Babies get a lot of credit for being really freakin' adorable. But not every moment with newborns is so cute, with all their sloppy messes, cryfests, drool, and uncontrollable bowel movements.
Still, mere words don't capture what it's like to be a parent during your little one's first 12 months or so.
We asked the HuffPost Parents Facebook community to send us one photo that sums up what it's like to live with a baby and received hundreds of bodily fluid-filled responses. From spit-ups to cuddles to emotional rollercoaster rides, the pictures show why people say taking care of a baby is really hard work.
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Here are 27 parents' photos and thoughts about life with babies.
1
Sara Boyd
"He's not pooping... he's just judging me."
2
Marilynn Kaye
3
Em Newsom
"Don't play with baby once he eats, or you get puke in your mouth."
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4
Brandi Frioult
"These photos are taken all of ten seconds apart... Happy baby... Angry baby. And for no apparent reason."
5
Kami Singh Gocool
6
Kate Grandgeorge/Henning Photography
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7
Jocelyn Martin
"Parenting a baby is full of compromise. I had just finished trying for nearly five minutes to get my son to put on pants as he protested. We both decided that pants half on would need to be OK."
8
Sonya Smith Hohlt
"Nursing at a rest stop during a car trip. He kept his foot there the whole time."
9
Agnes Lopez Payne
"The new Football Sundays ... Dad, baby, gigantic bear all passed out in front of the TV."
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10
Jess Moreno
11
Krissy Kim
12
Reghan Hailey Straily
"Brushing teeth and parenting."
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13
Ellie Houston
"Grocery shopping -- let me sing you the song of my people."
14
Gabrielle Loew
15
Lauren Ann Macke
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16
Jen Swanson Stapp
17
Jamie McAlister
"Just when I thought I could sit down."
18
Katie Bornn
"Cheerios are coated in glue."
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19
Makeeda Tatum
"Babies are a family blessing, so it takes a family effort!! She adores her big bro!"
20
Amanda Kirkland
"Peas. Peas everywhere..."
21
Emily Gresk Tompkins
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22
Kati Thompson
23
Shonitria Anthony
"Apparently the baby food was so good that she decided to take matters into her own hands."
24
Brittany Hamrick Mazur
"Typical grocery trip."
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25
Dolores Coniglio-Rivera
26
Elissa Martinez
27
Samantha Brown
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