"It's only going to get harder..." Or is it?

When the girls first came home a strange thing happened, a surprisingly large number of people told me that things would only get worse. This never failed to shock me. I spent the first couple of months getting 4 hours or less sleep a day and people seemed positive things would only get harder. I never understood this. I usually would make some comment about how while I knew every stage of childhood has its own unique challenges, I felt quite certain that it would all be easier once we started getting sleep. At this point there were a number of people who suggested that even this wouldn't get any better. I'm not sure why.

I am writing this e-mail to say....in our case...you were wrong.

Please don't take this as me being snarky. I don't mean it that way! Quite the contrary, I'm really excited. Things are SOOOOOOO much easier then they were a year ago. And they are so incredibly fun. Oh sure, the girls can be a bit of a pill at times. I mean....look at this picture of Parker:

I mean, you can just tell she's a sneaky monkey from that look. (and she is!) And don't let the little angelic smiles from Emma Jane fool you. In some ways she is even sneakier. Parker looks at you and gives you that smile before she does something she's not supposed to, Emma Jane? She looks for you before doing it. To make sure she's in the clear (stinker). But...well...that's kids. That's why we're parents. We get to teach them through all that, and will be doing it for quite a long time.

But come on, look at that picture...don't you want to just pick them up and love them to pieces?

How can you not love:

this?!?

Sure it's work, but it is easier then when they first got home, and they are just so much fun to be around. Mary Jane worked yesterday and I got to spend the whole day with them. It was great. We do all sorts of stuff. We had a little pretend tea party (they have a little table and chairs and they sit in the chairs and bang the table...this is pretty much what a tea party is right now...and frankly that is my kind of tea party). Parker climbs up me and grabs my eyes and says "eyes." Emma Jane says "hi" to me every time I leave the room, and then walks after me. They are both doing a little walking right now, and they are so proud of themselves. When they do good at it they start patting their tummies and get all excited...which usually makes them trip and fall, to which we all clap.

We stacked boxes, we played chase, we ate solid food, took naps, and even watched a baby einstein video (that stuff is like crack for babies...wow...Parker could watch it all day). Life is good and we are thankful for it. The girls are the second best thing that has ever happened to me...the first, quite obviously, is Mary Jane. God has been merciful, and we give Him thanks.

This has turned into a long stream of conscious ramble. Sorry. I should wrap up and get back to homework. So let me summarize:

- God is good

- Life is easier then it was a year ago

- I love my babies

- I love my wife

- I love my God

amen

okay....that's it....oh...one more thing

...oh how far we've come