We are trying to get used to this whole parenting thing. It is still pretty surreal. Partially due to jet lag, but also due to the fact that we are with the kids and hosting my family. My mother came down to help and brought along three other family members in tow. Which means there are now EIGHT people living in my house. Ok, two of them are very small and mostly eat formula, but they are people. It is pretty crowded and hectic in the house right now so we are still not really getting used to a "normal" life quite yet.

Jet-lag is much better, but we are still not 100%. For example, I'll be feeling fine for a good part of the day and all of a sudden I'll start to feel dizzy and want to lay down and sleep. Reading and writing is very, VERY difficult since my brain is still fuzzy from lack of sleep. But I feel the need to do both since I've been feeling a little disconnected from the world. I didn't want motherhood to make me and my family a bunch of hermits, so we are trying to get back to a routine. Yesterday, I insisted that we all go out. Mr. T and I packed up the kids and my family and actually went to run some errands. It was the best thing we could do. Ok, there was a slight temper tantrum in Chick-Fil-A by Pumpkin and we had to contend with a meltdown from Peanut by the time we got home. Besides those minor incidents, the kids loved being out and had fun. Plus, they actually SLEPT! For most of the night they slept. Can I get an "AMEN"?!?!

So "Mommy's Bag of Sleep Tricks" now includes:

-a shawl or sling for holding baby close
-pacifers
-changing sleep positions
-lots and lots of activity in the daytime (including trips out and about)
-a full belly before bedtime
-a special evening beverage (wait, no...that one is for Mommy)

Today we have a visit from our clergy. They said a blessing over the children and we talked about our trip. They confirmed what I was secretly hoping...that our family is doing pretty darn well with the transition. The kids were giggling and babbling away. Tadd and I were showered and wearing clean clothes. Heck, I even put on some makeup! That's progress if you ask me.

I am feeling anxious to get to a normal day, though. I am ready to see what life will be like over the next few weeks while it is just me and the kids. Plus, I have to admit, I really miss seeing people. Don't get me wrong. I love, love, LOVE my babies, but I am an extrovert, so being away from my social circles is rough for me. Besides, I want my friends to experience this cuteness first-hand:

        

Couldn't you just eat them up???