Life With Two Kids, a poem by Mayim Bialik

I came across this poem by Mayium Bialik and how sweet and true are her words... 

Ode To The First Weeks

Before the baby
It was mama mama mama all the time
Naps and nights
Mama mama mama
And every moment in between
Mama mama mama

But then he came
And you wanted nothing to do with me
You wanted dada
Just dada
Only dada

Before the baby
Your skin was so soft
Was there anything softer?
There could not be anything softer
And I would caress you at naptime and night
Your softness: a leg, a cheek, tiny fingers,
Soft soft soft Firstborn

But then he came
And your skin, once like porcelain, seemed rough and full of imperfections
Bumps and scrapes and scratches
You were not so soft as him
That was very clear

Before the baby
I loved you with everything I had in me
Could I love you more?
Yes I could, they told me, and so I did
At naptime and night and every millisecond in between
All you, only you, forever you

But then he came
And that love grew and grew and grew
And it filled up every corner it could find
Every crevice that I didn’t know existed got filled up with golden warm light
And I kept on loving you so hard
But I loved him too, with everything I have in me
I loved him so hard, so quickly
Did I love him faster than I loved you? Earlier in his life?
I feared the answer was yes

Before the baby
You amazed me
Each eyelash held a universe
Each movement of your hand told a story
And you learned to be a little boy so fast and so well

But then he came
And you broke my heart every minute
How did you come to be so lovely, so creative, so tender, so gentle, so sweet?
How did we make you? Where did you come from?
And why are you crying?

Crying for the milk you had long given up
Crying mama mama mama
You are shrieking a rejection of me with hands once so tiny, yet now so big,
You are clinging to my body with desperation and longing

And sometimes I can not give myself to you like I used to
And you are sad
And you cry
And I cry
And I wonder, what did I do to him?
How could I do this to him?
Will he ever forgive me?

But did you know
That when it is dark
And you are asleep
And he is asleep
And he does not need me
I roll to you
And I cradle you in my arms
And I inhale your scent
And I hold your hands
And I stroke your skin
And I remember the Great Love
And I cling to your body
With desperation
And with longing

Mirabel - 3 months

Miss Mirabel, you are one sweet, sweet baby. Your smile is ginormous, I just wish you'd let me take a picture of it. You are infatuated with your big sister, learning so much, I'm sure. You're pretty quiet unless you are tired or are wakened before you are ready. You have a sweet singing voice and you particularly like being sung to. You drool a lot already, sucking on your fists for much of the day. You love to be outside. You love to be sitting up and outward, not wanting to miss a thing. You are my sweetie pie (and Eloise's, too). Your family loves you so very much! 

Summer Fun

Besides the lack of sleep and the craziness that is a toddler plus a newborn, being on maternity leave for 12 weeks in the summer was not too bad of a gig. We've so enjoyed all the space in our new home and all the fun we've had in the new neighborhood. Many great memories are being created already with these two girls.

Eloise has done a pretty great job of sharing all of her old toys with her sister, as long as she gets to play, too. Mirabel can't keep her eyes off her big sis. 

Something new everyday for this little one. She's really starting to grab hold of things. Her meal of choice these days is her fists. Sometimes both at the same time if she's really hungry. I will never get tired of the constant feeling of awe you get watching your child learn and grow. 

I just get lost in these big, beautiful, dark eyes. So pretty. 

Most of the time it is a whirlwind when both girls are awake, wanting to play. We stay very busy. I've been appreciating time to play with Eloise while Mirabel naps. We chose a very chilly day for a "Mommy and Eloise" day at the pool...

Playing in the rain...

Despite a mommy who steers clear of most things "glittery girly", Eloise has requested to wear "twirly dresses" lately. I can just tell how beautiful she feels in them. Never stop twirling, my dear. 

The other morning, Eloise was at the table eating her peanut butter bagel for "brefackst". I was tending to Mirabel in the other room and Eloise says, "Mommy, Mommy! Come look! A Seahorse!" Well, I'll be...it does look like a seahorse. 

Mirabel getting a lesson in whistling from her Daddy. 

Just a couple blocks from our new home is a beautiful new park area. A creek running through beautiful grass and plants surrounded by bike trails and adorned with fountains. It is gorgeous. They had a "party in the park" every month during the summer here and Eloise had a blast at this one! We got to decorate her bike for a children's bike parade. She got a giraffe ballon animal to ride along with her.

One of Eloise's favorite things to do is play in the fountain. She loves getting her feet wet and loves the surprises splashes it makes. 

The zoo will be closing soon, so the girls and I enjoyed a perfect morning there with Gran and Papa. We love all the fun we get to have there. Here's Eloise on Cinderella the pony. 

And the sand pit is probably her favorite exhibit there. 

Going through the tree tunnel. 

Where's Eloise?

Lunch time in the sideways house. 

Mirabel sure enjoyed her time at the zoo, as well. 

Waiting patiently to board the choo-choo. 

Here's Eloise with Miss Ellen, the Train Lady. Eloise is, let's say, a frequent rider of the train. Most of the conductors know her by name and she's even scored some free rides when she was the only one in line. Eloise has grown quite fond of Miss Ellen and wanted her picture taken with her. She had also colored Miss Ellen a train picture for her to keep. It's a pretty sweet little friendship they have. 

Summer is coming to a close but we are looking forward to all the fun that fall will bring! 

Mirabel - 2 months old

Oh my, oh my. I got on here today to update Mirabel's 3 month photo and realized, I never posted her 2 month one! Life. Is. Crazy. Busy. But I just love this family of mine. Here's the little cutie...

Mirabel - 2 months old

We had a little chat after your photo shoot. You have such a sweet little voice. I love you, sweet Mirabel.

Cousins!

A big reason I love our new home is that it's big enough for my family to stay for a few days! Four kiddos to tend to was crazy, but oh so fun to have them here from Atlanta to spend time with us. We can't wait till next time when there will be 5 kiddos after my sister has her little one in December.

Mirabel getting some cuddles from Grandma and Grandma getting some "coos" from Mirabel. 

So sweet. 

London riding a horse for the first time at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. 

Miss Eloise is becoming a pro at this. 

The only time she looks small to me now. 

And Miss Maeve's first ride as well. She is a natural. 

Grandma with her grandkids. Awwww. 

All aboard!

Cuties. 

Goofy girls. 

Sweet face. 

Tuckered out after a weekend at Grandma's house. 

Big Parade.

There is an episode of "Oswald", one of Eloise's favorite shows about a parade. It's funny because in the episode, Oswald hears marching band music but cannot find where it's coming from, all along assuming there must be a parade happening. Well, it turns out it was just his friend listening to marching band music on a radio. Oswald and his friends at first are so disappointed there isn't a parade, but soon they just pretend to be in their own parade. Eloise loves this episode. So we were excited to take her to her very first parade on the 4th of July in Waverly. What a fun experience for her and for Justin and I to be starting some of these fun traditions for her to remember.

Waiting in line for the bounce house!

Mirabel preferred to enjoy the parade wrapped up with Mommy. 

Waiting for the candy.

Fire trucks are loud!

Daddy got her her first fire crackers, Snappers.