EVER ENOUGH LOVE?

There are many questions that go through the mind of parents as they find out there is another baby on the way, some of them are:

Will we have enough love? Can we give each child the attention they need? Will we have enough hugs/kisses? Can we meet their needs? 

I will answer these after giving my experiences with having a large family.

 

 

 

My family

  I had these same questions when we decided to have our family grow, it didn't happen when Marcus was born as Matthew had 15 years to himself with us.  However, I still remember when I found out number three was on the way, we were very happy. When it came time to go to the hospital, I still remember as clear as day, Aunt Jan came as soon as I called to take care of our then 21 month old Marcus.  Brian got the car pulled into the parking lot, I gave Marcus a hug and kiss as well as Aunt Jan.  I got into the car, Brian shut the door, and I got teary...I said, how can we love another? After the delivery of Luke and recovering in the hospital for a few hours, Brian brought Marcus to visit his baby brother. With him, he brought his little New Testament Bible and stood up on a chair to look at the baby, he had the biggest smile on his face and proudly announced the Bible was for "Wookie" (as he was affectionately called at the time pronounced with the you sound).  I knew then, it would be okay.

Fast forward to finding out we were expecting another little person....I again questioned, how will we love this child? How will we do it? They will be closer in age than Marcus and Luke.  We go to deliver and again, there were no issues when the boys came to meet John. 

John with daddy and his brothers.

John meets Thomas

Thomas

Genevieve Mommy and Becky

Marcus Luke and Genevieve

Timothy and mommy

We were then blessed with Thomas, and later Genevieve, sadly, I miscarried (very early in pregnancy) a child in November of 2012. I remember the sadness and anger I felt. But had to focus on the blessings I was given, there were some tough days. I want to say it gets easier, but you NEVER, EVER forget.  We were going to announce the child at Christmas as part of the children's present. That didn't happen, we had to share sorrow earlier....HOWEVER...A few months later, we were blessed with little Timothy...

a true blessing and joy to anyone who knows him.

NOW on to the answers to the questions... can you love them all? ABSOLUTELY. will they have everything, NO, but they don't need everything. will you have enough hug/kisses? More than enough to go around and more to spare, and the return is even better!! Can we meet their needs? You certainly can!

fun with daddy

A dear friend told me of this example she heard on a talk show, and it was PERFECT! 

When you have a dark room and light a candle, the room gets a little brighter...when you light a second, there is more brightness...as you light more candles, the room becomes increasingly brighter...this happens to your heart as well...the more children you have, the more hugs you have, the more kisses you have, the more LOVE you have...it is amazing...trust me, 

All I can say, is each child God has blessed us with are amazing, unique individuals, growing up in a family that is full of love! Just enjoy each one for who they are and let your LOVE SHINE.

Remember the song, "This Little Light of Mine"?

Well, that is what they are...so, let the light shine and have fun!

Until next time,
God Bless!

when it seems there isn't enough of you....

Princess and mommy

What do you do when you have two little ones that want your undivided attention, they fight each other to sit on your lap or to be held, they cry and don't want to share mommy with the sibling who is just as much in need of mommy?

Well, today, Princess and Tootlehead both wanted my attention, as I was trying to make some important calls in regard to Tootlehead's head pains...

mommy and pooh bear!

I sat on the sofa, and said to them both, look, I need to get these calls done, you need to sit quietly or play with your brothers.  Mommy NEEDS to get this done, doctor's offices do close or switch to their answering service after a certain time.  Naturally they didn't understand.  

I sat with them a bit longer one on each leg, then one started kicking the other, in want of more mommy lap.

Told them, if you can't share, no one gets on mommy's lap, you sit on either side.  That didn't satisfy them either. 

daddy and monkey man

I got up to finish my calls, and they all decided that life is good, enough mommy time has been had, so now I get to do my blog, well, almost with a free lap..a princess took residence again.  If I were on the sofa, she'd fall asleep, but that is life. I need to get a few things done, and if she wants to snuggle, she will take what she can get!  Tootle decided to draw, right next to mommy. 

I love how there are times it seems like there isn't enough of me to go around, but we always find a way to make it work out to everyone's advantage.  

They all get snuggle time during the day, it only gets bad if two are tired at the same time, it doesn't happen often, but it does happen....it happened a lot when we were battling all the bugs and viruses we had here that began around Christmas and lasted until the middle to end of January.  

 sunggles at the beach with daddy..a precious moment in time.

I really don't mind when they all want me at the same time, because I know that one day, they will be grown up and not want to snuggle with their mommy.  That day will be here faster than you can blink your eye, and that is something that will be bittersweet...I don't want my babies to grow up, but it is inevitable.  They are enjoyable to watch now, and watching them grow and learn is also enjoyable.

 

I will always remember, that they did once fit in my lap, even Mr. Fixit! Yes, the years do fly by in the blink of an eye...so enjoy!

 

Monkey Man, Pooh Bear, and our cousin,

sharing a lap!