Some Thoughts on Having Two

I've had several people tell me going from one kid to two kids is the hardest transition. I can't verify that yet, but I can verify that two kids is harder. Period. Here are some conclusions I've drawn since Brady was born:

1. I am nursing, and changing diapers, and nursing nursing nursing, and changing diapers. This is how I am spending my days now. Now throw in getting the toddler fed, trying desperately to manage her newfound tantrums and attitude, and nursing some more...there is very little time for anything else.  Getting everyone bathed, and dressed (this includes myself), and out of the house even for a walk around the block is a much bigger accomplishment than I thought it ever could be.

2. Keeping up with the housework is next to impossible - but an untidy house stresses me out. So I make time! I am tired.

3. I miss having time to myself. At this point, it is hard to believe I will ever have time to read a book (I'm talking a book with no illustrations and more than five words on each page), work on any projects, or exercise ever again. I got one of those coloring books for adults that everyone is raving about these days. I got it right at the end of my pregnancy and I loved it! Now I'm afraid the pages will remain colorless forever.

4. Carly is TERRIBLY two. There is a saying that a toddler is like a blender with the lid off. Now add some extreme sass and a dash of dictator and you've a got a two year old Carly. She is very obviously feeling what it's like to share her parents with another kid and she isn't crazy about it. Fortunately she LOVES "baby budder" and only shows her darkside to Mom and Dad.

5. A handful of you know while I was pregnant with Brady, a few sad, stressful, and downright scary things appeared in my life quite suddenly. I truly feel that Heavenly Father sent me this beautiful boy to lift my spirits when no one else can. He is a blessing through and through. I love and treasure him more than I can say. He is calm and sweet and everything I need right now.

6. Despite the stress and tears having two kids brings, there are countless and fleeting moments that make it all worth it. The three of us took a walk the other day. Brady fell asleep on my chest, and Carly was holding my hand while softly singing one of her made up songs. I could only smile. In moments like that, I have never felt such a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

I've got this!!

Toddler Bed Transition

Since the news came of a second kiddo joining our family, I've been thinking about all the changes we need to make. In my mind the scariest change of all was going to be transitioning Carly into a toddler bed!  Carly has been sleeping through the night (I'm talking a 12 hour night here) since she was three months old. She RARELY cried or fought us at all when we put her down for a nap or bedtime in her crib. I didn't want to ruin a good thing!! But baby brother needs a crib, and I didn't want to postpone the bed transition until after he is born. She will be overwhelmed with enough change when that happens.

SO. I googled toddler beds. They are expensive!! Or they are cheap plastic with an obnoxious cartoon character on them - not my thing. Then I remembered the toddler bed that all my siblings and I used was built by my Great Grandpa Strasser - I loved that bed! How hard could it be to build a bed? Not to mention it would save us quite a bit of moola. And Matt was always talking about how he would like an opportunity to build something - so build a toddler bed we would!

We went to Home Depot, got all the supplies, and Matt worked his magic. The hardest part was cutting all the wood to the right size because we only had a hand saw. That took forever. Once the wood was cut, Matt assembled it all rather quickly.

Ta-duh!! I'm so proud of him. It's crazy sturdy and will hopefully be something that can be passed down in our family.  Matt finished it right before school started, so I took it upon myself to paint it. I really didn't know what I was getting myself into. You have no idea how many surfaces this thing has!! Besides that - my hips like to stop functioning when I'm pregnant whether I'm staying active or not. Crouching down to paint that bed all day was painful to say the least. But look how pretty it turned out!! Needless to say, I will leave all future paintings of this toddler bed to my posterity.

As for the Carly transition, she has spoiled us once again with her love of sleep. She practiced napping in her "big girl bed" for two days, and by the third day she was sleeping through the night!  She loves the new freedom. Now we'll just have to see what she thinks about having a roommate!

What I've Learned: Part 2

A few weeks after Carly was born, I blogged about what being a mom had taught me (here). She's 6 months old now, so I hope I can add a few more things to my list.

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1. Anybody who knows me knows I am not a patient person. But somehow, with this little girl I have found patience! I can hold her while she cries, change her diapers in the middle of the night, wipe the peas off her eyebrows (and mine), and do anything within my power to keep her happy without any complaint (usually).  Maybe it's because she is so cute.

2. I never expected to have a friendship-type relationship with my kids until they were older, but I am happy she has become my best buddy at such a young age.  She laughs at my jokes, and I laugh at hers. We are inseparable not only because we should be, but because we want to be!

Which leads me to...

3. Separation anxiety.  She's got it, but you better believe I've got it too.

4. Every move she makes is SO FASCINATING.  Learning to sit up, trying new foods, reaching for toys, eating her toes, singing a song... Sometimes I forget this stuff might not be so interesting to others (her bowel movements for instance) but other parents usually understand.

5. Her laugh. Literally the most beautifully happy sound my ears have ever heard.

6. She's so cute, guys. I want to eat her. I want to nibble on her chubby knees. That's normal right?

7. I'm starting to get a better idea of how much my own mom loves me.  Even better, I'm getting a better idea of just how much our Heavenly Father loves all of us.

Mothering children rocks. More please!

What I've Learned

I have been a Mommy for almost three weeks now.  I'd like to share a few things I've learned/am in the process of learning.

1. I will never be bored again. Ever. And that's fine with me.

2. I could spend all day just staring at my daughter and be perfectly content.

3. I've never missed my own mom as much as I do now.

4. Breast feeding HURTS. But it gets better. And it's totally worth it.

5. The whole "sleep when the baby sleeps" thing is impossible for me.  If she's sleeping, I'm folding laundry!

6. Watching my husband play with Carly when he doesn't know I'm looking is my favorite. He knows he's got himself a daddy's girl, and he loves it.

7. I forgot how to make dinner for awhile there, but I'm getting back into the swing of things.

8. It is the coolest thing to see pieces of me and Matt in another human being.  She's a perfect mix!

9. Moms have super powers.  Not only do I have cat-like reflexes, but I can pick out which cry is Carly's in a crowd of crying babies.  I feel pretty awesome.

10. I didn't know I had the capacity to love someone this much.  Being a mom is the most selfless job I can think of.  And I am honored to join the ranks :)

Nursery Pics!

 The nursery is finished! And I am quite proud of it :) This work of cuteness was made possible by many donations of family and friends, cheap finds at yard sales, and Pinterest inspiration. We are so anxious to show our baby girl!

This is my pride and joy.  I've never been so crafty in my life!

Love that scrap-booking paper!

I came into the room and found this. Forever making me laugh... :)