New Year, New Chaos

One baby is easy.  Two is easy as well, as long as Mommy and Daddy don't intend on showering, sleeping or eating with any relative consistency.  Suffice it to say, the logistics of juggling two children takes some thought and pre-planning.  With that said, the addition of Emma is warmly welcomed.

I must say--I thought we were a perfect family when Jeremy was born.  He was and still is an awesome kid.  He has been my lil' buddy for the last three years and more importantly has been my world.  Tom and I deliberately tried for a second because we both wanted to.  However, it wasn't until I heard her tiny screams at 12:15 on New Years Eve that I suddenly realized Emma was the missing link of our family.  I know that a parent can love multiple children equally, but I truly had no idea that the fierce strength of that love was so equal too.  The love I feel for them is so awesome and at the same time so dang scary.

Our adjustment to be being parents of a second newborn has, in my opinion, been much easier than I expected.  The whole "been there, done that" definitely seems to ring true.  All the fear, doubt and complete shock that accompanied Jeremy's arrival seem to still be but distant memories this time around.  A nurse at the hospital warned us that when we got home with Emma we would have to hit the ground running, and we definitely did. Unbeknownst to us, the biggest challenge has actually been Jeremy.

Poor Jeremy.  He is jealous, confused, angry, and so dang lovable all at the same time.  Not only is he in the throes of the Trying Threes, but he is learning--albeit extremely reluctantly--that Mommy has to share her attention with Emma now.  It's actually sad for both of us.  I wish there were two of me so that Jeremy was never wanting.  But everyone assures us that he'll grow up none the worse for having a little sister, so I'm desperately holding onto that promised comfort during his frequent meltdowns--meltdowns that include the heart crushing words, "I don't like you Mommy".  He's thrown out the, "I don't like you Daddy" too, but I think that Daddy is better able to see it for what it is than I am, which is a little boy acting out.

So we press on.  Double the children, double the drama.  Emma isn't able to be very dramatic right now, so maybe Jeremy is just handling her share too.

NEW!

Freshly cleaned up.

Our very first family photo.

Jeremy getting introduced to Emma outside of the scary sterile hospital.

Hello, Clarisse....

Emma in her bedside crib....

....And her bunk mate.

How does one take a shower with two kiddos while Hubby is away at work?  In this house I  have to get Emma fed and sleepy enough to knock out listening to Pandora in the bedside sleeper. Then I have to get Jeremy placated with juice, food and cartoons.  Lastly, I have to kiss the living room good-bye as it will be destroyed by Jeremy in the time it takes to shower.