My Life is Complete...

...I have a Bumbo.
I wanted one last baby but never got one. Of course, a baby can survive without one--my other three did. But they looked so cool and they were on sale at Target, so I got one. Turns out, they are really cool. Connor is at the perfect age to start using it and he loves it. He just sits there for like half an hour in it. Good job to whoever came up with it. So unless they invent some amazing new must-have baby item, I cannot think of anything else I would ever possibly need or want having to do with babies that I don't already have.

Thinking about the rest of my life, I would say that it is pretty complete. I have two smart and beautiful girls, two brilliant and adorable boys, two low-maintenance cats, two hard earned bachelors degrees, two mostly functional cars, an incredible and loving husband, a single family home and now, a Bumbo. What more could I possibly want--except maybe a new kitchen, or to fit into my regular clothes again?

Honestly, I feel very happy in my life right now and so grateful for all that I have been blessed with. I love being home with my kids and am so glad that Jared works hard so that I can. Also, things are good because I am no longer going to school! All I do now is take Erin to school and take care of kids at home. I don't have to worry about making babysitting arrangements 2 or 3 times a week (ugh) or pulling all-nighters (double ugh) anymore. This makes having a fourth child easier and quite enjoyable.

I would also say that the fourth is better for me in other ways. For instance, going to the grocery store is actually easier now. Sure, I look ridiculous holding one kid while three others trail behind me holding hands and yes, I get lots of comments like "Are they all yours?" or "Wow, you've got your hands full". I do have to use the extra long mom cart with the double bench seat attachment while in the store. But, here's the good part, when the baby starts crying, I just hand him to Erin on the bench and finish my shopping. Problem solved. It's amazing how something as simple as one child being old enough to hold another without dropping them on their head makes such a difference.

Also, I remember when Marissa was a newborn. I not only had to buckle her in, but Erin didn't know how to do hers up and Alex all out refused to get in his seat. If you want to know how to break a sweat, try wrangling an almost 2 year old into his seat in the middle of summer. Daily frustration. But now, things are much easier. Erin and Alex both buckle their own seat belts and Marissa gets right in and even knows how to do up the top. Just pop the baby in and we're off. See, life is easier.

Maybe it's just that I'm getting more used to the whole mothering thing. I've been diapering, bathing, reading to and shooing around kids for 6 years now. It's my life. Sometimes Jared and I look at each other and wonder how this all happened. I mean, we are doing things with our family that we did with our families years ago, only now we are the parents. Are we the only ones who think this is weird?

Do you ever think back on your life at different periods and think, "those were the days"? Like high school, or all the fun crazy times back in college with roommates. Those were definitely the days. Or when we were newlyweds and were free to come and go as we pleased. Looking back on my mission, now that was a great time (hard, but great). As fabulous as those times were, I can't think of anything else I would want to be doing right now than this. I'm pretty sure I will look back on the point in my life when my kids were all little and say the same thing, "those were the days."

No, my life isn't perfect, but it's pretty dang good. And hey, I've got a Bumbo.