Two Kids: An Update

An 18 month old, a 6 week old, a husband, and two dogs under one roof…

Sounds like the beginning of a joke!

Well, it is my new reality, and one with which I am quite pleased. Sure there are some tantrums, many stinky diapers, vomiting fits, face reddening screams, and days that just don’t seem to go right no matter what I do. However, the majority of the time there are smiles, laughs, giggles, games, coos, new words, wonder, love, gratefulness, and so much more!

SLEEPING: As of last week, we have a great routine down pat with Amelia (6 weeks) and Lili (18 months). Lili goes down like clockwork around 6pm (with the recent time change it bumped up from 5pm) and then Amelia cluster feeds, to go down in the pack n’ play in our room at 7pm. Lili sleeps until 730/800am and has been sleeping 12-14 hours since she was about 7 months old. Amelia sleeps about 5 ½ hours for her first stretch and then about 4 ½ for her second. That is helpful as I get to spend my evenings with Alec and still get some rest once we go to bed around 9pm. I am looking forward to Amelia stretching out to 7-10 hours in the next several weeks, as I am still extremely exhausted every day. Also, I would like to add that Alec gets a full night’s sleep every night. I have chosen to breastfeed, which means I get up anyway, and I would never request of him to wake as well to change a diaper just to also be exhausted in the morning. Amelia hardly cries, as her needs are met in the night and she is a good self-soother, so he is able to be fresh and ready for work in the morning. This is not to say he has not offered to assist me, but I don’t see the need and do not want to put that extra burden on him.

CLEANING: As I lay here right now, half asleep (at 9:00pm), I struggle with wanting to get things done and allowing myself to just rest and relax. I have always been a never-ending to-do list kind of person, but as the family grows the list does as well, exponentially. I have to force myself to stop cleaning and just sit down and enjoy my girls. I pride myself on having a clean house, but have to resort to having one every-other day, so that I can take a step back and appreciate what is there in front of me making said messes (*achem Alec, Lili, and Dogs achem*).

COST: You know, one thing that has always and will continue to bug me to no end is when people say that kids are expensive. No. Kids are as expensive as you make them. YOU as the parent decide how much to spend on their clothing, how many sets of the same toy they “need,” daycare, etc. I have broached this topic in a previous post, so I won’t get into it too much as a generalization. I decide to dress my children in very tasteful clothing, some brand names, but I decide to not pay a lot for them. I shop almost exclusively at consignment sales and shops, and if not, I never pay full price for clothing. I will always be that way, because I do not see the need to buy brand new clothing for a child who will outgrow it in a month or two, if it lasts that long. I get compliments on Lili’s outfits almost every time we go somewhere (not that I am looking for any or need any such thing for validation). It just goes to show that even clothing need not be pricey. And, if you have two children the same gender you get a LOT more bang for your buck ;). The most expensive parts about having kids thus far: hospital bill for birth (thank God for insurance), formula for Lili (which I only did because my milk production got messed up after several illnesses), car seats, brief stint in daycare which was offset by my income, and diapers (cloth diapered for Lili which saved a ton). And the child tax credit we receive for each of the girls covers all that stuff, and more. Case in point, children need not be that expensive. Parental pride may make children expensive, but that isn’t really the children’s’ fault, is it?

STRESS: When Amelia cries because I try and feed her with a bottle but she just wants the real thing. When Lili knowingly does something naughty, fights a diaper change, draws with her milk, hits, or vomits in the car in stop and go traffic an hour from home. When the dogs poop on my pure white duvet cover, and then again on the pure white down comforter while the duvet cover is being bleached…(Man, why does my computer not have the poop emoji yet!?)

LOVE: Purely magical, everlasting, and profound.