Here's a revelation: Everything changes when you have a baby. No, really! Sleep changes (i.e., disappears). Sex changes (i.e., disappears). Personal grooming habits take a back seat to basic survival. Conversations with others, no matter what topic they start with, inevitably turn to the baby's exploits. ("I agree with your views on Mideast Policy. Did I tell you the baby rolled over today?') Baking a cake takes 10 hours and four attempts. E-mail replies must be carried out over three separate sessions. Poured cups of coffee remain full on the counter for days.

In particular, ritualistic tasks you've performed the same way for years are suddenly spun in unexpected ways as your attention is persistently demanded by the little bundle of energy who can't understand why you'd rather stuff a turkey than watch her smash a pot. Prior to the arrival of your baby, you've probably prepared Thanksgiving the same way for as long as you can remember. Guess what? You can't do it the same way anymore, because Baby isn't going to let you.

The good news is you can still achieve all the same goals. You just need to be smart about it. Here are 4 signs you have a baby in the house this Thanksgiving, along with 4 ways to stay a step ahead so that you can still wow your guests.

Little ones make noise because they don't see any good reason not to. Grownups are low-key a good deal of the time because such behavior falls within the parameters of social acceptance. Babies could care less about social acceptance – they're having too much fun discovering all the cool sounds they can make by tossing objects around or by unleashing the power of their own vocal chords. This can produce a slightly less than ideal dinner-preparation environment.

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