Before I became a parent, I never knew...

• that getting up to feed a newborn in the middle of the night actually keeps you up for like an hour.
• that watching my child open presents on Christmas morning would be an even better feeling that Christmas morning when I was a child.
• I would always actively be on the hunt for new things that my child will find exciting.
• how disappointed I would be when he didn't find those new things exciting.
• about the amazing natural high that you get when your child does actually find them as exciting (or more) as you imagined.
• that adult conversation would actually need to be scheduled.
• how meaningful and recharging a few hours of uninterrupted adult conversation can truly be.
• that I would honestly rather buy my child a gift than get something for myself.
• that my child would end up exactly like me... and nothing like me... all at the same time.