… And Now We’re a Family of Five!

So now the fun begins. Family is gone, husband is back at work, and it is just me and the kids: Mommy, Josie (2.5 yrs), Rob 1.5 (yrs), and Lily (3 weeks).

Week number 1 is coming to a close and we have survived. Granted all 3 kids & I have yet to leave the house in our family vehicle, and mommy and Josie are starting to get cabin fever … but we are still (relatively) sane and generally stimulated by our home surroundings.

The wonderful & supportive mom’s group that I belong to TrianglaMommies has helped us out by providing us with a couple dinners, along with some friends that have provided us with meals & lots of support!

I am finding that going from 1 to 2 children was really not a huge deal, however going from 2 - 3 has been an adjustment in ways that I hadn’t considered: I haven’t left the house in 3 weeks! (other than the post-op appt & Lily’s pedatrician check ups). Before Lily arrived, Josie Rob & I would venture out at least 3 times a week to playdates & local events.

I am having to learn how to prioritize all over again & actually make time for myself (& I am not talking leisure time - I am talking about time to shower, cook, feed the kids, do the laundry & put it away, clean the house … you get my drift).
Everything will fall in to place. I know this. After Josie & Rob were born I went through the same thing … however it feels a little more overwhelming with #3 thrown into the mix. Considering the changes that have taken place within the last month our growing family is adjusting well.

To help us out during this period we have hired a babysitter to come in and help out 2x/week for a couple hours. I am still in the house - for now - while she plays with Josie & Rob, giving me time w/ Lily and time to get some things done around the house. Miss Sarah is a “sanity-saver”. While she was with us yesterday I finally finished all of Lily’s birth announcements. It was refreshing to sit down w/o any toddler interruptions and simply finish a project.

With all that said: It is important that you take time for yourself. Whether it is an extra 5 minutes in the shower, a 20 minute trip to the coffee shop drive through, or just enough time to check your email to see who was thinking about you today. Being a new mom for the first time or the third (or 4th or 5th …) can be overwhelming at times.

Having a support network is key too. Thomas & I do not have any family in the area. And that poses some challenges for us, however we have a great little local network of friends that has helped us out. Get to know your neighbors, join a local club or church - a great mom’s group I can’t say enough good things about is TrianglaMommies

Having children is wonderful and life-changing. However no one has ever said that it would be easy all of the time. Find support and don’t be afraid to ask for some help!