Different experiences make the world go around... :)

Allow me to be completely honest as I express my love for other mothers of singletons... I have had one baby. I LOVED having one baby. THAT was easy! I have often thought of how much my life would be different with one baby (and then look at both of my boys and absolutely would never trade the life I have for the convenience of 'just one baby'). I would have half of the wake up times throughout the night, half of the feeding frustrations, and half of the diapers, BUT I would also have half of the smiles and no joy in watching two babies of the exact same age growing and developing together. They are such a daily pleasure, no matter how much work they are. (I might  have to retract that last sentence, depending on how teething goes, because that is not fun.... at all).

I have many wonderful friends and family members who are moms of singleton babies, and they are awesome. They really are. They are also really good at NOT complaining to me about how often their baby wakes up or how much they had to nurse their baby the previous day. I have been blessed with babies who show well (aka, when we go out, they are happy and content, not crying or fussing... but who is kidding, they are like this the majority of the time, but there is still two of them), yet my pals do not try to tell me how hard life with their baby is. I think they get it.. I love them so much for this. I love to hear how things are going with them. I try not to burden anyone with how much work the kids are. I love my kids, and I never want to appear like things are really tough *hangs head and admits that yes, sometimes, things are tough*. For the most part, things are manageable, but that is still manageable TIMES TWO! :)

Mothers of singletons that I do not know well (read as strangers on the street), however, do not spare me the details of how 'hard' their day is. I get it. I have been there with one baby. I have now been there with two babies. Unless I know you, please do not tell me that 'life is rough' or 'you are so tired' or (my favourite) that you 'understand, because you have two kids close in age.' I had to literally hold my tongue when a stranger told me that at the doctor's office last week. I asked, 'how far apart are your children?' She replies, 'Thirteen months, so that's pretty well like having twins.'. <BITE TONGUE, PASTE ON SMILE. SWALLOW. BREATHE.> 'Try having two newborns hanging off your boobs and tell me it is the same. Or, tell me it is the same when you have two babies who are both too young to communicate at all.'.. that is what I wanted to say. What I did do is respectfully disagree with her... and said a silent prayer that she will be blessed with twins of her own. :)

People often ask me 'How do you get out?' or better yet, 'How do you get out with all of the kids?' That question always makes me laugh. The answer to both is 'I don't really get out' and 'I don't get out with all of the kids unless I have help.' I have been blessed by having my family (and in-laws) all living quite near to us. That is my sanity. Without them, I am sure that I would be a crazed hermit by now! The ability to take a shower (at least twice a week now... YAY!!!) is a struggle without forfeiting sleep most days, so why on earth would I be so concerned about getting out?? Then, when I do have the opportunity to get out for some time to myself, (ok, that is laughable, as it was a quick trip to pick up meat for dinner, so maybe 20 mins to myself) things like this always seem to happen to me.While walking home today, I passed a mom who was carrying her baby in a carseat in one hand and a small bag in the other. I was green with envy.... for a split second. When she started to make frustrated, tired noises from having to carry her ONE child from a store front to her vehicle, I wanted to smack her upside the head... (I am not a violent person. This is not literal, just a phrase that I use to say that I was very frustrated with her). Had I not had a bigger, likely heavier bag in my hand already, I likely would have offered to help her. Seeing as I would have been in the same boat, why bother. ;) ... then it hit me. She should be thankful that she can go out like that at all!! To be able to carry both of my boys (which are around the same size as her baby was) from a storefront WITH A PURCHASE would be a lot more of a task then that.. In addition to trying to fit out the door, I then have to deal with deciding which child to leave on the ground outside of the vehicle IN PUBLIC while I am putting the other in the back. I am very uncomfortable with this, as I do NOT want someone to walk off with my child. Other than going to family members' houses, I do not travel alone.

I guess the point of this post has been lost. :) Oh well, I warned in the first blog that I have a lot to say. ALWAYS. Please understand that I have smiled and laughed almost the whole time I was writing this. It is not a rant in my opinion, rather a humorous reflection of some of the annoying experiences I have had lately... which makes me realize even more that I am COMPLETELY BLESSED to have these TWO babies (and an awesome two year old). If I didn't have twins, I would likely never have realized how much of a blessing it was to be able to spend two years with just my daughter as a single child. If I hadn't have had twins, I wouldn't be experiencing the joys of watching the boys communicate just with looks and smiles (yes, already plotting to take over the world). If I hadn't have had twins, I wouldn't know what it is like to me a twin mom AND singleton mom (who likely asked or mentioned many annoying things to other twin moms). I know that without both of these boys, my life would be different.. Better or worse, who knows.. all I know is that I am blessed. :)