Free shipping on all orders over $75🎄

As families grow, lives change and so do the people in those families. Sometimes the changes are expected. Sometimes the changes are not at all what we had expected. Either way, we grow into our new roles and our new family structure and grow to love the way we are. Here are some of the “growing pains” my little family has experienced since having one child, then two.

 

Getting Ready Pre-Kids
I used to be able to get ready so quickly in the morning. I’d shower, blow-dry my hair, run a straightener through it, put my make-up on, and I’d do the whole bit – foundation, powder, 3 colors of eyeshadow for that flawless look, eye-liner, mascara and blush. The whole bit took me 30 minutes, 45 minutes tops. 

Getting Ready Post-Children
My mornings are much different, now. I shower the night before because, let’s face it, I just don’t have time to do that in the morning anymore and if I did, I’m not going to risk waking anybody up who still might be sleeping. The longer they sleep, the quicker I can get ready. I’m lucky to get my hair done, and a quick coat of mascara on in addition to my foundation and powder between getting my kids ready for the day and catering to their still-not-quite-awake-yet whines. (I really do love them like crazy, I promise!) I am less perfected for my day, now, but it takes me twice as long.

One Child
Of course our lives changed after we had our first, we had a child who’s needs needed to be put before our own, but with two of us and one of him, it really wasn’t that bad. Plus, we had a really laid back kid, which made the early years especially easy. We thought we had this parenting thing pretty well down. So, we thought we’d have another…

Two Children
…and then we had another. Our second wasn’t nearly as laid back as our first, and the laid back thing with the first started to catch up with us as we started potty training and introducing new things into his life (like a little brother). We thought that having two would be just a little more work, probably not double since we had gone through it once before. I now laugh at how naive we were. Our lives got a lot more complicated in the blink of an eye, but now that’s all we know. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Going Anywhere Before Kids
What’s the discussion? Let’s go. Grab a coat, put on some shoes, check your hair and makeup and let’s go! Stay out as late as we want. We only have each other and my job.

Going Anywhere After Kids
How important is whatever this is? Do we have time to get there? Will the kids behave? Did they get a nap? Is this going to make them miss their nap? Okay… we’re going. Get the diaper bag packed. Don’t worry about how you look, you don’t have time for that. Are the kids’ clothes some-what coordinated? Double check the diaper bag again. Do we have both the children? Get everyone’s socks, shoes and coats on. Get the children strapped into their car seats. We for sure have both of them, right? Did we remember the diaper bag? Do I have a purse somewhere? Okay. I think we’re good to go. Oh wait, the oldest has to potty and/or the youngest just spit up all over their outfit. Get shoes back on, back into the carseat. Okay. Now, we’re ready to go… When we get where we’re going we realized we did forget to put something in the diaper bag. (P.S. It does not take twice as long to get 2 kids ready vs. 1 child. It takes longer.)

The First Child
Like I said, our first was laid back, easy going, chill. He was pretty easy as a baby. He liked certain bottles, binkies, blankies… We knew what to expect with the second.

The Second Child
Everything we knew, everything we learned, went right out the window. We have two boys, full brothers, that are polar opposites. 

 

We laugh, we cry, but most of all, through all the changes, through all the learning, through all the memories, we love. A growing family is a lot of things, but above all, it’s beautiful. 

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Lacy Jo Donald

I, like many mothers, can't remember my life before I had children. I adore my children and love to spend time with them. I also love my job, God and my family!

Brothers Fight Hard and Love Harder

In: Kids, Motherhood
Two boys play outside, one lifting the other on his back

The last few years have been a whirlwind. My head has sometimes been left spinning; we have moved continents with three boys, three and under at the time. Set up home and remained sufficiently organized despite the complete chaos to ensure everyone was where they were meant to be on most days. Living in a primarily hockey town, the winters are filled with coffee catch-ups at the arena, so it was no surprise when my youngest declared his intention to play hockey like his school friends. Fully aware that he had never held a hockey stick or slapped a puck,...

Keep Reading

Stop Putting an Expiration Date on Making Memories

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother and son in small train ride

We get 12 times to play Santa (if we’re lucky). This phrase stopped my scroll on a Sunday evening. I had an idea of the direction this post was going but I continued on reading. 12 spring breaks 12 easter baskets 20 tooth fairy visits 13 first days of school 1 first date 1-2 proms 1-2 times of seeing them in their graduation cap and gown 18 summers under the same roof And so on and so on. It was essentially another post listing the number of all the monumental moments that we, Lord willing, will get to experience with our...

Keep Reading

When Your Kids Ask, “Where Is God?”

