Ellie and the umbrella

I am often asked what it was like going back to the baby sphere after we had our boys potty trained and at school full time. Obviously it was a big question for us as well as we decided to jump back into diapers and spit-up. Were we ready to trade sleeping all night, the ease of setting up babysitting, and being able to run to the store while the kids are in school? Did we want to deal with taking a baby on an airplane, buying diapers (and changing them!), and wrestling a little one at a restaurant? First time parents think their life is over when they care for a little one but once the baby morphs into a somewhat sentient being that will wipe his own bum and pick up toys (at least some of the time), the physical labor part of parenting becomes significantly easier and life almost gets back to normal. What sane person would give up this bliss? Well, we did and we are over the moon about the results.

Ellie has been a very easy baby. My previous experience combined with her easy going nature has resulted in a lovely first eight months. We've had our little hurdles and moments of duress but overall things have gone really well. It has been really fun to do the baby thing again; I feel like I have all of the fun of being a first time parent again without the anxiety of not knowing what to do. I think I really needed a break from babies for a little while for many reasons but it has been a blast doing it again and even a little therapeutic. I've had so many lovely memories of Davin and Rowan come back to me as I have cared for Ellie, memories that were a little overshadowed by the stress that we encountered when they were toddlers and I have really relished the flashbacks. Of course there are a lot of new and lovely memories Ellie and I have created together as well. I'll never get over her pretty skin, big blue eyes, and darling smile!

We worried a little about how the boys would react to having a new sister and if she would fit into our family groove. The boys adore her and sometimes fight over her like jealous suitors. I've seen a sweet tenderness in them and they really love taking care of her. Davin has even started taking care of some of his stuffed animals like they are his babies, which is a big leap for a boy who was determined to never marry or move away from home.

So far Ellie doesn't seem to have many complaints about being the little one in the house. She has the best of both worlds I think. She has all of the advantages of being an only child except for the disadvantage of not having siblings. The only worry we have now is whether we will spoil her too much!

Try saying "no" to those tears!!!

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