Nothing seems to really quite prepare you for the physical and emotional toll that taking care of a newborn places on you. Yes, everyone told us that its an exhausting job, where peace, quiet, and sleep become the most scarce and precious of all commodities. Everything takes a toll...the constant diaper changes, waking up at 3am, the lack of free time for yourself, running to Walmart to pick up extra diapers, cleaning of poop and pee, the fact that you can't just go out anywhere you want, eating in shifts with your wife...the list goes on....
However, nothing quite prepares you for that utter sense of joy and amazement when seeing your newborn for the first time out of the operating room after your wife has just gone through a C section. And then nothing prepares you for how unbelievably proud you feel when the nurses announce, "Congratulations, this is your son!" Nothing prepares you for the happiness you feel when your newborn opens their eyes for the first time and locks eyes with yours, or when they crack a smile (even though it might just be a muscle reflex). Nothing prepares you for the laughter when your newborn passes gas (and its louder than mom's!!), or when your baby pees all over you as he is weighed at the doctor's office. Nothing prepares you for the sense of satisfaction you feel when you can figure out exactly why your baby is crying and then make him stop.
I don't think anything will quite prepare us for what's to come in the days, weeks and years ahead...but I am certain that it will all be worth it.
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