And Then There Was 6

Roman keeps talking about "the 6 of us". It sounds pretty hard core, doesn't it?

It feels pretty hard core when I am driving them all somewhere and glance in my mirror and all I see are kids and carseats.

And figuring out how to get everyone safely from point A to point B requires a degree in logistics. Which I don't have.

Actually, logistics probably wouldn't help. Coming up with a good plan is only part of the problem. You need a good plan and a 6 year old, 4 year old, 2 year old and 1 week old who are willing to go along with the plan.

That is the tricky part.

6 year old and 4 year old on bikes and 2 year old and 1 week old in double stroller. Sounds simple, right?

Only the 6 year old is overly cautious and keeps stopping.

And the 4 year old has an amplified sense of his own skill level.

And why would a 2 year old EVER be willing to SIT in a STROLLER like a BABY? He definitely thinks he should be riding his OWN trike all over the road, AND that mommy should be willing to carry the trike whenever his little legs decide it is time to BOLT.

But I will figure it out. Even if I have to bribe Lincoln to sit in his seat, or always carry the baby in a front carrier.

It has been kind of a hard week.

Berean is a really good, mellow baby (so far anyway). (By the way, it is not Bereen, not Brianne, not Brianna, and there is NO U in it!)

But the boys have been somewhat (somewhat?!) difficult.

Deacon has shown a defiant streak which he usually doesn't pull with me.

Roman has been throwing tantrums frequently (wondering if he has a sinus headache...hoping that is what it is?)

Lincoln has been doing his 2 year old pushing the limits thing...it is just more difficult for me to enforce the limits when I have a baby attached to me more often than not.

And of course the nature of the beast is that this is all happening when I am tired from being up with the baby, sore from the delivery and establishing milk supply and also during the rainiest week of the winter.

But if there is one thing I know beyond a shadow of a doubt - it won't be like this for long.

The stages, attitudes, behaviors, trials just don't last.

The good times, the hard times.

The stressful, the fun.

There is a constant shifting, changing.

Newborns turn into independent 2 year olds.

2 year olds turn into creative but headstrong 4 year olds

4 year olds turn into Joe Cool 6 year olds.

A 21 year old husband suddenly is a 31 year old husband.

A 20 year old wife is suddenly a mother of 4 (and suddenly almost 30!)

Coming this week:

1. Announcement of contest winner (sorry- I completely forgot about the contest what with all the diaper changing, laundry and brownie eating I have been doing)

2. My panicked thoughts on having a girl

3. Plan for getting my house out of it's shambled state (this should be interesting)

4. And maybe I will post some new pictures of the ginormous boys and their tiny sister :)