Room at the table: Our family mobile

Sorry for the almost month-long silence. It's certainly not for a lack of good intentions. I've composed about twenty posts in my head, but I can't seem to find the time to actually type them up. When someone finally invents the telepathic blog, I'll be the first one to sign up.

Anyway, we're all doing well and everyday gets a little easier. I still can't believe how quickly Noah is adjusting. Within about 10 days of being home, he had gone from all Dave to all me. Now he has balanced out and goes to either one of us very comfortably. He's getting used to two sisters who want to play with him, hug and kiss him, and show him everything they know. Needless to say, he gets a little overwhelmed at times.

I can't remember where I first read the analogy of the family being a mobile, but I came across it again when I recently read "There is no me without you" by Melissa Greene. Every time a child joins the family, the mobile has to completely shift and rebalance. That image is so spot on. We are all learning new things about each other and figuring out what works and what doesn't. R is very protective of her "mama time" with me and she and I have been going on dates every week. She's struggling to figure out how to be a helper without mothering her siblings. Meanwhile, my sweet, gentle, polite little W has become a hitting, kicking jealous ball of emotions. Poor thing. (Jenni, I now understand what you were talking about when Little Miss L became Little Miss Stinker when C was born). Her new motto seems to be "Anything you can do, I can do better." I actually find myself humming that tune throughout the day. I know this is just part of each one of us reshifting and rebalancing our own piece of the mobile. I just had no idea that W would spend half her childhood in time-out to get there.

So we're having a great time and getting into a groove. Having two toddlers is kicking my behind, but I think I'm past the barely-treading-water stage!