It appears as though I’ve been a bit lazy lately.
Let me assure you this is not the case!
We’ve had our hands full with projects and visitors and our
big summertime boy and little smiley girl.
Oh, and we figured out a solution to the play mat conundrum!
(Y’all did not disappoint with great suggestions, thankyouverymuch!)
We did try pvc tubing and it was really too heavy. (The hula hoop cut in half was a great idea!) I ended up finding an old playmat at a yard sale the next day and took it apart and stole it’s best pieces. (turns out the rods are about 1/4″ thick and made of fiberglass.) Anyway, sticking those in the tubes I’d made worked beautifully, and -per your suggestions! – crisscrossing them definitely added extra support!
Two weeks ago (actually, the day after I broke down and asked y’all how on earth you managed with two – or more! – little people) my dear girlfriend Christine left her three small children (two 3-year olds and a 20-month old) in Chicago area to come play with me, wash my floors, play with my kids and work with me in my garden.
There’s nothing in the world like a good friend.
She cleaned my house (even washed the baseboards!) so I could play with my kids and rest. She helped me run errands (still totally getting used to having two to get in and out of the car at every stop!) and taught Oliver “Deep & Wide”. Then evening came, and we’d get to put our feet up and chat or take a walk or watch “The Office”. She even took me up on my plea for a good solid apple martini! (Told you there was nothing like a good friend!)
While she was here she even made clothes for Oliver and Hazel. (She has an adorable little shop on Etsy called Little Miss Fat Bottom). Oliver was delighted with his monster shirt – particularly the eyeball peeking out of his pocket.
Stine left last week and we missed her immediately.
I gotta have another baby so I can talk her into coming again! :)
As for us – we’re just chugging along. Enjoying our sweet little blondies, taking lots of walks in the evenings and getting our hands dirty in the yard during the days.
Oh, and we’re also trying to sleep here and there when we can. :)
Thanks so much for your encouraging words and practical suggestions these past few weeks. I definitely didn’t expect this adjustment from one to two children to be such a challenge, but your ideas have certainly helped.
Have a lovely Tuesday! And try to do something to help a girlfriend out if you can! ;)
>I love you guys so much.
>I have been reading here for awhile but never comment but I just had to say that your children are adorable and there is totally a family resemblance!
>What an AMAZING Friend! Wow! Glad you had such a fun time! Will Christine come to my house next? :)
>great friends are so good :)
>Yes…going from 1 to 2 is tough. But the good news is….going from 2 to 3 is nothin'!
>we have missed you and his shirt is way too cute!
>Beautiful post and thank you for the gentle reminder to help out a girlfriend. I am going to do that today xoxo
>Christine is a gift from God! Thanks for sharing an example of selfless love.
>your children are precious! love all those photos. and i must say, you're looking beautiful too!
and don't worry… it does get easier and easier. i found the transition from 1 to 2 MUCH harder than the transition from 2 to 3. so if you ever have a third, fear not… it's not as tough as this go around (at least in my case it wasn't). take care and keep enjoying!!
>Do you think she will be my friend? I am due in July and could really use a friend like that ;)
Thank you for being so honest as well. I think sometimes us moms want to act like we have it all together and can take on any sort of change that comes our way but going from one baby to two is something I am fearing and your honesty makes me feel like its ok if I don't become super mom overnight. I will take some getting used to and you seem to be getting along great!
>Rae- I have twin 6 month old girls now. Let get together and relieve each other a bit….or maybe take "the kids" to CeCe's? Baby girls like frozen yogurt with chocolate and peanut butter, right?!
>I too found the transition to two to be overwhelming some days. It was so much more work than I anticipated thats for sure! However I will say it gets easier. Now that EJ is over 1, he is becoming more independent and that means i have more time for cleaning etc. So know you are not alone, but also know it gets so much easier. I now take both kiddos out by myself all the time, and although my house is no where near perfect (quite the opposite actually)my family is fed and well loved. Watching them interact is priceless and although two is double the work, it is double everything wonderful as well. (hugs) dear!