Newborns: Let's Be Honest

My friend Emily sent me this article yesterday & I have to say I laughed out loud & then read it to Lewis & then sat down & went "whew!" Because it is so refreshing to hear someone else say exactly what I'm thinking. And that is...
I do not like the newborn stage.
I thought I would enjoy it more this time than I did with Isis. And I do, for sure. But I really hated it with Isis, so there was lots of room for improvement there. This time I'm enjoying it more and emotionally I feel 100% different, but that doesn't mean I love this stage.    Don't get me wrong, I love my newborns. I loved Isis the moment I found out she was really in there! I loved Lux from the same moment and I loved them both throughout the pregnancy and birth and now. But being a mom and loving your kids does not mean that you love every stage of childhood. I am just not a newborn kind of mom. 
I love when babies start sleeping more consistently. I love when babies start interacting more, whether it's a smile or a laugh, or man, I'd even take holding eye contact! I love when babies are awake more and play. I love when babies move and crawl and walk. Yes, I know, lots of mommies are of the opinion that they love when they stay where you put them. I don't care. I'd rather they go! Because you can tell that they want to get going from birth, they just can't. I love when babies give kisses and say mama and dada and when they have arm control and head control. I do love babies! And I pretty  much adore toddlers! I just don't love the newborn stage.
I don't enjoy not knowing what to expect from my day. I don't enjoy not being able to soothe a crying newborn with anything except putting them to my breast. I don't enjoy sore nipples or leaking or wearing pads (breast or otherwise). I don't enjoy being worried about germs constantly. I don't enjoy waking up at night, or worse just not knowing how many times you'll have to wake up at night. I can do a night waking and really enjoy that one-on-one time when there is only 1 feeding at night. I don't enjoy being tethered to my house the majority of the time. I don't enjoy getting naps established and consistent with a newborn. I don't enjoy diapering, swaddling and then feeding a newborn, only to hear that massive poop sound that tells you that you're about to have to unswaddle and re-diaper even though you just got them ready to put down to sleep.
Frustration.
I don't love it.
I will do this one more time. We want three children and I look forward to the day when we have three kids over the age of 2. That will be a challenge, I know, but I promise I'll love that more than the newborn stage. So for now, I keep telling myself, "Cameron, you WILL do this one more time." Because I'm mentally preparing now - almost 3 years out - for the last time I will go through the newborn stage. Yes, I need that much preparation before I can do it again. I also need no more than 1 child in diapers.
I also have decided that, taking a cue from the author of the blog Emily sent me, that I need to focus on the things at each point that I do love and am enjoying. So I'm going to make that a focus for myself.
What about you? Do you love the newborn stage? Is there a stage that you don't love so much?