Challenges and Perspective

One of the things we worried about when I found out I was pregnant with Carter was how different life would be with two kids.  Jacob's first year nearly killed us.  No lie.  But I think we both thought that after surviving that, we could probably survive anything.

I'm happy to report that we both feel the transition from 0-1 kids was much more difficult than the transition from 1-2 kids.  That's not to say there aren't some challenges.  Because I seem to think much better in bullet points these days, here are some of the things we're working on...

• Tell me why everyone always needs to eat at the same time?  Carter always decides he is hungry when I'm trying to make lunch or dinner and/or Jacob is eating.  I try to be proactive and feed Carter early, like at 4, but sure enough, by 5:30, he thinks he's starving again.  It sometimes turns into a total circus trying to feed 3 people.  (Oh, and me.)

• How do I get out the door on time?  By the time I get one kid dressed and fed, the second one poops, and then wants to be fed, and then the first one poops, and then the second one has spit up on his outfit, and then after I change him and start to load the diaper bag, the second one has pooped again, and then the first one demands a drink from the sippy cup that's already in the diaper bag, and then it's time for the second one to eat again.  Yeah, that happened.

• Will I ever go anywhere with these two without breaking a sweat?  I'm not that strong, and this whole carrying-a-carseat-and-a-diaper-bag-while-wrangling-a-toddler thing is hard!  Just leaving the house is a workout!

• When do Frank and I get our evenings back?  Pre-Carter, we were free as soon as we put Jacob down at 8.  Now, Carter is usually at his most awake from 6-9, so we are constantly entertaining him.  And by "entertaining," I mean he is cat-napping on Frank's chest or being fed.  Putting him down is a big no-no, and he lets you know it.  By the time 10 pm rolls around, we're exhausted.  I can't wait to start moving his bedtime up.

I guess the good thing about the second one is that we have some perspective.  I remember some of these issues with Jacob, and they don't last forever.  Eventually, they work themselves out, and life gets a little easier.  Right now, though, you can find us feeding someone, changing someone, or waiting (im) patiently for 10 pm so we can get some sleep!

Life Lately

Wow.  This has been the longest blogging break I've taken.  Let me catch you up on some of the highlights of the past month...

• Carter is growing like a weed.  He is a big fan of his milk and he looves to eat!  He's also remained a pretty decent sleeper.  We usually put him down around 10-10:30, and on a good night (most nights) he's up around 2.   Then he's up again at 5.  We're working on stretching out that second chunk of sleep so that he sleeps until 6.  

• Everyone's next question is how Jacob is adjusting. He has been a little more lovey-dovey with me, though; maybe because he sees me holding Carter so much. Not sure, but I'll take it.  Honestly, he basically ignores Carter.  Last week, someone asked him if he liked his new brother.  His response:  No, but I like his monkey paci.  When Carter was about 3 weeks old, Jacob finally decided he wanted to hold him.  

• We've had lots of visitors!  Grandma and Grandpa M made the drive up to see us.

and Courtney came over one afternoon.

Although he hasn't officially met them yet, Carter has heard about the Tuttle boys and dressed in his camo outfit in their honor.  

• Frank has had 3 overnight work trips in September.  I'm hoping those are done for a while.

• I completed my training to teach at school #2, and right now, I'm on a reserve list to get a class in November.  I have to laugh when I hear people talking about how they stayed in their pajamas all day and never got anything done when they had a newborn.  We did have friends who brought in meals every other night for two weeks and that was a huge help, but we have powered though and tried to stay on our routine. We're all dressed and fed; my house is clean; I worked one job and trained for the other.   I wouldn't claim to have been a great person to live with this last month, but I can get the job done.  

• On September 8, we went to cousin Caleb's 2nd birthday party. He had a Curious George theme!

• We also went to Rockome Gardens to see Grandma and Grandpa before they left on vacation and to meet Aunt Rachael and Uncle Garett. 

• We rounded out the month by attending my dad's retirement party. 40 years with the same company is a pretty amazing accomplishment!  The open house and dinner were a lot of fun.

What a crazy September!  I'm hoping to blog more frequently now that my training class is finished, but no guarantees... ;)