July 22, 2013

Unblogworthy


 This is about the point after Walter's birth that I should be charming you with photographs of two impossibly stylish children in an impossibly clean home. Maybe there would be a few of Millie pushing him in a $500 stroller, or some of me in a high bun, red lipstick, and spotless white pants in a size 0. I'm supposed to tell you that we spend our mornings going for walks in a posh neighborhood, our afternoons making cupcakes, and after I tuck them both into bed, Sky and I sit back drinking a good wine and hosting dinner parties for our fancy friends.

At least, I think that's how it works in blog land.

The problem is, I don't have that life, and most of you are already well aware of it. Instead, life has been good but messy. Walter is that rare breed of easy baby that I didn't know actually existed, but Millie's behavior lately has counteracted any easy in this house. She's still gentle and loving with her baby brother, but taking her almost-3-year-old-ness to a whole other level with Sky and me. I've gotten a fair amount of unsolicited advice with this, and was complaining about it when Fran gave me the best advice yet (and probably the only advice that will actually work, for that matter):


I think I'll require any future visitors to bring me Starbucks and hard cider. That's fair, right?

The days have been a mixture of being absolutely in love with my family, and taking deep, gulping breaths of patience. I suppose that will be life for the next eighteen years, but it's especially true in this transition. I want things to be smooth and easy, of course, yet life just doesn't go that way sometimes. This afternoon, though, after a typical, struggle-filled morning, Millie sat next to Walter on the floor, and handed him her monkey and blanket. And if you know Millie, you know that Monkey is just about the most important possession she owns (remember this?). Then we snuggled up together right there on the ground, Millie, Walter, Monkey, and I, and we sang songs we thought Walter would like. It was a good reminder that these days can be long, but there are some oh-so-sweet moments in them.


It might not be blog worthy in that perfect blog world, but it was still pretty perfect in mine. These days, I think I may have to change my measure of success into simple things- things like we made it through the day, and Millie and Walter loved each other, and Sky and I were a team. The $500 stroller and fancy dinner parties and picture-perfect lives just aren't a part of our reality. That's okay.


I'll take these two over those things any day.

11 kind comments from you:

Melissa Dell said...

I love this. I feel that same struggle with Aubrey - complete heart melting moments. And then the ones where you feel your pregnancy hormones of instant anger festering inside.

And love Fran's comment. Although this past Saturday woke up to no coffee filters at home. So make sure you have a lot of those too!

Kace said...

My toddler/preschooler is much more difficult than the baby, too. Coffee is one of my very best friends. I'm with you in spirit! :)

Sarah said...

LOVE. Honestly, I can't stand reading blogs when they pretend like they have it all together. It can't be true 100% of the time, yet that's what I see on their blog. It just bothers me. I'd rather see pictures of a messy house and happy kids than pictures of the "perfect little family," dressed up and posed for pictures. Gag me. =P

Jen said...

No one has it together 100% of the time it's just not possible. Hugs my friend!

Anonymous said...

First I just need to say I love Walter's faces in the pictures you take. He is seriously just too perfect!!!

Girrrrl, I'm sitting here in my nursing tank and pajama shorts ignoring all the housework while my babies nap and I chug coffee. I just don't know how Blogland does it.

Chantal said...

They are so sweet. This is real life! I hope Millie starts acting a bit better, it's so hard with a newborn.

Unknown said...

<3 you. I'll bring coffee and wine I swear.

Do you guys have a grinder?

I'll Love You Forever said...

These pictures melt my heart. They are such a blessing! What cuties. I'll tell you what, we definitely don't have it all together at our house.

Fran said...

I love the faces Sneezy has in all these pictures! And you're so silly, posting my 'advice' haha

Dianne said...

just stumbled upon your blog! Looks like we are in the same boat! I have a 2.5 year old and a one month old. It's been interesting to say the least but there's definitely nothing wrong in admitting the struggle. Momhood is tough and anyone who attempts to display it otherwise is just circulating a big, fat lie lol. But then again, if they can afford a $500 stroller than maybe they can afford nannies to do their job for them haha.

JG said...

They are so sweet together!!

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