Shits and Giggles

As someone who, up until having a child of her own, thought all babies looked pretty much the same and had no idea what to do with them, I am becoming keenly more aware of why parents are the way that they are. Case in point, I am starting to see that while all babies look like some version of a potato when they are born, they do have some uniqueness to them. 

I also now understand why all parents think their baby is hilarious. To non-parents out there, I can relate that you perhaps getting a small chuckle out of other people just dying to show you their baby's latest comedic accomplishment but not truly getting why this is so pants-shittingly hilarious. I get it now. Let me break it down - especially from a mom's point of view. 

You have just spent the last 9 months of your life at many times throwing up, nauseous, swollen, and gradually getting fatter and fatter all for the joy of giving life. Once you give birth and can hold that little baby in your arms instead of your larger than life belly it is almost like nothing can make you happier... until you are home for two weeks and are dealing with stitches in all the most personal places, crying, diapers, cord care, and the obligatory adjustment to whatever type of nourishment that joyous little new potato of yours finally takes to. It is tending to all basic needs all the time and you still love your little potato, but hot damn if shit doesn't get old. 

Long about 2 months, your baby looks less like a potato and more like some mush up of mom and/or dad. The cord grossness is yesterday's news and you've more than likely got the food thing under control. Then... THEN... you make funny faces and noises at the baby and get smiles and laughs in response. The delightful smiles and big belly laughs (even in their sleep) are the most adorable thing and make you so so so happy because you actually feel like you know that you are now making them happy. And you can tell. For sure. It's more than poopy diapers and bottle washing, it's almost as though that stuff is not as mundane and, at times, torturous as it seems from the outside. 

So yes, it is hilarious when your own kid laughs and smiles a lot. Because your kid is a kid, no longer a potato, and you can totally tell they kinda sorta like you too.