My, how much has changed since then.
Our family looked something like this 8 years ago...
And now we look something like this...
While doing lawn work earlier this week, I caught myself think back to how different life looks these days. I don't have a baby in the house. I'm not tied to the house with nap schedules and nursing schedules. I can say "get in the van!" and know that they all will and more than likely, they'll all have shoes on. We don't have potty accidents. I don't feel like I'm as anxious of a mommy as I used to be. I get to have interesting and entertaining conversations with my children.
And while a lot of these changes are good, there are some that aren't necessarily bad, but are challenging in their own way. My kids have opinions that they readily share with me. I'm responsible for the three older children's education. The hurts and sadness and fears that big kids face are real, not as imagined as the fears of my toddlers.
I'm so in love with this stage of motherhood!! I love seeing the people God is growing my toddlers and babies up to be. I love that even though they're becoming their own little people, they're still my kids. They still need me, want me around, sign "I love you!" from the outfield, get a little teary when I won't be around. I really do feel like I might be in one of the best stages of parenting.
And when the days are long because I don't have a napper and my kids don't go to bed till almost 9, I will remind myself of that. Because I know it's only by God's grace that we've made it this far!
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