Another Round

I used to look at large families and think, "Is it still exciting?"  I mean, do they still get gitty and tell the whole world when their child says their first words or smiles for the first time?  Do those first kicks in the womb bring the same excitement?

I can't answer for everyone, but for me it's still really exciting.  With our fourth child on the way, I still get excited about the kicks and hiccups.  In some ways, I anticipate it even more because I have missed it for so long.  I can't wait to kiss that sweet newborn face and nurse a child once again.  Or see what their personality will be like as they grow.  Believe it or not, I haven't memorized the stages of pregnancy and I look forward to my weekly Baby Center e-mail so I can properly gauge my baby's size to the appropriate vegetable (As a side note, I think they should compare your baby to human toys like, "Your baby's the size of a G.I. Joe," or "Now your little girl could fit into Barbie clothes."  Perhaps I'm not imaginative enough for pea and squash analogies).

I still get excited when Ally learns new words and phrases.  She just started to answer my accusations with, "No I not!" and I think it's the cutest thing ever (well, for now).  And every child is so different.  Sometimes it amazes me just how different they are.

You know what else?  It gets easier.  Really.  I'm not just saying that as some evil ploy to get people to have lots of kids and join the misery club.  It truly does get easier.  I don't know what it is exactly.  Perhaps the experience, or relaxing just a bit more, or the interaction and play they have with each other instead of relying only on you.  That's not to say there is no sacrifice.  We think a little more carefully before taking our kids to a restaurant (cost and sanity are taken into consideration) and we have pretty much done away with happy meals and resorted to dollar menus.  Number four will slow that down even more.

These are just my thoughts.  I'm not an expert with three going on four kids and I may laugh years down the road as I read this with perhaps a 6th child in the womb.  But for now, I'm excited, I'm content, I'm gitty and I can't wait for the joy (and trials) another round will bring. :)

The Things They Make Me Do!

They make me crazy!  The way they demand every ounce of my energy and the constant bickering, and asking for things.

All I wanted was a deceiving picture of their love for each other.

They make me stressed!  Why can't they learn to pick up after themselves or eat one meal without leaving the floor looking like it needs to be taped off with yellow cautionary signs.  

They make me so many things.  But nothing seems to affect me quite like the way they make me...

Laugh

This is Ethan's self-proclaimed bad cowboy, stunt-man, spy look.  He fell gravely ill shortly after this.  He told me he could barely get in bed because he was so sick and he would have to walk on his knees.  I told him we would probably have to skip the field trip to the honey farm tomorrow so that he could get better.  In between gasps of air (oh the drama) he said he could make it to the field trip and maybe walk a little bit.   He's so brave.

Smile

My little sweetheart.  Tonight, after a long day without Andy, I came down stairs to a clean living room.   "I cleaned up for you, Mommy."  Oh, those sweet little moments!

Skip heart beats

Allison makes my heart flutter and skip everyday.  I love the way she takes my hand and walks me around the house.  "What's that, Mommy?"  She points to an object.  "That's a pillowcase."  She then repeats the word to store in her ever-increasing word bank, "Pillowcase?" she says in a rhetorical sort of way and then lets out a long, "Ohhhhhh." in her raspy little voice.  This continues on until her thirst for knowledge is temporarily satisfied.  

Those little rascals and all the things they MAKE me do!