Things I've Learned

We have returned to a family of three after 5+ days as a family of five thanks to a little extra help from some very loving, helpful and caring grandparents.  Over the course of the 5+ days, I learned (and confirmed) a lot of things.

I have learned that...
...taking care of 2 two-year olds and a five-year old is more work than I thought it would be (especially being 7+ months pregnant)
...having family members who are willing to help is invaluable
...being the oldest child is not always easy or fair
...you need your mom and dad whether you are 2 or 33
...having one-on-one time is priceless
...having a child who sleeps until 8 am (and often later) is rare (and wonderful!)
...getting out of the house at a decent time requires me to be up and showered before the kids wake up
...every child has a unique personality with special quirks and gifts
...nap time is important for everyone, especially mom
...brothers share a special bond from a very early age
...having fun doesn't always require spending money and going somewhere
...some days you just need to cry
...having three kids totally changes your defense plan, kick out man-to-man and bring in the zone
...doing craft-type projects with a five-year old is a lot more fun than I thought it would be, especially once I got over the "everything needs to be perfect" feeling
...using your imagination takes you to amazing places
...reading bedtime stories to three sweet little boys is wonderful
...watching my husband read to those same three boys is even sweeter
...having more than one of the same toy often prevents arguments but not always
...sometimes you just need to sit and snuggle with someone you love and who loves you
...boys, even little ones, eat and drink a lot
...changing diapers for two kids isn't as bad as I thought it would be
...as nice as it is to return to our family of three, I already miss those little guys
...I love my little nephews as if they were my own sons!