In: Faith, Kids
Child looking at sunset

How do I know if the voice I’m hearing is God’s voice? When I was in high school, I found myself asking this question. My dad was a pastor, and I was feeling called to ministry. I didn’t know if I was just hearing my dad’s wish or the call of God. I was worried I was confusing the two. It turns out, I did know. I knew because I was raised to recognize the presence of God all around me. Once I knew what God’s presence felt like, I also knew what God’s voice sounded like. There is a...

Keep Reading

Go Easy On the Parents Who Refuse to Skip Naps

In: Kids, Motherhood
Two little boys and their sister walking down a gravel road, color photo

Greetings from a mom who is done with napping children. It’s great to have the flexibility during the day for longer activities, meeting friends for playdates, or day trips to faraway places. It’s a new life . . . the life without naps. The freedom to make plans and keep them. But not that long ago, I was something very different than the flexible, plan-keeping, up-for-it woman I am today. I used to be the mom who refused to skip my child’s nap. Yep, that one. Here’s the thing, for a lot of parents, It’s so much more than just a...

Keep Reading

My Heart Isn’t Ready for You to Stop Believing in Santa

In: Kids, Motherhood
Little boy standing in front of lit christmas tree

“My friend doesn’t believe in Santa anymore, Mom,” my son said out of the blue the other day. We were driving in the car, and when I met his gaze in the rear-view mirror his eyes searched mine. Immediately, my heart sank.  This sweet boy, he’s our first. Thoughtful and smart and eight years old. A quick Google search tells me that’s the average age kids stop believing in Santa, but as his mom, I’m not ready for that—not even a little bit.  I can still hear his barely 2-year-old voice going on about reindeer as we lay together on...

Keep Reading

Motherhood is a Million Little Letting Gos and Fresh Hellos

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother sitting with child on her lap by the setting sun and water

I missed my grocery-shopping buddy the other day. Mondays are usually the days my littlest and I knock out our grocery list. In the past, we’ve dropped the kids at school and then headed to the store. I grab a latte, and she chooses a hot chocolate. But that day, they were all in school. That day, she sat in her kindergarten class, and I went to the grocery store. Alone. A new rhythm. A changed routine. A different season. I listened to a podcast on the drive. My podcast. Then I grabbed a drink. Just one. I got the...

Keep Reading

Dear Kids, This Is My Wish for You

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother hugs three kids

To my kids, The world you’re stepping into is unlike anything I experienced at your age. It’s fast-paced, interconnected, and sometimes overwhelming. But within this chaos lie countless opportunities for growth and joy. My wish for you is that you find the perfect balance between embracing the modern world and staying true to yourselves. Change is one thing you can always count on. Embrace it because it’s often the motivation for growth. Embracing change doesn’t mean letting go of who you are; rather, it’s about evolving into the best version of yourself. Remember, you don’t need to have all the...

Keep Reading

Dear Daughter, Stay Wild

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother and daughter on beach, color photo

I can’t really put my finger on it. Or manage to find all the words. But there’s just something about that girl. Maybe it’s the way her hair sits tangled. Curled up at the end. The way she moves. Dances. As if everyone was watching. Or no one at all. RELATED: There is Wild Beauty in This Spirited Child of Mine It could be the way she smiles. With her heart. The way only she can. The way she cares, loves. For everyone. For herself. You see, she is beautiful in the way only wild things are. The way they...

Keep Reading

You’re Becoming a Big Sister, But You’ll Always Be My Baby

In: Baby, Kids, Motherhood
Pregnant woman with young daughter, color photo

The anticipation of welcoming a new baby into the world is an exciting and joyous time for our family. From the moment we found out we were expecting to just about every day since, the love and excitement only continue to grow. However, amidst all the preparations for the new addition, I cannot help but have mixed emotions as I look back at old videos and pictures of my firstborn, my first princess, my Phoebe—for she will always hold a special place in my heart. As the anticipation grows, my heart swells with a mix of emotions knowing we are...

Keep Reading

Cowgirls Don’t Cry Unless the Horse They Loved Is Gone

In: Grief, Kids, Loss
Little girls Toy Story Jessie costume, color photo

The knee of my pants is wet and dirty. My yellow ring lays by the sink—it’s been my favorite ring for months. I bought it to match Bigfoot’s halter and the sunflowers by his pasture. Bigfoot is my daughter’s pony, and I loved him the most. The afternoon is so sunny. His hooves make the same calming rhythm I’ve come to love as I walk him out back. A strong wind blows through the barn. A stall labeled “Bigfoot,” adorned with a sunflower, hangs open and I feel sick. I kneel down by his side as he munches the grass....

Keep Reading