Wednesday, January 26, 2011

How do I do it?

Ok people. I am committed. I swear. A blog post every weekday. For 10 days. I have all the topics in my head (which means I will probably forget at least half of them). I am counting on you to make me accountable.

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People keep asking me, "How do you do it?"

Having a baby is challenging, so I imagine that to most people having TWO babies seems like it would be difficult with all those diaper changes and feedings. There is twice the crying, double the laundry and half the rest.

So when people ask me how I can do it, the answer is always "I don't know." I just get up every day and I do. When those adorable eyes look up at me, when the small hands grasp for me, when the tears are comforted by my arms, I don't have to think about how to do it. I change one diaper and then I change another one. I feed one girl, and then I feed the other one. I walk with baby until she is calm, and then I repeat it. I hardly even notice getting up to feed them in the night anymore-- it is just part of my life and I do it.

My girls are 12 weeks old and for me the hardest part doesn't have anything to do with the work involved. The most difficult part is that I don't have enough arms to care for both of my daughters at once. It is almost painful to watch one of my girls cry while I am serving the other. Some moments it breaks my heart when I can only help one at a time.

I am truly blessed to have such a hands-on husband and wonderful support from family and friends--especially my mom. Every moment that Brandon is home he has at least one kid in his arms. He changes diapers, helps bathe and plays with the girls. He says goodbye every morning with a kiss and bursts in the door each night ready to help with our daughters. Brandon is patient when they are fussy and patient with me when in addition to child care, I pile on the household chores.

While Brandon keeps me sane in the evenings, it is my mom who keeps me sane by day. She visits nearly every weekday and we take the girls walking. My mom will take whichever girl is fussy or needs a diaper change, freeing me to relax, even if only for 10 minutes. The other day she left me late in the afternoon with two fussy babies and declared "I don't know how you do this all day!" What she and so many others don't understand is that I can do it because of all the support I have-- people like Brandon, her and my dad, our families and our wonderful friends. I can do it because people visit me and my friends still call/text/email me. I can do it because people posts blogs and facebook statuses all day long, giving me something to read while I am pacing back and forth.

But mostly I can do it because when you love anything like I love these two little girls, it is easy to be a mom to twins. At the end of the day I remember only the love.

2 comments:

  1. I love this!!

    Since I want to read more, I'm giving you a suggestion: begin a draft of each topic you want to write about (even if it's just one word), save them in Blogger, and come back when you can.

    xo

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  2. That is truly beautiful! I love your fortitude, your attitude and your overall heart. Congrats Erin! You are an inspiration

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