My Kind of Crazy - the next chapter

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." I love this quote from the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." I got the idea to start blogging again a couple of months ago as I realized my last blogging adventure was almost a year old! (i.e. http://clevelandmommydiary.blogspot.com/) So much has changed since that August 2016 post where I announced a kitchen reno, a new puppy and a new baby onboard! Well, little Amelia Rene is now 3.5 months old - she was born Jan. 24, 2017 (6 lbs. 6 oz. - exact same weight as Charlotte) and we could not be more thrilled with our growing family.
I'm thankful more than ever for my family and friends. Life with two kids is so rewarding, but also downright challenging! I'm lucky that my parents are only 7 minutes down the road, and my mom watches the girls twice a week for us. My dad loves to pop over and surprise Charlotte with a pizza or candy, and take her outside to play for a bit. My mom had to undergo two major surgeries since my move back to Pittsburgh, and I was so happy to not be 3 hours away and to be close to help out. Life really is fragile and we need to try to cherish every day -- even when your dog is chewing another pair of shoes, the baby spit up on you, and your 3-year-old is jumping on the couch! (Insert headache emoji here!) 

I'm going to set a once-a-month blogging goal about my adventures with Peanut (Charlotte) and Pickle (Amelia) and I'm sure Rosie, Sam, and the rest of my family will pop up in the mix as well. We will see how I fare! So for now, I'm going to write about things I know for certain. Things that definitely change with Baby #2:

1. Lack of sleep seems much harder this time around. Perhaps it's because your toddler still shares the bed here or there on a random night or so, or that the walk down the hall to a crying baby seems longer than ever, but the lack of sleep just is really hitting me harder this time around.

2. I'm much more willing to ask for help! The first time around I was a real martyr at times and would just struggle on my own. Now I'm quick to say, "Hey Bird, can you come help?" Or I will tell Sam, "I need to get out of the house for two hours." Sam and I communicate much more closely now too - we have to!

3. I relish the times I do get out of the house. Even if it's a quick nail appointment, chiropractor adjustment, or simply stopping for ice cream - 10 minutes of silence is rewarding!

4. The second baby really is easier. I don't know why exactly. Maybe it's because the fear of the unknown isn't there. You've done it before. You're not so nervous. You're willing to let the baby cry for 3 minutes. You know it's going to be OK!

5. You definitely do not need as much "baby gear." Those LUVS diaper commercials are so funny to me, because they are absolutely true! My new checklist to leave the house: pacifier, diapers, wipes, car keys, phone, and go!

6. Showering is even harder this time around! I recommend a hairstyle that can "air dry" to perfection, or learn how to braid. The days of blowing out your hair are few and far between. Invest in a good dry shampoo to extend your blowout - I like DryBar's new Detox Whipped Foam.

7. You cherish the little moments even more. It's your second rodeo, and you realize how quickly they grow up. I try to capture the funny moments in between the craziness, and sometimes I even try to capture the crazy on purpose. Someday I know I will look back and realize it was the best time of my life. 

Cheers to your kind of crazy and do what makes you happy!
 XOXO, A