What "Worth It" Means

This post is for one of my oldest friends who was due to have her baby yesterday.  Apparently everyone has been filling her in on how hard and awful and exhausting having a baby is. And all they say in the positive is, "But it's worth it..."

After a long night with a feverish baby waking up every 20-45 minutes, I'd like to (in my sleep-deprived state) share what my "worth it" is.

It's worth it when your baby recognizes your voice the instant she enters this world.

It's worth it when she then recognizes her Daddy's voice a few seconds later.

It's worth it when you see she has your eyes and her Daddy's cheeks.

It's worth it when you watch her little body and fingers and eyelashes uncurl from those cramped months like a flower blooming.

It's worth it when you see her smile for the first time. And the second. And the third...

It's worth it when she turns her head towards you when you enter the room because she can smell you.

It's worth it when you're the only one she wants.

It's worth it when it's 3 am and you doze off while nursing and then wake to find her just watching you.

It's worth it when you see her roll onto her tummy reaching for a toy.

It's worth it when you sneak up to her crib and watch her sleeping so peacefully, a binkie halfway in her mouth.

It's worth it when she figures out how to shimmy/slither/crawl in order to get to you.

It's worth it when you get to dress her up in the cutest outfits EVER.

It's worth it when you hear that most wonderful name, "Mama."

It's worth it when she lays her head on your chest, snuggled right up under your chin.

It's worth it when you watch her play in the sprinklers for the first time.

It's worth it when she laughs every time you fake sneeze. 52 times in a row.

It's worth it when you watch her smile make strangers light up on a daily basis.

It's worth it when she grabs onto your butt and wants to play choo-choo.

It's worth it when you get to watch her open presents. And it is SO much more fun than getting present ever was.

It's worth it when she's been ornery all day and when you're kneeling and cleaning up spilled cereal, she attacks your back with a bear hug and says "aawwwwww!"

It's worth it when she kisses you. For no reason.

Those are a few "worth it" moment off the top of my foggy head. Yeah, they may be cliche, but for good reason.  They do, ever so, make the late nights and spit up and everything horrible you hear...worth it.

Oh, and it's worth it when she does hilarious things like deciding to make your dog the toy box while he sleeps.