A new normal

People have asked "So have things settled down?"  And honestly, yes.  The snow has melted and summer has arrived.  We are generally sleeping at night.   The hormones have settled and I've [finally!] lost the baby weight.  Matt's job has been better...some weeks at least.  But I think the biggest success is I have accepted our new normal.

It takes us at least 8 minutes to get everyone into the car.  Honestly, it takes us longer to get from inside the house to inside the car than it takes me to drive to our destination.  But I now budget for that.  Do not read this as "I am ok with it" or "I like it".  

Meals are simple.  I feel no guilt about our basic rice and beans or pasta and veggie dinners.  The kids love the food.  And I like that the period of "Everyone scream at Mama while she cooks" is short.  

School is out and baby Matthew has finally been allowed to enjoy morning naps at home.  This give me about 90 minutes each morning to focus on the girls.  We've started "preschooling" during that time.  After an intentional hour of instruction, play, music, art, whatever, it seems ok to do absolutely nothing the rest of the day.  We haven't yet done Absolutely Nothing, but it's freeing to know we could.  

And with morning nap comes afternoon nap.  Everyone naps or rests for a couple hours in the afternoon.  At the same time!  Do you know how much I can do in that time??  To be completely honest, I eat lunch, then make a list of things to do...then sit on the couch and stare at the ceiling for 45 minutes.  But do you know what I can accomplish in that last 15?  Lots.  

So yes, things have settled.  We are enjoying all of our babies.  We are enjoying summer.  And we are feeling blessed.  Time to talk Baby 4?