It is interesting to look back at my blog, even at posts from a year ago, and realize just how much my life has changed over the past eight years. For a while I had three babies at home, and it was overwhelming, exhausting, and I felt like that stage would never end. Having three kids close in age meant they were all pretty much in the same stage of life (or close to it). When one outgrew one phase (like nursing), my next one was starting it and so on. Having three little ones was hard, but I CHERISH those days. The days my boys were all little and at home with me are filled with some of the sweetest and dearest memories. Those days were hard, but full of such sweet, pure love. I giggle thinking back to what it was like juggling a newborn, toddler, and preschooler. Life consisted of double strollers, baby car seats, baby carriers, nursing covers, pacifiers, sippy cups, diapers, baby food, baby toys, high chairs, no sleep, engorged/leaky boobs, pumping, tantrums, food thrown on the floor, baby gates, spit up, and all things baby for seven years. I have emerged from that stage, and I have recently entered the next phase of life. It really hit me a few weeks ago when I was at the aquarium with my boys. All three were off playing in Tuki's hut (a play area), and I was sitting alone on a couch watching the other moms. I was surrounded by pregnant moms, nursing mom, moms with tiny babies, and moms pushing around big stroller/car seat combos. I saw moms chasing toddlers around the play area, and moms trying to entertain fussy babies. As I was sitting alone it hit me - I am out of that stage. When I was a mom with small babies I would look at the moms who had older kids and I would slightly envy them, thinking I would never get to that stage of life (or at least not for a long time). This stage has come much faster than I could have ever imagined. I know that I still have three little boys. They are still in the messy, silly, hyper, needy stage. They still love cuddles, and bedtime stories. They still cry and fuss and run around in the store. They still need "boo-boos" kissed and enjoy piggy back rides. They still bang on the door when I'm trying to go to the bathroom, and run in my room to wake me up at ridiculously early hours. Blake still needs his bum wiped and will call out, "I'm all doooone" numerous times a day. Blake is still home with me all day, and will be for two more years. They are in a fun stage of life that I am cherishing, but its amazing how fast the "baby" stage of life has flown by. I can actually cook dinner now without a crying baby at my feet. I can actually do laundry without a little boy knocking over all my clothing (well...I guess that still happens sometimes). I can walk around the store without having to stop to nurse or dangle a toy in front of a baby to get him to stop crying. I can get ready in the morning without having to stop to clean up a blow out diaper. Some days I want to rejoice in this new stage of life, and some days I feel like I need to become a foster mom and bring some babies in our home again ha ha ha. I LOVED when my boys were babies, but it was the hardest time of my life. As a stay at home mom who's hubby traveled a lot, I really struggled some days. At one point I had two in diapers, a potty training Wesley, crying newborn, fussy Chase, and I had to figure out sleep training methods for my baby, how to wean my toddler form the paci, how to get my picky eater to eat healthy food, all while trying to entertain the older ones, teach writing/reading/math to Wesley, and keep my sanity at the same time. My life has been chaotic, hectic, and crazy to put it mildly. It has been a non stop roller coater for years, and it is finally slowing down a little bit as this new phase of life rolls in. Now my life is full of homework, volunteering, carpooling, scouts, piano, cooking, lunch packing, and keeping my boys happy and healthy. This life is so beautiful, and its amazing how each stage of life is full of ups and downs, but each is miraculous and precious. I can't believe how rewarding it is to watch my little boys grow, and learn and progress in life. I love watching their personalities bloom. Its amazing knowing they are growing little wings, and are slowing learning how to fly. My life is truly blessed, and words cannot describe how much happiness these three boys bring to me!!
edited to add this -
So, I feel like my boys must have known I was missing their baby days just a little bit. Just a day after writing this post I found pen markings all over the wall (from Blake I think). Chase used marker (washable at least) to color on my upholstered dinning room chair. Blake cried all morning as I was trying to get the boys ready for school, and continued to fuss most of the day. Wesley got his ballon string tangled in my fan, Blake ate my entire, brand new box of tic tacs that were in my bag, one of my boys yelled, "I hate you mommy," and toothpaste was smeared all over the bathroom counter (more than normal lol). I guess I'm not out of the hard stage yet ha ha ha.
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