Chandler)

Around month two and three, baby outgrows those newborn clothes.

Take advantage of nap times. I was told to always sleep when the baby sleeps and sometimes I do, but more often than not, I use that time to get stuff done around the house... or indulge in a few minutes of pleasure reading.

It takes time to lose the baby weight. I was very unpleasantly surprised when I still looked 6 months pregnant after Waverly was born. Nobody told me! Thankfully, within a couple of days my belly shrunk to a more manageable size. And I've been fortunate to lose most of the weight fairly quickly; however, there are still those few pounds and that undesirable belly pooch that have taken longer to shed. Bathing suit season is too close for comfort!

Savor every minute. You don't believe it until you have a child of your own, but time flies faster than you could believe. I like to watch Waverly a lot and thankfully, she doesn't find it uncomfortable because she just stares right back, minute for minute. But I've learned a lot about her just by watching her and I've been witness to her little nuances, like, when I change her diaper, she holds my arms with her feet and she likes to lay with her hands clasped across her belly.

I read this on a friend's Facebook page: "Trying to remember that the days are long, but the years are short."