Man, one should really step back and read a post before you just throw it our there. After speaking with Rian and really re-reading my post I have made some serious edits. I had intended my post to come across in a certain way and after re-reading it I definitely struck-out. Sorry if I offended anyone on the first go around.
I really can't fathom that it has been a year since the Critters were born, man time moves fast. I figured that I would do another list of more things that I have learned about raising children.
1. There is no such thing as a moment of silence. It has ceased to exist. This is a truly amazing thing, I can be sitting in complete silence and I will hear a baby crying or the music of their mobiles. That is one tune that I would kill to get out of my head. While I love to hear the Critters when I am around them, it is funny to me that I can still hear their noises and mobile songs when I am away.
2. Milestones are a great way to check the progress of your children's mental and physical growth, but they are in no way set in stone. I have completely chucked the milestones out the window. If there is truly one thing that I have learned about the Critters is that they will do what they want when they want, and that includes talking, crawling and walking. I am perfectly happy with how the Critters are progressing. We knew that Reese being a so-called "wimpy white boy" that he would need a little more of a push but he is doing great. CarCar and Hadster can barely sit still and I think that CarCar will be walking unassisted within the next two months.
3. I have learned that there is no shame (it is also a pretty funny sight) in using a shopping cart as a stroller in a pinch. Nothing says klassy like toting a mess of Critters around in one. Rian and I had the pleasure of doing this at a shopping center in Killearn the other day. We got a few queer looks but we just kept on chuggin' through to the toy store. It was quite handy in a way and it didn't have a rental charge. Look for us at the mall with the Sears shopping cart next.
4. Babies are resilient little things. A fall that you are convinced needs immediate medical attention they just shrug off after a quick cry. I can't tell you how many times that they have fallen over and I am convinced that we need to jump in the car and head to TMH. The worst is the silent cry, you all know what I am talking about, you hear a few noises and then it goes silent. Their mouths are open and tears are streaming down, and then it happens, after a quick breath the scream comes out, boy does it come out. I have been working on not freaking out when they hit their head or fall over, but it is still a little scary. Note: The falls that I am talking about are minor, please don't make a report to Child Services.
5. Babies can reach octaves that defi conventional wisdom. CarCar and Hadley can belt out a register like no other, I really think that I have a baby Maria Carey and Whitney Houston, minus the whole crack thing. It is truly amazing when they get going or you don't feed them quick enough how loud and how high the pitch gets. Luckily no broken glass yet, but I now understand why Abbey runs for the door each time they start up. I am in no way saying it is a bad thing, I know that they are just expressing themselves, but man can they hit a note.
6. I can't believe that cleaning up poop and other bodily excretions has become common place to me. I don't even blink anymore, even when said poop gets on me, which has happened quite a few times. Its amazing that a person can get numb to being thrown-up on, pooped on, and peed on by their children.
7. There are a lot of freaking baby products out there. Any situation that you can possibly conjure up there is a product that will help you solve that issue. Here is a short list of things that we have for meal time: baby food, baby yogurt, formula, bottles, yogurt puffs, regular fruit puffs, high chairs, kiddy place mats, formula bibs, baby food bibs (plastic), wipes, sippy cups, juice and water for said sippy cups, reflux medicine, and gas drops. That's just for meal time. It is out of control how much stuff we are convinced we need to raise children.
8. Did you know that laundry can be a full time job? Oh yea, we virtually run a laundry mat at our house. Luckily we decided to save the earth and go green with an energy star washer and dryer. What I don't think that we realized is that we cancel the energy efficiency out with doing as many loads as we do. Those babies are cranking all weekend. Oh well I guess we are doing our part, right? If not I will just call ole Al Gore and by a few carbon credits.
9. Babies will eat anything, and I mean anything. Carson so far has eaten a leaf, some sort of string (we found that out at the other end), pieces of a dog cookie (don't get all up in arms, it was organic), and dust. Although the leaf resulting in a vomiting spell and a call to poison control, the Critters are pretty resilient creatures. It is funny (as long as nothing seriously bad happens) that a babies first instinct when they come across something new is to put in in their mouth.
10. Here is the big one - PATIENCE. I have said it before and I will say it again and again and again, kids teach you the patience of a saint. I am one that gets frustrated at the drop of a hat, but the Critters have begun to break me of that. Who can get frustrated a them when they flash you one of their little smiles. That is really all that needs to be said about that.
It has truly been a wonderful first year, don't get me wrong, I have wanted to pull my hair out many times but we are amazingly blessed to have our three little Critters.
In the words of the great Joe Dirt, we will just "Keep on Keepin' on."
Chris
p.s. the pictures are from a book by David and Kelly Sopp.
GREAT post! Had me laughing the whole way and agreeing with everything at the same time. We are a few months behind you guys, but I can relate to EVERYTHING you said!
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