11.19.2010

in case you were wondering...

...yep, this is hard

i had always figured a post that started like this would come soon after having two kids. but i thought it would be a bit later. like after jesse's week of paternity leave is over. after every meal we eat stops being prepared by someone else. after the offers to help with judah stopped rolling in and being accepted. you know, when it actually became real life.

not before. didn't see that coming. but here we are. it's hard in ways i never expected.

but the good news is that for everyone who told me how hard it would be, there were two who told me how my heart and love for my family would grow by much more than a factor of 2. they were right too. so i'll keep at it.


i miss the hospital. it was like camp.

the moment we landed at home. now what do we do with these things?

yeah buddy, i know how you feel.

learning to share. he's doing so well at it.

yeah kiddo, we're in this together.

ok so maybe some people aren't struggling as bad as others. gee willy, that's adorable

any tips on life with plural kids would be much appreciated.

11 comments:

  1. I don't think I have tips. but I do have some hang in there and it DOES get easier. you figured it out with judah...and you'll figure it out with judah + layla. maybe focus on small victories. and know that you certainly aren't the only one that thinks growing a family is hard work :). it's tough for everyone to have everything change...even such a wonderful change.

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  2. I agree. Take things one day at a time, don't look so far ahead and get overwhelmed. Before you know it, things that you thought you would never be able to do or want to do(grocery store with 2 kids- NO WAY!) You'll be doing without even thinking. Just remember to stop and breath and enjoy every second of all of it even the hard parts b/c it will be over in a blink. I can't believe we brought home a tiny baby, now 2, to meet our pacifier sucking little girl, now 4! I had a slight melt down when we came home from the hospital and it was a wreck! (when I say wreck I mean toys on the floor and a few things out of place on the sink - I tend to overreact) Mom had been watching Layne while we were at the hospital and all I could think was I have to clean all this up now! And it took me awhile to let go of the OCD need to clean-but life is much easier when I do, so I have remind myself sometimes, they are only little once and it goes fast-the mess doesn't matter. (I hope this made sense!) Don't worry, you can do it!

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  3. While I don't have any children, my mom had 5 girls and I can share her advice: she has always said two was the hardest, especially the first little while or so until you find a balance and throw any expectations you had about life with two kids out of the window. Take it day by day (minute by minute?) and rest in the knowledge that both Judah and Layla are still too young to remember anything that happens(great plan, God!), so your harshest critic is yourself--- give yourself an effin' break, ya know? And you can do it. You've made it almost an entire week! Woohoo!

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  4. coordinate their naps! (and you sleep too)

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  5. Kids above clean--send them to my house when you and Jes want to have a cleaning day. You know how spotless my house is! LOL

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  6. Coordinating Ace and Axl's naps has been my sanity...and yes, celebrate the small victories. I'm loving all the advice. thanks for the cuteness in photos.

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  7. i can't imagine how hard it is....the first time almost wrecked me, so who knows what the second will do when the time comes. just remember how hard it was sometimes the first time and how exhausting it was. then remember how you made it through and it just kept getting easier. it will with two, i am sure of it. i know you can do it. and take notes. i'll need them when you're done. ha! i wish i were there to help!! i'll just pray from here.

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  8. I can't even imagine how hard it is with two! You look like you are doing a beautiful job so far. Just keep reminding yourself how amazing it is to have siblings - what a gift you have given your children!

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  9. i made the mistake of potty training riley when jeremiah was 2 weeks old...but, hey, at least I don't have two in diapers anymore...I don't have any advice because I have only be doing this for 6mo and there are days that I feel like I need to be taken to a mental institution, but they are become more few and far between. encouraging right?

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  10. I can't imagine two little ones... small victories, I guess. Even with Levi, I would make one goal a day... like, today I'm going to clean the kitchen counters. And btw, I can't believe you have friends named The Huff's.

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  11. oh, and ps? the hospital was TOTALLY like camp!

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