How is life with two?

I was asked on Sunday by my sister in law, "How is life with two kids?" My immediate reaction was typical of any new parent of two. I'm tired. I'm getting used to the differences of figuring out how best to shop with two, what order I should get them in and out of the car, how much longer it takes to get ready and so forth. Since then, I have been thinking about this question in any spare moment I have. Usually while laying in bed before closing my eyes after a long day. The more I think about it the more positive and beautiful my response becomes. Here is what I would say now if I were asked the same question again...

Wow! I love being a mom of two. It is the most amazing thing to see my four year old love someone else as much as she does. She is growing up just by having him around. She is learning that the world doesn't necessarily revolve around her. In that realization she is learning patience, understanding, empathy, joy, and love on a whole new level. I can't express in words how truly awesome it is to watch her interact with Joshua.
Joshua has taught me that it is possible to love two children at the same time. He made me realize that in loving him I am able to love my daughter not more or less, but definitely differently. He has brought the joy of little things back into the house and that is something that I had forgotten. His smiles consume me and I just can't squeeze him tight enough. He is allowing me to look into the future and see a brother who stands up for his sister and protects her with his everything, even though she is four years older than him. They are that close already and I know it will only grow. He has helped rekindle that spark between my husband and I that sometimes gets pushed to the background when you have kids running around. We just look at our children and remember what this is all about. Our love then grows stronger.
I can't go into every little detail that has occurred by growing our family from one to two, but I can tell you life is wonderful. Yes, there are times I am ready to fall apart. Yes, there are times I just need to close my eyes for a minute and replenish my energy. I wouldn't trade any thing in the world for my two amazing children. They are a precious gift from God and I am so ready to see what the future holds.

Thanks to Claudia for asking this question that allowed me to ponder this idea. I think we all should take time to think about it. I know I never had.

Happy birthday to you Mena!

My little baby girl is a big four years old now! I can't believe it. She has grown so much this year. I am seeing more and more of her personality shine through. She loves to sing and dance, she makes up the best stories and says the most hillarious things! She is great. Here are a few pictures from her birthday which we celebrated as a family. She was insisting on a Dora cake for the past year. I think our little family will be eating it until her next birthday! Way too much for 3 people to eat!

Daddy/Daughter time

Now that my husband has been out of school for the past few weeks, Mena and him have been best pals. They spend lots of time outside together and mornings are their bonding time while I sleep in. I love these recent shots of Mena and her Daddy and wanted to share them with you.

Philomena Ballerina

PHILOMENA BALLERINA!

Open Gym

Open Gym at Splitz Gymnastics in Canton! So much fun and so worth $5! Now I just have to figure out some sort of activity to get her enrolled in for the Fall. Will it be Polish dance? Will it be swimming, dance, gymnastics, art, some sport???? All great ideas and she would love them. The question is...CAN WE AFFORD IT? Isn't that always the question!

Drama Queen

I am inspired to write this post based on a Facebook status I saw today from a friend.
Don't let the picture on the top of my blog fool you, my three and a half year old is a drama queen and so disobedient. I have just about had it! I thought I was all alone until I read her status about how three and a half year olds are her least favorite age because they are full of drama and so disrespectful. I thought to myself, "What! Someone else feels this way too." Just this morning I asked Mena to move over while folding laundry on my bed just a inch or so. This shocked her that I would even think of having her move. She proceeded to try and bargain with me and I warned her more than once that there will be consequences to her actions. She proceeded to throw laundry off the bed and have a mild dramatic tantrum, so I spanked her (not hard at all). She ran off yelling, "How could you do this to me!" and I even heard some "Don't you love me anymore?" I mean, where in the world do children learn this stuff.
The disrespect that comes out of her mouth is driving me up a wall. I told her there are going to be some changes around here...we'll see if she cooperates!!! I doubt it will be very easy.
Do any of my readers feel the same way? Am I alone in this?

Playing Pregnant

Lately, Mena has been pretending to be pregnant just like Mommy. She named her baby "sis" and she is due in June, the same time as her real baby brother. She has such an imagination and is extremely empathetic. Quite a combination on a little 3 and a half year old. We are all looking forward to when little baby Josh arrives. We'll just see if "sis" arrives around that time as well.

My daughter and I

We're best pals...need I say more?!

Peek a boo!

Dom and I took Mena to the park on Sunday.  It was definitly muddy but so worth the little mud to enjoy the sunshine and get out as a family!  We are looking forward to this summer when our little Joshua will join us on these little family outings!

My little dollbaby!

I just love this shot of Mena!

Saint Philomena

A good friend of ours embroidered this sweatsuit for Philomena.  The top is of Saint Philomena and on the pant leg is an anchor and an arrow.  We just LOVE this outfit.  It is a little big so she will be able to wear it for a long time.  Hooray!

Pretend play: Going to Church

I was relaxing while Mena was playing.  I could hear her saying,  "I'm getting ready for Church...I'm gonna be so pretty."  She was carrying around her dress so I naturally thought she was changing into it.  Little did I know that that would come a little later. 
Next thing I know, she comes out with my lipstick all over her lips.  I guess she associates makeup with getting ready for Church.  Am I to assume she thinks I only wear makeup on Sunday?   So funny!  Here are some pictures...

Bathtime fun

Wordless Wednesday!

My new do!  (Don't mind the messy house.  My mommy got a little behind, but has definitly cleaned since then!)

Play Planet Park

We went to this park for the first time today.  It was awesome!!!!!!!!  So HUGE and so many fun things for Mena (and Momma and Daddy) to play on.  It is called Play Planet and it is well worth our 20 minute drive!  Mena has been asking to go back since we pulled away. 

First Day of School Photo Shoot

Here are some pictures of Mena before her first day of Atrium at Christ the King, in Ann Arbor.  She was so excited!  So excited in fact that she couldn't eat much for breakfast and she barely slept last night.  Poor thing.  Anyway,  I was anxious to see how the drop off would be since she has never been without me for something like this.  No daycare in her past or classes that I wasn't right in the room for.  Well, there were tears.  She was not to enthused about me leaving her at the door with strangers, although I knew most of the familys.  I finally convinced her that she would be okay and handed her over to the room mom to take her into the class.  There was screaming for a minute or so and then all was quiet.  They say she did wonderful!  I wish I could have seen her and been a fly on the wall to watch my little girl be all independant.  I can't believe it happening.  She is growing up.  My how time flies.  Sorry about the tangent, I was the nursery mom so I was just next door which made it a whole lot easier on me.  Most of the activities they did today were Montessori and stuff that we do already in our homeschool setting.  I think this made her a little more comfortable.  Soon they will get into more catechesis.  I love these pictures of her...sorry, another tangent!  After school we went to see her Aunt that works nearby and invited her to lunch.  She couldn't make it today so we went by our selves to McDonalds.  Just as we started eating, Mena spotted one of her classmates so they joined us for lunch.  So much fun for the kiddos and the mommies!  Although, my little kiddo was ready for nap.  She konked out as soon as we hit the road.  We are totally ready for next week.  Hopefully it will bring a smoother drop off because I don't know how many more of those I can handle!!!