Well, it has been a long time coming and now that I have had time to play around with my firstborn for a bit, I wanted to share my thoughts on what it is like having a baby - in review form!!!
Set-up: First of all, it takes a long time for your baby to get set up. I know am a lot less impatient than most instant gratification people, but 8.5 months is almost too long a time for an initial process for me. It takes a good deal of effort and money from the time you start, and in the end you’re not even sure if they’re going to start up properly once activation time comes. The process can also be very consuming (even going so far as to hospitalise my wife for several months). So if you don’t have much patience, or you have major things happening in your life which would not allow your schedule to be open - you should be consider if this is the right thing to do now.
Activation: This is extremely nerve-wracking. You don’t have much control over which of the two main model types will be offered to you - and there are no returns if you didn’t get the one you wanted or your child has suffered any physical damage during the set-up process. But you will more than likely be focused on whether or not your child activates at all, eagerly awaiting their start-up sound. The sound itself is not altogether pleasant - but you will welcome it nonetheless, perhaps even to the point of tears. Your child’s packing materials make delivery a very sticky process, and they will need a thorough cleaning and screening process before he or she is handed off to you for your enjoyment. The involved woman will also be extremely tired from the activation ordeal, perhaps even suffering some wear and tear, which will potentially require medical attention.
First Play Test: The first thing you may notice when you receive your child is how small and fragile they are. It may be a bit daunting, but you will come to learn that they are really quite durable and resilient to damage, as long as you provide a modicum of care. Some new babies may not come equipped with all the accessories you wanted, like a full head of hair, eyebrows, etc. - but if they are not delivered with your child they should follow shortly. They also won’t be too interactive at first, as their systems are still initialising and require some time before they can understand your requests - or even make requests of you properly. Consequently, they seem to be in sleep mode most of the time. This won’t actually be too much of a concern for you at first because you will be quite content to just hold your baby in the beginning, marvelling at the beauty of such a small thing. The joys (and frustrations) of interaction will come soon enough.
Maintenance: Your first chunk of time with your child will require an extreme amount of care. Input and output – along with general cleaning – will need constant attention, as your child will need several years of development before they reach any semblance of self-sufficiency. They will also regularly require new peripherals and casings as they will be upgrading themselves constantly - thereby making themselves incompatible with the majority of their earlier accessories - for the next two decades. However, do not let this dissuade you from purchasing proper gear for your child for each stage of their life cycle. Poorly crafted kit can lead to damage or embarrassment for both you and your child.
Enjoyment: If you have put any serious effort into any of the afore-mentioned steps, then you will assuredly consider your new baby a sound expenditure, and hopefully an even sounder investment. On top of the things you had thought before-hand would be entertaining, you will also be surprised on a daily basis how things you once considered mundane and trivial could become precious and beautiful. In fact, some people are so enthralled with their decision that they contemplate going through the set-up process for another unit shortly after receiving their first. Regardless of how many you want, there is little question that if you are serious about having a baby then you will enjoy the experience more than you imagined.
PROS
CONS
FINAL VERDICT
Buy - but only if you plan to seriously invest the time it requires.