What Happened to Our Routine??

Yes, it's happened to us. Those of you who have been through having a second (or third or nth number) child knew this would happen. In some vague, obscure way, I did, too...I just wasn't prepared for what it would "mean."

Up until 4 weeks ago, life at the Ko house was pretty predictable. Nathan would get up around 7 and the rest of the day would unfold with the same sort of routine each day. By 8pm, Nathan was asleep and would greet us the following morning with his smiling, happy face. This even continued for a few days after Abigail came home from the hospital...and then everything abruptly changed!

Nathan began waking up at all hours of the night, needing John or I to go in and comfort him back to sleep for a few minutes. Then the earlier waking times started...6:30, 6:00, 5:00 or 5:30...each day seemed crueler than the previous. This past week has been particularly rough...four or five times a night, Nathan wakes up. He's woken up at 4:30 and then the mind-boggling 3am today! He's still only napped his normal 1.5-2 hours, so it's made for incredibly long days around here. One morning after an insanely early wake up, both kids were crying at the same time, I was trying to get dressed and brush my teeth, and John was leaving for work. Feeling completely overwhelmed, I brought both babies into our bedroom where I promptly bawled like a baby myself while John consoled me. Imagine how I'd be feeling if Abigail weren't such an easy baby?!? Sleeping 4 hours and then waking to eat...not too shabby for a 1-month-old!

Of course, after the babies and I slept for awhile, life looked a bit brighter, but this lack of routine, lack of any sort of predictability is taking its toll on me. I know it's to be expected when adding a second child to a family. I know that in time I will figure this out and life will return to some sort of routine, albeit a different, 2-child routine. I know that I just need to be patient. But I also want to scream, "I don't do well with change! I want my predictable systems back! Couldn't we just fast-forward through this tumultuous, learn-to-be-patient part??" In the midst of the craziness that is my life currently, I look at my babies and marvel that they are ours. Nathan is the sweetest boy...so caring and loving to others (especially Abigail!). And Abigail, though we don't know her personality fully yet, seems to be such a calm, easy-going person. Nathan's smile just lights up my day and Abigail has the cutest little noises that have just captured my heart. So, after all my complaining and kicking and screaming, I guess my life is really pretty great.

...and I know that those of you with more than 2 kids are chuckling and shaking your heads at me...it's okay...anyone with 2 or more kids is currently my hero!