Two Under Two: 3 Months In

Two kids under two.

Well, in my case it was two kids under a year and a half when Penny was born. 

I always heard people talk about how hard this is.

How I'll go out of my mind and not be able to keep up.

Honestly, people scared me a little.

While I was pregnant I was almost dreading what things would be like once we added a new baby into the already smooth flow of our family. 

I thought that life was going to be out of control. 

Now, I will say that things aren't perfect...and they're definitely not always easy.

But things are a whole heck of a lot easier than I thought they would be. 

Viv has really stepped into the role of "big sister" and I'm so proud of how much she's grown and matured.

Her patience and wisdom is astounding for how tiny and young she is. 

There are definitely moments when things get hard.

Times that I have to speak to her with a firm voice and try to explain things to her. 

Times where she just doesn't understand.

But I just keep reminding myself that my eldest is still a baby herself.

And that helps put everything into perspective. 

I guess it also helps that Penny is a really fantastic baby.

She has her moments of fussiness, but as her mom, I can figure out what she needs almost instantly.

She's a very easy little girl to read and doesn't require a whole lot other than milk and lots of close snuggles.

The hardest part of having two so young is going places without Josh.

Play dates, parks, etc are a breeze but when it comes to going into a store alone with them...forget about it!

I actually have only gone out with both of them to the stores one time - I usually just wait until Josh is home and just take Viv with me...then it becomes a fun little shopping date with my big girl.

If someone were to ask me if we wished we had waited longer to have a second child there would be absolutely no question about it.

Having two this close together is ALREADY so much fun and it's just going to get so much better as they get older.

It hasn't even been three months yet but I haven't had a day where I've felt tired or burnt out.

We pace ourselves and schedule and it makes life easier.

We lead with love and it makes life simple. 

Sisters.

(these photos are from July --- Penny is 1.5 months and Viv is 17.5 months)

I don't have any sisters.

I always wished that I had a sister or two but I grew up with four brothers instead. 

My older brother is 9 years older than me and my younger brothers range from 5 years to 9 years younger.

So, I never really had a real close sibling companionship and that's something that I still wish that I had. 

When we decided to get pregnant for the first time, Josh and I both knew that we would want to have our second close after our first. 

We both wanted our children to be close in age (no matter how many children we have) so that they could really grow up together and be best friends. 

We never thought that we would be here today with two beautiful little girls who are only 16 months apart and yet here we are living a wonderful dream. 

Every single day I am so thankful for these two girls. 

These sisters.

I think of how much fun they are going to have together as they grow up - doing everything together.

I think of their sweet little bedroom that they will share.

I think of all the late night talks and giggles they will have.

All of the clothes they will share.

All of the secrets that they will keep.

Already, at such young ages, they are the best of friends.

Viv talks to Penny all day long and Penny coos and smiles back at her big sister.

Viv is forever checking on her baby sissy to make sure everything is alright and that she has everything that she needs.

Penny is truly happiest when Viv is close by or has her arms around her.

It's like it was born into Penny to trust Viv and to love her.

I love seeing their love grow as they do.

These days are so precious to me as I watch my girls grow and interact with each other.

They make me smile and laugh every moment of every day.

There is no joy comparable. 

Summer Recap: July

Wow.

I can't believe that I took basically the entire summer off from blogging...

...well, I guess I actually can believe it...

this summer was cray! 

Having two kids under two years old is serious business and apparently, such business doesn't leave time for putting together a few sentences. 

I apologize.

Anywho...I'm back and I promise to be better than ever at this whole blogging game. 

I've missed this place...this whole world... and I'm glad that life is going to *hopefully* start slowing down a tiny bit so that I can get back into this groove thang. 

I have lots to talk about but first things first:

Catch up with photos!

And if you've been reading this blog for any period of time you know that I don't joke around with my photos - I kind of go overboard...so beware.

Our July:

xo. 

Our First Week with 2 Under 2.

We've officially been home with Penny for a week now (over a week actually) and I think we've finally settled into the swing of life. 

Bringing a new baby home is hard enough - then try bringing home a new baby AND getting your toddlers approval. Oy.

I shouldn't be too hard on Viv though because she really has been so amazing through all of these changes. 

When we brought Penny home Viv was exhausted from staying with her grandma's and sleeping without us for the first time so she was a little emotional.

It took one or two days for her to really realize how gentle and kind she needs to be when she's around Penny but now that she's learned things have been much easier.

Viv is obsessed with her baby sister and it really is the most heartwarming thing I've ever experienced in my life.

Every morning she runs over to Penny's bed and makes sure that she's okay and that she's still there.

She is always giving her tiny soft kisses and holding her hand.

My mom was over the other day and she was on the phone talking loud and Viv ran to Penny's bassinet where she was sleeping and kept putting her finger to her lip saying "shh!!" to my mom. 

So adorable!

She is always bringing me Penny's blankets, socks and even trying to help me when I change her diaper. 

She really hasn't been naughty around Penny yet or done anything bad (other than playfully pull on her toes sometimes) so I'm thankful for that. 

She has really stepped into the "big sister" role and is acting so much more mature and old - it kind of makes me sad that I never see any baby in her anymore.

Penny is the best baby I could have ever asked for.

She is quiet, yet observant. 

She takes everything in and just soaks up all the love we give to her.

I can't wait to see how her personality now blossoms as she gets older.

I have a feeling that she isn't going to be anything like a wild and crazy Viv. 

The first few nights were hard just trying to get her to adjust to life outside the womb.

I was so sleep deprived and looked like a zombie by the third morning. 

After that though she has settled in to a nice routine and now only wakes up every 3-4 hours to nurse!

At her well-visit to the doctor on Monday she had already gained more than a half a pound in only 5 days!

She no longer fits in newborn clothes or diapers.

So, I guess she is eating great, hehe.

Nursing is going fantastic too and I think I can thank extended breastfeeding with Viv for that.

I was already so used to nursing that I didn't have any blistering or anything like I did when I started bf'ing for the first time with Viv. 

Thank you Jesus!

Penny is peaceful and content just lying in her bassinet on her play pen or in her bouncy seat listening to all the sounds of the house.

We are so in love with her and so excited to have another life in the family to make things even more fun.

Josh has had to work a lot this week which has been hard.

Until we're able to afford a double stroller I'm pretty much stuck in the house all day while he is at work and that's the hardest thing for Viv.

Right now we're in the middle of a 16-hour day with him gone and even though it's going surprising well, we're still starting to feel cooped up.

With only one vehicle and no yard to go outside and play in it kind of leaves us with a huge opportunity for boredom and tantrums.

We have a pretty fun weekend planned so if we can just get through the rest of today then we'll (hopefully) be golden.

*she has a stork bite (birth mark) on her right eyelid that I think is just so cute*

When we actually do get out of the house it's been a lot easier than I anticipated (though I haven't braved the world without Josh yet).

We've gone to a different park every night this week!

My grandparents gifted me with a Sakura Bloom ring sling and it's definitely the best baby product that we own!

It's so easy to use and I get to have my baby close to me while still being able to do fun things.

Penny loves it too - she goes to sleep every time she's in it!

It's amazing to not be pregnant anymore. 

I forgot what it was like to have energy and to be able to run and chase Viv! 

I'm thinking it will definitely be a few years before we think about any more babies - I can't imagine being pregnant again.

Though I'm sure that as soon as Penny is walking around that baby fever will kick in again and I won't even remember all of my previous pregnancy woes.