Yikes!
Everyone I know with more than one baby tried to warn me about the difficulty of two kids vs. one. They said it would be a lot of work and probably especially challenging considering they're so close in age. The thing is, it's like when you're pregnant with your first child. You have no idea what to expect, but everyone has something "helpful" to say in an attempt to prepare (scare) you. "Your life is going to change forever." I'd hope so. "You'll be so tired, just try to sleep when the baby sleeps." Great advice if you happen to have babies that sleep... I don't. "Don't worry about your house getting a little messy. How about more like living in complete filth.
The last 6 months have been... well... interesting. A mixture of depression, craziness, fun and lots and lots of sleep deprivation (my usual complaint). I am tired and borderline crazy 100% of the time. For awhile I was convinced my kids were teaming up against me. Anna would nap in the morning while Robert was eating breakfast and soon after he went down for a nap she would be up and ready to pick up where he left off. Up until just recently, this meant a lot of fussing and unhappiness until he was done napping and then she'd go down again while he took his turn trying my patience. Thankfully, Anna got a little happier when she discovered how to make little roaring growly noises... and a lot happier when she figured out how to crawl (at 8 months old!). She's still hard at times, but the little moments like this make things easier... (not him beating her up, just the giggling cuteness).
Cute, Right? Unfortunately, this only makes up about 5% of their existence.
Videos you will probably never see that would accurately depict my experience as a Mom:
*Both kids screaming bloody murder while I dash through the store at record speed trying to retrieve everything on my list. It gets better, this almost always results in me forgetting the most important thing on my list. Every. Single. Time.
*The tantrums. At breakfast, lunch, dinner, nap time, bed time. Pretty much any time, any place. Just because that's what they do.
*The flopping. Robert is a champion flopper. When he doesn't get his way and the screaming proves ineffective, he'll flop. He doesn't usually pay much attention to his surroundings which is why he's got bruises on his face 80% of the time.
*Poopslosions. Just when you think things couldn't get any worse, it happens. You think it's a toot, but this Mom knows better. Poop everywhere (Poop-splosion). Up the back, down the legs, under the armpits and sometimes on me too. Poop happens. And in this house it happens A LOT!
*Adventures in nursing. I won't go into too much detail here except to say spitting up, spraying and leaking pretty much sum it up. It's hard to be glamorous when any or all of those things are a factor.
The last 6 months... in pictures!
Robert. 18 months. Wearing Dad's glasses.
Anna. 2 months.
Robert savoring his paci. We're currently in the process of getting rid of Robert's pacifiers. He's only allowed to have them at night or in his room. He has a bit of a collection and often has one in each hand in addition to the one in his mouth while he sleeps.
Anna. 3 months.
Day trip to Stanley Park, BC. July 2011. Over the Summer, Alex had an internship and was in the Tri-Cities for about 9 weeks. He would come home on the weekends, but it was still rough here during the week with the two kids (Thank you family and friends for all of your help!) On this weekend in particular Alex came home and I demanded that we leave for a short overnight getaway. We went to Vancouver for the night, which was fun and gave me the break I needed, but lesson learned, way too expensive!
Miller Family Reunion. August 2011. Robert with Grandpa Miller at Mesa Falls in Idaho.
After the family reunion, me and the kids drove to Utah (where we met up with Alex who had just finished up his internship) to visit family and friends. Anna meeting Grandma and Grandpa Great (Booth) for the first time.
After the family reunion, me and the kids drove to Utah (where we met up with Alex who had just finished up his internship) to visit family and friends. Anna meeting Grandma and Grandpa Great (Booth) for the first time.
Robert and his best friend, Carson. I love seeing these two together. I wish they lived closer so we could get together more often.
After a week of play, Robert was exhausted. He conked out within seconds after we pulled out to head home.
Enjoying the chocolate chip cookies at the hotel. They were good (and messy)!
Anna. 6 months.
Robert. Almost 2.
His action shot. I always feel like he should have a football in his hand or something.
Robert. 2 years old and don't we know it. The terrible 2's are in full effect at our house.
Anna battling a cold.
For his birthday Robert got a play kitchen. In no time he realized how much fun it was to throw the play food all over the place. Messes are FUN!! To his credit, he likes cleaning up too...
Anna and her buddies. Anna is the oldest and smallest.
Robert finishing Anna's outfit off with a hat. He is the fashion guru of the house. Onesie and all.
Anna. 7 months.
Robert playing on the stairs at Uncle Robert & Aunt Rachel's house at Thanksgiving.
My little couch potato looking old. He still loves Sesame Street, specifically Cookie Monster. Most days at lunch he practices his Cookie Monster routine. It can get messy, but it's so cute.
Anna and Robert earlier today. They're finally learning to play together, which really consists of Robert chasing Anna around and stealing toys from her. She thinks it's fun just the same.
Anna. Still teething, but nothing through yet. Maybe soon...?
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