The Babies are One
“I’m going to have to go get someone….. This is the first time……I’ve ever seen…….more than two.”
Those were the words uttered by our ultrasound technician when we went to our first appointment for (what we thought was) our third baby. I will absolutely never forget that moment or the moments of tears and shock that followed. It took weeks for me to wrap my mind around having our third, fourth, and fifth child at once. It took months for my husband! Emory was 3 and Hazel was 1 at the time of this appointment. There were plenty of days where I already felt stretched by the mothering of TWO children. How on earth would we do this? The funny thing is, we still don’t have the answer to that question. We just do it. I like to think we do it well some days while other days are a touch more challenging.
This past year has taught me so much. My kids have taught me so much.
I learned my children are so much better at giving me grace than I am at giving it to myself. I learned my husband is an awesome teammate. I learned we, as humans, are basically limitless, but I also learned it’s ok to impose limits to protect yourself. I learned to apologize often. I learned to let go of some things (*I’m still learning about this. ha!). I learned to be grateful. I learned to lean into God.
I wonder what my kids will ask me about this season of our lives. I doubt they’ll ask me how often I mopped the floor or what I was cooking for dinner. I try to really remember what is important and to shift my focus there. But, at some point during every day, I find myself needing a reminder. Don’t we all? Why is it so hard to be fully present? I’m still working on that one, too.
So many times I hear people say “I don’t know how you do it!” or “There’s no way I could do it!” Just know that I don’t know how we do it either, but you totally could and would do it, too. Don’t you already do everything you have to for your own family? Whatever the challenge is, we just rise up. It’s what makes a good parent. You would do the same thing!
I’ll leave you with a few pictures of the kids! So busy and so happy!
