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"Daily changes are just a part of life."

You will live by these words when you decide that you are ready to be a parent. Remember those nights of partying, followed by 3 am breakfasts at that all night truck stop? Kiss them goodbye but remember them fondly. Parenting will be both the best and worst experience of your life.

Your life will change, and it will change almost daily. Each stage of becoming a parent brings with it new, exciting and scary challenges that you will have to face and overcome. Let's explore those changes as they happen.

"Pregnancy"

Becoming pregnant is fun! Being pregnant, however, is as fun as it is scary. Your body changes almost daily. Morning sickness is a humorous pun on the fact that you will experience it morning, noon and night. You will get to know your doctor better than you know your husband. And let's not forget, the last thing you will remember to do is pamper yourself, as you will be shopping for cribs, clothes, diapers, wipes and the other multitude of items that you will need once your baby is born.

The rewards are magnificent though. You will feel your baby move inside of your belly and experience a joy that you will never find again with any other thing that you could do in life. To know that you are the one who will bring this wonderful new life into the world, shape it to become the best it can be and experience an unconditional love for the rest of your life is the most wondrous accomplishment you will ever have.

"Birth"

Are you modest? Drop it now if you can. The number of people that will be in and out of your room while you are feeling the worst pain of your life will be enough to send you into a rage. Add to the fact that every one of them will be looking at your most private parts of your body, and modesty will be sent straight to never-land.

You will need to decide between a midwife and a doctor, a hospital or a home birth, make arrangements for the dog to be fed and the plants to be watered and don't forget a helper or two the first few days that you are home with your brand new bundle of joy.

"Raising Your Child"

Promises, promises. Your entire family and all of your friends will promise to be there for you if you need a babysitter or a break. But once that cute little bundle starts to talk, walk and generally cause trouble, your family and friends will become non-existent. Find a great babysitter that you can rely on so that you can continue to have a "date" with your partner at least once a month. A great resource

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