Another Realm of Living

Even before I was pregnant, people were telling me a number of things:  how fun kids are, how much I will love them, how much work they are, how expensive they are, etc.  And if you're like me, you just nodded and smiled and figured it would be kind of like loving a dog, who I couldn't possibly love any more than I already did.

And then I had my first baby, a little girl named Eva.

Suddenly, all the love I ever felt during my entire life wasn't enough to compare to the amount of love I felt for this tiny little person.  I didn't know it was going to be possible to love something as much as I loved my dog, let alone be in an entirely different realm of love.  It sounds ridiculous to say that now, but its true.  I don't think I love my dog any less, this is just a whole different and more complete kind of love.  Maybe its the kind of love my dog feels for me?  Who knows.  Its a really good thing though.  That I know, for sure.

And then I had my second baby, a little boy named Jacob.

I remember being so excited because I knew how much I was going to love him.  I couldn't wait to hold that precious babe in my arms.  Life didn't disappoint.  Amazing.  So. Much. Love.

Having said all that, when your friends with kids tell you it is hard, they aren't kidding.  In fact, they might be understating it just a little bit.  Its really hard.  Its not so much what the kids are doing (at least when they are little), its the stress that raising kids puts on a household, a family and the relationships within it.  I have found that making time for myself, my passions and my hobbies is essential to being a happy mom and wife.  I'm not big into scheduling everything, but if I don't schedule time for myself, it doesn't happen.

part-ner

1. a person who takes part in an undertaking with another or others, esp. in a business or company with shared risks and profits.

I am thankful every day for the partner I have in David.  I can't imagine being on this journey by myself.  And while there is a lot more stress on our relationship these days, and it is a challenge to maintain our own identities, bottom line is, we are there for each other. Always.