Does A Baby Make Me Happy?

I've written a lot about the costs, stress increases, etc. associated with having a baby. I haven't really written much about the positives. I don't know how to do that well, but I attempt it here. How does a baby affect your happiness?

How Does The Baby Affect Stress?

Having a baby changes your life. Everyone knows this. What I haven't really seen though is a really accurate picture of how it affects your stress level. I probably can't provide that picture either for many reasons, but here is my attempt at capturing some obvious and some non-obvious ways that a baby affects our stress levels.

Putting A Car Seat In A Sports Car

I drive a Subaru BRZ. For anyone unfamiliar, this is a very small, 2-door sports car. Is it possible to use with a car seat?

Babyproofing A Tile Floor

I was really stressed about having a baby in a house with all tile floors. In this post I walk through how we babyproofed and how successful it was.

Travelling With A Toddler

How does a toddler affect travel? We've stayed in seven different hotels in the past three months with a toddler, and I learned a few things that I didn't expect.

Daycare Costs Go Down Over Time

Something I wasn't aware of with daycare was a pleasant surprise...the costs go down as the baby ages.

How Does The Baby Affect Grocery Spending?

I'd guessed that we'd spend more at the grocery store with a baby since he has to eat, wear diapers, etc. I've broken down exactly how much our spending has changed.

How Does A Baby Affect Exercise? - 2 Year Update

My exercise habits definitely changed with a baby, and they've continued to change as he's gotten older...

How Does The Baby Affect Our Meal Planning? - Toddler-Friendly Recipes

I generally cook most of the family's non-breakfast meals on Sunday afternoons and have done this for a while. Now that we have a toddler, this means I have to cook things that all of us will eat and that can be difficult since I'm picky, my wife is Indonesian, and our toddler is a toddler. Below I've laid out a few simple recipes that have worked well for us.

Feet And Leg Swelling During Pregnancy

The baby had a huge effect on my wife's feet and legs during her pregnancy. How bad was it, how did we reduce the swelling (also called edema), and how is she now?

How Has Having A Baby Affected My Video Game Playing And Hobbies In General? - 21 Month Update

Is it possible to maintain a video game habit with a full-time job, a baby, and other hobbies? This is my post looking back on this after 21 months of life with a baby.

How Did The Baby Affect His Mother's Ring Finger?

My wife has tiny fingers (ring finger ring size of 2 3/4 before pregnancy) and was worried about not being able to wear ring anymore. Did the baby have an effect?

Mother's Weight - 16 Month Update

Mother's Weight

Has his mother been able to keep her weight off?