Are We Having Fun Yet?

While driving home from Easter brunch my husband said, “Well that was fun.” Was it? Let’s go back.

It took me two kids to recognize this simple fact: your expectations of big events, on a scale of 1 to 10, should only be as high as your oldest child can count (currently Charlotte can get to two). The idea of fun and what we consider a good time completely shifts when you become a parent. If you are expecting Freshmen year in the dorms kind of fun, I hate to be the one to burst your bubble.  

Every year we celebrate Easter at the Sutter Club with our family and it is formal, delicious and wonderful. Two years ago we brought Charlotte when she was around two months as our first major outing and it took every ounce of energy we had to get her there. Now with two, we have it down to a finely tuned art form. But as with any big events it can really only go one of two ways especially when you throw in adorable yet uncomfortable clothes, during nap time with a person dressed up as a giant rabbit. All we can do is come prepared with a fully loaded diaper bag and be aware of all possible exits.

I came with zero expectations for how Charlotte would handle the Easter Bunny since Santa Clause was terrifying, but he was at least human. So in walks the Bunny and Charlotte treated him with the same healthy distrust that she gives the vacuum cleaner: she stoically wanted to stand close and watch his every move, but then cried and begged for more when he went away. Charlotte’s hysterically unpredictable reaction to the Easter Bunny was my favorite memory of the whole event and I will always remember that moment, which as a parent is the fun part. A week later she is still asking about the “Easa Bunny” but has accepted that “he is napping”, which is my gift to you as a go-to parenting trick that you can always keep in your back pocket. Now, as parents, you experience fun when you watch the way your kids take in the world and experience joy as it is seen through their eyes, even if their eyes are closed. 

The Mom I Am

In the kitchen you will find us dancing, or stirring up muffins and trouble,

I have found that having two kids brings me all the same joy; my joy is now just double.

Life is one big juggling act with a toddler and a baby that’s now on all fours;

Trying to teach a big sister what it means to share; that what is “mine” is ours.

We practice silliness on rainy days and all other days in between,

I have learned it’s best to just give up, when I’ve lost my will to clean. 

I believe in kisses before bed, at hellos, goodbyes, or frankly just whenever,

We practice hugs and high fives every day, especially if they’ve learned something clever.

Good manners are a must; however spoiling is also encouraged,

Love is demonstrated through actions not words and put downs are always discouraged.

I make no apologies for lots of pink and for dressing my girls alike,

Not that my kids are girly girls they like dirt and sand and will one day ride a bike.

We practice discipline with consistency and try our best to follow through,

But we can eat some humble pie those times we’ve been wrong too.

I don’t believe in perfection as that pedestal is far too high,

I do believe in the lighthearted, so we laugh more than we cry.

I believe this job takes balance, so we do date night and parent as a joint venture,

I always surround myself with moms who also see motherhood as life’s best adventure.

Every day is something new; I never know what we can expect to see,

But most of all, I try to be the kind of woman I want my daughters to be.

Babyhood 2.0

There are things that I never knew to appreciate about a baby until I had a second one.  A lot of it has to do with understanding the differences between a baby and a toddler, and while I have less time to sit and bask in the glory of my tiniest human, I gratefully recognize what I missed in my new mom fog two years ago. 

1). I don’t have to work for a smile.

Most times I can just look at Madeleine and she smiles at me. One time I smiled at Charlotte and she simply shook her head and said, “No Mama.”

2). Babies can literally sleep anywhere through anything. 

Getting a toddler to sleep requires more steps than assembling Ikea furniture. 

3). Babies are a cheap date.

I simply pack up my boobs with me and go. Toddlers need snacks, a beverage, meals and more snacks. 

4). I can eat or drink anything without having to share.

I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight thanks to a lot of hard work with #Fit4Mom but also because I'm on a strict toddler implemented diet plan called half portions or "my cracker". 

5). Babies are low maintenance.

Toddlers needs are incredibly random and yet very specific. For example I wanted Charlotte to wear a bow in her hair for gymnastics to keep her hair out of her eyes. It had to be the bow with the cupcakes on it that was downstairs, but first we had to cry about it, ruffle our freshly brushed hair, and then I had to come up with some sort of bribery exchange where she would wear it but only for an actual cupcake (for more examples see “Why is my Toddler Crying”). Little does Charlotte know that the “cupcakes” I make are actually muffins with vegetables in them. 

Now when I hold my baby, I know to appreciate her just as she is in that moment and I watch her for a few seconds longer in hopes that I can slow down the clock. I’ve learned that if I look up too fast, she’ll be a toddler.