re: How difficult are babies really

If you plan on being a good parent, it's tough. How tough will depend on the child though, health issues, temperament, sleeping habits will all factor in. Also, how much help you get from your family is a big factor too. My family and my wife's family both never help. We are lucky to get a night every seven weeks off. By contrast I have a friend who every Fri/Sat, their parents take the kids, so they have more children than I'm willing to given my situation.

The biggest thing is that everything you have come to know will end. You will now only see your friends about 1/3 as often. Your only time to yourselves will be after bed time, but before you fall asleep, which have to be close or you won't get any sleep. It's worth it though. You get to get on Ebay and get all the toys again that you had as a kid and buy them "for the kid".