8 weeks later

There is a blog I love. I've mentioned her before at dooce.com. She is hilarious and poignant and all over sassy. I dig her.

ANYWAYS...the reason that I bring her up (again), is because she has 2 daughters too, and had her second daughter was born about 4 weeks before Lillian. In one of her earlier blogs, she described having two kids as
"...to imagine having a jazz band blasting an improvisational set in your left ear while listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing Christmas carols in your right ear, and there you are, a drummer in a rock band, and you're on stage in front of 30,000 people trying to keep the beat to an acoustic version of "God Save the Queen" by the Sex Pistols." (Could you find a quote MORE perfect for our family?)

Now, I wouldn't be that dramatic about it, because in all honesty, Lil is easy. She's a laid back baby with lots of patience and a sweet sweet smile that even makes her crying cute. Being a mom of two seems pretty natural. We've found the rhythm and are just praying that one of the girls doesn't all of a sudden go off the charts.

Our schedule is getting there. We're attempting to keep the beat. It's Marching Band season, which means that Chris is busier than normal, so I get to do more things on my own. Here's our normal week:
Monday- Wake up at 7:30-ish...shower and pump before kids wake up...Cal comes for the day....hang out all day with Avery, Cal and Lillian...stay sane. Have dinner ready by 5:15 so that Chris can be out the door by 5:30.
Tuesday--Wake up at 7:15-ish...shower and pump before the girls wake up...get Avery up and ready for school. Drop Avery off at school...work out...come home or hang out for 20 minutes, pick up Avery. Have dinner ready by 5:15 so the girls can make it back to campus for class.
Wednesday-Same as Monday
Thursday-Wake up at 7:15-ish...shower and pump before the girls wake up...get Avery up and ready for school. Wait for Cal to be dropped off. Drop Avery off at school...work out...come home or hang out for 20 minutes, pick up Avery. Have dinner ready by 5:15 so the girls can make it back to campus for class.
Friday-Same as Monday and Wednesday (without the rush on dinner)-BREATHE!

The nice thing in all of this is that the girls are making it pretty easy on me.
Like I said, Lillian is a pretty easy baby. She is happy to sit in her swing and just chill. She will lay on the floor and watch the kids run circles around her. She is on a pretty regular schedule of eating about every three hours. She starts stocking up at about 7pm, goes to bed at 9:30-ish and will sleep for about 6 hours before waking for her next feeding. We are lucky.

Now, that's not to say that there aren't challenges. Avery's bedtime has been a little difficult when Lily is wide awake. I've started giving them a bath together (Lil in her baby bath, while Avery is in the big bath with her). I'll read books to Avery with both girls on my lap, then attempt to lay Lillian down while I tuck Avery in (and lay down with her for a few minutes). It's tough to try to keep both girls happy enough to fall asleep at the same time. By the time I come downstairs to clean up, I'm exhausted. BUT, I don't dare go to bed because only God knows when I'll have a little time to myself again.

Tough time #2 is dealing with not having my body to myself. I feel like if I'm not hooked up to a pump, then I'm holding a baby, or having Avery climb all over me...it's tough. I love loving the kids, but sometimes, I need a little space.

I was so worried about having the love and time to spend with both of my girls. I've been proven wrong once again. There is no way that I could love either of my girls any more than I already do, which means that I make the time to give them that love. I can't believe that I am the mother of 2 beautiful little girls, and amidst all of the craziness, I know that I am blessed beyond belief.