Tomorrow marks my twins’ first birthday, which means that it’s also been a year surviving having three kids three and under.
Tonight, my husband and I reminisced in our kitchen, drinking my favorite sparkling wine while I made banana cakes for our twin boys and funfetti cupcakes for this weekend’s birthday party guests.
We recalled how my water broke exactly five weeks before my due date and how we found ourselves woefully underprepared. The hospital bags were unpacked, the car seats weren’t buckled in, and no meals were prepped. Thankfully we did have a plan our then-two-year-old to be with my parents, which turned out to be the only peace of mind we actually needed.
We recalled that the drive to the hospital while in labor didn’t seem as bad the second time around, that the same nurse was there as when we had our first, and that when I was asked what music I wanted to be played during my c-section, the only thing I could think of was All I Want for Christmas Is You on repeat (which they did).
I remember the first few weeks the boys were home from the hospital being particularly rough both with and for my toddler. My husband consistently became the favorite parent, she was confused and aggressive with the babies, and the attention she always received as the only granddaughter and niece on both sides of the family temporarily dissipated in anticipation of the brand-new babies. Thankfully, out of the hardship, came some of my favorite moments with our daughter: taking her to a fun tearoom, going the trampoline park, and playing doctor with her stuffed animals over and over again.
The twins were our first babies we got to experience out of the COVID bubble, which meant road tripping with everyone to a cousin’s wedding, getting to be out at restaurants and events around town, and dressing in clothes other than jammies.
My husband and I like to say almost every night that we’ve never been as exhausted as we are today since we were yesterday. But we also agree that we’re incredibly fortunate, have the most perfect kids, and are lucky enough to have the most beautiful life as a family of five.
Takeaways:
Some of my takeaways over the last year of surviving three kids three and under to pass onto those of you who might go through something similar in the future:
Pack that bag! The last thing you want to be doing after your water breaks is running around trying to find the hairbrush that your toddler was using as a microphone during her Beyonce solo.
Set aside extra time with the older sibling(s)! It was so great getting time along with my daughter and getting to discover things that we like doing together.
Get out of the house! It’s so hard to bring the whole family out together, especially when there’s babies involved. The first time we left the house as a family of five, it took an hour and a half to leave. But we did it again, and again, and again. And now we really enjoy all being out together and having those memories.
