Thursday, October 27, 2011

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR TWO KIDS?

I have been thinking a lot about how life is going to change with two kids in tow all.the.time… (Not that I have any choice at this point).

Drew and I always talk about how easy life was before Brody – not that we would change it for the world, but let’s be honest – any of us with kids, reminisce about “life before kids”. Life was so much less complicated with zero kids – now when we adjust to having one kid – enter kid #2!

As I venture into these last few weeks of pregnancy - I find myself being so very tired at the end of my day. I don’t mean that lightly at all – I am talking “its only 830 and I am sound asleep drool on my pillow” type of tired. I.AM.OUT.

I remember the days (even with Brody) where I would NOT go to bed without all the laundry folded and put away, dishes out of the sink, dinner made, floors vacuumed/mopped…etc, etc, etc. Now…I can’t even muster up the energy to watch my favorite show, Millionaire Matchmaker (don’t mock me), all the way through – and it only starts at 9pm)…

Holy moly how much worse is this going to get with 2 little people (and a large man – I do not mean that in the dirty sense) needing me? I get a tad anxious just thinking of all the things that will remain unfinished, untidy, and unfolded…ugggh – I think this is why people have maids – or why I think that God should have created moms with 4 arms!

And all the stuff that comes with a baby?!?!?! I mean we are finally to a point where we can leave the house with just Brody – no diaper bag to worry about…we can just head out!

For example, just last night, Drew was washing my car (yes…he’s a fabulous hubby), Brody was using the oil funnel as a trumpet (parents of the year) and I was determined to see if Chloe’s perfect little girl car seat would fit with the FREE 2-seater stroller we were given (Shout out Scott and Amy Bishop – whoop! whoop!).

Anyway, I got the “baby seat” bar thingy to click in and ta-da – it worked! I convinced Brody to try out his new seat in the back of the stroller so that I can practice pushing it around. Yeah…for mom’s of one – get ready to feel like you are pushing a bus down the street!

WOW – it will be quite the parade when we want to leave the house – again…moms need 4 arms!

Then there is the mood of the first child when baby #2 comes and mommy becomes a “trader”!

For starters, Brody is in his, “mommy do it” stage. Mommy MUST DO EVERYTHING! If daddy even attempts (and I am somewhere in sight)…major meltdown mode! I have heard that when baby #2 comes, two things tend to happen;

1) Kid #1 HATES mommy
2) Kid #1 becomes even more attached to Mommy.

Only time will tell which road Brody will take, but regardless, it will be tough to balance. The good news is that I have heard the hardest part only lasts 2 weeks – (please NOBODY comment….I am choosing to live in this bubble)!

For now, the question I get most often?

Does Brody understand that he is getting a sister?

My answer?

Who knows…he’s 2! – One second he is trying to lift up my shirt so he can “tickle baby Chloe” (not so cute in public when mommy’s pants remain unzipped) and the next he is telling me to “bow to him because he is a pirate” and then smacks me on the head with his sword!

Honestly, I don’t think he cares at this point. His life hasn’t changed at all – he is still the center of our world – not to mention the center of Pappy, Mama, Nana, Grandpa’s worlds too.

At this point and until Chloe arrives home from the hospital, she is just unfathomable…he probably thinks we are getting a new puppy!

Regardless – life is about to get flipped end over end in a few weeks…For Mommy, Daddy and Brody – scary stuff – but I would not change it for the world!

I thank God for my rambunctious boy who hits with swords (all in love of course), jumps off everything and wrestles “like a man”…

I walk by Chloe’s nursery…see the pink tulle and ruffles and am so thankful to have this sweet girl join our family – bring in a softness that only she can bring…

No matter what lies ahead in life – I know that it will be complete…

Oh…and this time…a photo…”baby makes 4”!