The First Forty Days

In the bible, 40 days represents a significant amount of time.  In our new world of three very young children, making it through our first 40 days does seem very significant.  

Many people have asked me how it is having three kids vs two.  And everyone asks me what its like having three under the age of four.  All I say is that it is wonderful and tiring.  

But actually it is much more than tiring - 

it is fun,

loving,

silly,

emotional,

beautiful,

nonstop,

frustrating,

overwhelming,

peaceful (at rare moments!),

just like parenting any number of kids, at any age.

Having a third child exponentially increases the love and joy and all the wonderfulness that children bring into a family,

but geez, you gotta work for it.  

And as frustrated as we get with Ethan's constant repetition of the same question again and again and the physical expression of emotions,

we love the imagination, independence and thoughtfulness that three and a half brings.  

Kels' bouts of stubbornness and control that comes with being two

are balanced with how much we love her sense of humor and how clever she is.

Add a newborn into that mix, that cuts into our sleep but who is so sweet and adorable, and we have ourselves a full house!

The thing about having three kids that surprised me, isn't how busy it makes you.  I expected that part.  

It's how much bigger of a family you are by adding just one kid.  All of a sudden we went from an average family of four, to 'a big family'.  And walking down the street, or shopping at the store, or anywhere I go with all three of them in tow, I feel how big of a family we are now.  

Not to even mention the first time we all got into the car, three carseats lined up in the backseat, Malley in the very back - the car felt very full!  

But full is exactly what Aaron and I want our lives to be.  And these three kids are more then we could have ever hoped for.