Chapter 2: And Then There Were Four. 

On April 15th, this little booger made his debut. It was a Friday, and I was apparently in labor all day long, I just didn't quite realize it. I was induced with Charlie and had an epidural, so I didn't really know how to identify whether what I was having were Braxton-hicks contraction or the real thing. By the time I got halfway home, I was genuinely concerned that I would have to pull over and call someone. I wasn't sure I wanted to go to the hospital yet, because I have known several people who got all the way there only to be told, "Yeah, you're not ready yet," and sent home. When I finally made it home, though, we took Charlie to my mom's and headed straight for the hospital, where I was five centimeters dilated. Which, the nurses happily informed me, "buys you a stay." After a difficult conversation with the doctor and amongst ourselves, we decided it was best to go the C-section route again. Not the ideal plan I had hoped for, but I still do believe it was the best choice. At 6:24 pm, he was here. He has spent the last month and a half doing a lot of pooping, eating, crying, and burrowing his little way down into all of our hearts. 
                                    

I'm not stupid enough to have expected anything different, but going from one child to two has been a challenge unlike anything I could have ever imagined. Juggling the needs of a toddler and newborn at the same time, the lack of sleep, fighting off constant feelings of guilt that Charlie feels neglected, it's all sometimes more than I think I can handle. But we are slowly getting there, and it's also been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. 
Having a newborn is difficult, to say the least, but there are also so many little things about it that are incredible. Watching them grow and change literally every day, baby snuggles, newborn smell, it's all great. It has also been a beautiful new experience for our relationship with Charlie. 

Charlie loves her baby brother. She doesn't always pay attention to the fact that he exists at all, but when she does, you can see the love she has for him. Big ol' grins, wanting to touch him, squealing, "He's sooo LITTLE!", and countless attempts at saying his name. She's learning how to be a big sister. Contrasting her with a newborn has also made her seem so much more grown up. I'm noticing more than ever how much progress she is making with her speech, communication, etc. She's growing into a whole little person, and it gets me right in the heart. 

One thing I have to express extreme gratitude for is my husband. He is such an incredible dad to these two little gremlins, and so supportive of his neurotic, exhausted wife. After coming home from a long day at work, he never hesitates to dive right in and greet the kids and start wrangling one or both of them. We all eat dinner together, we tag-team bath time, we all unwind for bedtime and put Charlie to bed together. I love and appreciate this guy so much, and hope he knows that. My family has also been a complete godsend. Having so much family close by who are willing to help out at a moment's notice when I have to go somewhere or just feel like I'm about to snap is something I could never thank them for enough. 

This new chapter is challenging, and has new challenges at every turn. However, there have been more and more beautiful and fulfilling moments every day, and I wouldn't trade those for the world. I can't wait to see where else this chapter takes us.