Giggles and Coos From You!

50 Ways to Know You've Adjusted to Life with Baby

By I.J. Schecter

Experts offer plenty of clues for determining whether your baby is happy – the smiles, the giggles, the coos, the naps. Sometimes, however, the most accurate barometer of your baby's state is you. Dozens of symptoms of your own behavior can tip you off as to whether your baby is in a positive state, though chances are you're probably too sleepy to notice them.

Just in case you can find a few minutes to read this, here are 50 signs your baby is content. Actually, if you do have time to read this, that's No. 1.

2. You finished a meal. Sure, it consisted of a turkey wrap and diet soda, but you still finished it.

3. The telephone rings and you don't answer it – not because you can't, just because you don't want to.

4. When you do answer the phone, you're able to have a conversation of one solid minute with the person on the other end.

5. You not only feel the desire to brush your teeth, you actually have the time to do it.

6. When you look at your house, you find yourself believing, somewhere deep down, that it could, one day, with the right amount of effort and a big enough team, be clean again.

7. You find yourself bragging to others that you're often getting up to four hours' sleep at a time.

8. You and your partner are able to communicate with each other at fewer than 100 decibels.

9. When doing your bills, you actually check to see if the total is accurate before paying it.

10. In the shower, you not only remember to shampoo, but also to rinse.

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