Last week we celebrated 9 months as a family of 4 and I intentionally took some time to digest all the memories since welcoming Kinnick to our family.
While I’ve tried to really soak up all the little moments and milestones along the way, I know how easy it is to be focused on the future instead of on the present moment when you’re managing a gazillion things. It truly feels like just yesterday Neal and I were changing Kinnick’s newborn diaper at 3 in the morning, laughing as he peed all over our bed and pjs. Before we knew it we had a little boy climbing the stairs, eating solid foods, and belly laughing as his sister danced to Trolls. His almost 4 year old sister I might add. These truly are the days!
When people ask me how life is with two kids I’m brutally honest. The kids are absolutely fantastic and I believe they’re happy! They love their school/daycare, we go on tons of “adventures” as Magnolia calls them each weekend, and for the most part, they’re sleeping through the night. We eat donuts every Saturday morning, never miss a Sunday trip to Costco, go for walks with Theodore regularly, and eat dinner together almost every night.
I know Neal and I are doing the best we can to make sure our kids don’t feel or realize the stress we might feel as parents, but between you and me, holy moly is there a lot of stress involved in managing 2 careers, our household, all. the. appointments, and making sure the kids are ok. Personally, the past 9 months have been exhausting. Between giving birth, adjusting to raising two kids, tackling breastfeeding, pumping, returning to work part time, returning to work full time, taking care of others, managing our house, and trying to make myself a priority, it has been an exhausting time in my life. What I knew from having Magnolia is that the first 4 months are hard, but the first year is harder. It’s just a whirlwind, but it does get easier as the baby gets older and the routine becomes second nature.
As I shared a few weeks ago, I lost myself taking care of others these past few months and I’ve been working diligently to regain my priorities. Only now, 9 months after having Kinnick, am I feeling really good about my workouts, my diet, and how I’m feeling in my skin. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m definitely well on my way and am feeling much, much better.
Life with 2 kids is awesome, but it’s also exhausting. The past 9 months have taught me to slow down. That if you don’t make yourself a priority, no one else will either. That you have to stop and smell the roses, literally. That there isn’t much better than getting quality sleep, eating foods that make you feel great, and doing workouts you love. The past 9 months have reaffirmed that I am the best mom I can be for my kids when I take as good of care of myself as I do for my kids.
9 months! Wow! It’s hard to believe, but we’re doing it! July will be here before we know it and by September we’ll have a 4 year old and a 1 year old. I don’t know where the days go, but boy am I grateful for each and every moment!
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