Wow, it has been six months since my last post. Time has definitely gotten away from me, as it does when you’re a busy mom. I am currently 34 weeks pregnant with baby number 3. Izzy and Cole are now 16 months, they are walking, going up and down the slide at the park, and starting to want to feed themselves. They are trying to talk and I believe Cole says “dada” and maybe even an occasional “mama” when he’s trying to throw me a bone. I believe Izzy’s first word was “cheese.”
Coley knows when he gets into trouble and is doing something he’s not supposed to because he will turn around and wag his finger, shake his head, and say “dah!”
I can’t explain the joy and love that they both give me. Mike and I were talking last night about how much our lives have changed. Most of our every waking hour is devoted to making sure these two are fed and taken care of…yet this is one of the most happy periods in our lives. Interesting all that time I spent thinking about myself and what might make me happy next- when the happiest I’ve been in my life is when I often forget myself.
I am working tuesdays/thursdays and with the kids mon/wed/fri’s. It is getting more and more difficult to keep up with them, the larger I grow. Yet, there is light at the end of the tunnel. After our first successful experience with an au pair- we have decided to get another one, and she is coming May 15th!
For me, having live in help is the difference between surviving and thriving. I know some may roll their eyes and think “well of course if everyone could afford it- they would to,” but actually the costs of an au pair are much cheaper than a nanny or even pre-school. It works out to be around $8/hour for 45 hours of care for three kids. You can’t beat that anywhere.
We ended up going through an agency this time- Cultural Care Au Pair (message me for a promo code if you decide to try) and so far are really happy with our decision. They thoroughly vet, train, and interview these girls. They also send them to a training school in NYC before they arrive at our house. If we aren’t happy with the one we’ve chosen- we can easily transition to a new au pair.
Overall, I feel like I’ve gotten the hang of things with them. There are still those days, where I feel completely overwhelmed and the phrase “stop this train, I want to get off,” cycles in repeat in my head. However, I have grown in that I learn to ask for help when I need it, I have let go of the need for things to be perfect, and I sneak in time for myself to let the steam out.
At the moment, I am really anxious for baby c to get here. I am really large and it is hard to move. I am tired of feeling fat and not having any clothes to wear. My skin is a wreck and there is nothing I can really do about it until I’m done breastfeeding because everything that can make a difference, can also come through to hurt the baby. I want to feel sexy again, I want to go on a date with my husband and have a few cocktails. I want to run unencumbered. I want to get my ass and abs back. I want to have energy again, and know what its like to not wake up four times a night to go pee. I want to not worry if I need more than one cup of coffee, or eat a turkey sandwich, or have a hankering for sushi.
Oh yeah- and I can’t wait to meet little Mr. or Ms. who decided to surprise us and make us a family of six (boodah the dog included)!
Here we are at the moment: