Everyone always told me that the transition from having one child to two is not too difficult because there is still only one child for each parent. Let me tell you…had it not been for my mom being here and having THREE adults to watch over two kids, I would have gone crazy! Granted we were moving at the same time and flying/doing radio as well, but still! I keep thinking life is going to calm down a bit and I can finally get used to having eyes in the back of my head so I can be watching what my two-year-old is doing while I feed the baby, but it definitely hasn’t and there isn’t much hope of it calming either . I am not complaining – I LOVE LOVE LOVE my babies and love that I get to spend everyday at home with them as I know many people don’t, BUT it hasn’t been an easy adjustment!
This is not to say that Dylan is a difficult baby either. He is such a sweet, easy-going, quiet baby. He is just over 3 months old now and is always happy, loving whatever life throws at him…which has been a lot so far for a 3 month old! In and out of the hospital, moving, having a big sister who acts like a big sister in more ways than one, getting sick, long trips away from home…I know he is just a baby and doesn’t know what is going on but we sure are grateful that the Lord has given him such a mellow, calm spirit. I can’t imagine how much harder the last three months would have been had he not been this way! Thank you all for your prayers for him and his health. Since we were released from the hospital 3 months ago, aside from a little cold, he has been a perfectly healthy little boy. We are still in the process of getting Dylan’s paperwork in order – visa, passport…It has taken this long just to get the RIGHT papers turned into the RIGHT people and even now that we think we have all of that worked out, we are still waiting for an appointment with the U.S. Embassy where they’ll tell us our paperwork was either accepted or not correct and we have to start all over again. Please pray that all would go well and we can get the things Dylan needs to be an official American citizen!
Maycie is about 2 1/2 and a little more intense than Dylan 🙂 She loves being a big sister and “taking care” of Dylan but that includes the typical tattling and sharing and sibling issues. What there is to tattle on a 3 month old, I am still not sure, but Maycie doesn’t like whatever it is that he does to her! Brian thinks I am strange for loving this part, but I do! I guess I think about how often my sisters and I fought and battled with each other and about where that has brought us to today. What siblings who love each other DON’T fight sometimes?! Yeah, yeah, yeah I know, Maycie and Dylan aren’t exactly fighting yet since Dylan just sits and smiles and you’re probably thinking “just wait!” I know there will be days when I just want to lock the two of them up in separate rooms and never unlock them again but for now, I am loving that Maycie is treating Dylan like a brother she loves and not just some cute baby I brought home one day a few months ago.
As for me, I am doing well. I’ve had my fair share of days when I’ve felt overwhelmed and wanted nothing more than to go back to California where I would have the help of my family but, thankfully, those days are few and far between – I love life, I love my family, and I love being here in the Philippines doing what we are doing – I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My days are filled with feedings and diapers and shaking rattle toys while coloring Cinderella and sitting in Maycie’s “castle” while she cooks for me. I am trying to find the balance between time spent keeping Dylan happy and time spent with my little girl. Am I the only mom who feels this way? That when I am cradling Dylan when he’s crying I feel guilty that Maycie is playing all alone and when I play with Maycie while I let Dylan cry all alone in his bed, I still feel guilty? How thankful I am that there is Someone who loves my babies even more than I do and NEVER leaves either one of them! And how much more respect my own mom and dad for making all three of us girls always feel like we were the most important person in the world to them, and also those moms who have 4 and 5 and 6+ kids and still find time to love on each one of them AND keep their sanity!
Sheesh, I am acting like life is SO hard when really I have it easier than most! I am also thankful for all of you who pray for us and give us parenting advice when we need it and a pat on the back when we’ve actually done something right! We love all of you and can’t wait until our two little ones can get to know you and love you like we do.
Tricia Whittington says
Wow! It sounds like you have been very busy these last three months. I will be praying for you.