What to expect...are you kidding me?!?!?!

It's Saturday night and Mark and I are exhausted today. We woke up a little extra tired than usual because Nathan decided to wake us up at 2a.m. and Ben decided to crawl into bed with us at 4a.m. UGH! At 7:30 Nathan wakes up again and we slowly make our way out of bed into the early morning chill that I love and begin our day. Our typical routine is get up, make Nathan a bottle, get Ben's breakfast ready, eat, get showered and dressed, and then head on out somewhere. Today was not an ordinary day though. Mark's sister and her husband were in a car accident where their car was totaled but no injuries to anyone (thank God!) So, to give them a little break and rest, Mark and I took their son for the day. We love that little guy and we're thankful to have him in our lives. He is quite a little character! :) However, having three kids throughout our day was an adventure. The fact that both Mark and I were out-numbered by 3 small children was quite amusing and overwhelming at the same time. Mark is sitting next to me right now saying that it was also eye-opening and a wake-up call thinking about the reality of having 3 kids. 

Having one child is hard because you have to learn all the rules of caring for a child. There are countless books out there on how to care for a baby and what to expect at each stage in their life. However, not every child is alike and you quickly realize that when baby number 2 arrives! I thought having one child meant being prepared for another but that was not the case for us. Juggling life with two kids means an extra meal at the table, another bath to give, another outfit to put on, another pair of shoes to put on their feet, another trip to the bathroom for potty breaks (or diaper change), another seatbelt to fasten, another lesson to teach, two bedtime stories become 4 bedtime stories, and etc...put a third child into the picture and you can forget that shower you are desperate for, that pot of coffee that was pre-made in the morning, and all of a sudden if you can't find a darn ponytail holder it's the end of the world. I'm just kidding...or am I? 

Maybe one day Mark and I will have another baby. I know Mark would love to have a "daddy's little girl" but for now, two is the perfect number for me. Plus I like being Mark's only girl...heehee.

Boys are awesome. I love having 2 sons and getting the chance to raise brothers. Having 3 sisters myself, not only are boys a bit foreign to me, but the idea of raising brothers is also like learning a new language. Growing up I loved playing with my dolls, dressing up, pretending to be a famous movie star, and just feeling like a pretty little princess. My dad would always make me feel like his little girl and I will admit that I was pretty spoiled as a child being the youngest of 4 daughters. And now that little girly girl who loved playing with dolls is not only playing with Batman toys, but I am loving the Batman toys! I also remember as a little girl the importance of keeping my hair from getting tangled up, getting dirt on my shoes, spilling food on my clothes, and behaving well in public. Ben, who is now 3 years old, loves to play in the mud, spills food on his clothes on a daily basis, will create new dance moves while standing on a chair in a restaurant, and if there's a puddle he will not hesitate to jump in. Does that bother this girly girl? HECK NO!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE having boys. I cannot wait to see what Nate will bring to the table and what his personality will be like at Ben's age. What will they come up with together? What will their relationship be like 3 years from now? What will my relationship with them be like as they grow up? I can only hope that I will remain close to them and watch them grow up to be men full of integrity, honesty, joy and full of life. I hope they hold on to the innocence that they carry now. I hope that they learn to give with the gifts that God gave them. I hope that they stay close to God and continually seek Him on a daily basis. I am also excited to see all that God has for them. My prayer is that they won't miss out on anything that God has in store for them. So here's to hundreds more rain puddles, many food stains on brand new clothes, holes on the soles of shoes, dirt, bugs, adventures, curiosities, creative projects,  and endless possibilities!