Hello ladies!
Do any of you know the Roses?
If you do, I know I don’t have to tell you just how amazing they are! If you have not yet made their acquaintance, let me just tell you one little thing about them:
This beautiful couple opened their hearts and their arms, put all their trust in God, and welcomed not one, not two, not three, but four precious little souls into their home in the last year alone!
First they welcomed the sweetie pie twins, Leo and Tobias, into their hearts.
Shortly after that, the boys’ sister Adele toddled in bringing even more love into their home.
And just last week Katie gave birth to a tiny cutie pie named Edmund!
Now as a mother of four myself, I can tell you (though I know I don’t need to), that this is no small feat. It’s absolutely and without a doubt the very best job in the world but it’s a big job. BIG. And I had five years in which to go from zero to four! Katie and Devin have had a mere 12 months.
So, I (along with my friends Danielle Bean and Jennifer Fulwiler) would like to offer the Roses a little loving support along with our congratulations. But first, we need the help of all of you very wise women. Will you help us create a little online baby shower for Katie and Devin?
Let’s come together and give them the benefit of our cumulative experience!
What is the very best advice you have to share with the parents of a two-year-old, two one-year-olds and a newborn?
Can you recommend any sanity-saving products?
Do you know of any online articles, blog posts or books that are especially helpful?
Do you have a war story to share? (I know Katie especially would appreciate hearing stories of tough beginnings that had happy endings right about now. You know how that first postpartum month can be!)
Please leave your gift of support in the combox (I’ll do the same later today). I emailed Katie and Devin last night to tell them to be on the lookout for a small surprise this morning.
Thank you so much for your help, girls! You’re peaches, I tell ya! Peaches! Every last one of you!
(You can read Jen’s post here and Danielle’s post here.)
12 Comments
If little Edmund has reflux then I totally recommend a Mei Tai baby carrier! It really saved me with my reflux guy. I could keep him upright after each feed (or nurse him upright right in the carrier!)
There are a lot of different brands of mei tais…Babyhawk, Ellaroo, Kindercarry…
With a mei tai she can also use it on her back for one of the older kiddos (they are usually weight tested to 35lbs). Mei Tais also position the baby in a much better way for them and mom to make wearing for longer periods of time comfortable (compared to a Bjorn or Snuggli)
There are so many advantages of babywearing…I think a carrier would be a perfect gift!
Oh…for more info on babywearing in general check out http://www.thebabywearer.com TONS of great information!
Thank you, Carrie!
What a lovely idea this is! The Roses are very blessed to have you as a friend.
I think my biggest tip would simply be to let go of perfectionism. Kids being able to have a calm, sane mommy makes up for a lot of things done the "wrong" way!
The Roses will be in my prayers!
I already commented over at Jen's post, but that won't stop me commenting here too!
While I did not even come close to that many children in such a short span of time, I still did things rather quickly. 3 kids in 23 months with no multiples. And now we are expecting our sixth child! So, there must have been bad days and days I thought I was losing my mind, but I honestly don't remember them and it didn't scare me off having more children. You'll be given precisely how much grace you need to make it through each day. Your children won't remember the bad days (even if you do) and eventually you'll remember the good ones far more often. One day at a time is how you will do it, just like every other parent out there. You will vent to your friends and your family and then you will do the next thing that needs to be done.
A sense of humor and a healthy marriage are the most essential parenting tools, in my experience.
Thank You for being a witness!
I'm always bragging about my Ergo carrier, but it's been such a blessing in my life. It allows me to carry a baby or a toddler and have my hands free to tend to other little ones or my domestic duties. Yet, it's designed in a way that doesn't leave my back aching (too much).
Besides this, as I mentioned over at F&F LIVE!, I have no grand pearls of wisdom, but I will offer my prayers for this beautiful, courageous family.
Blessings!
Best/Favorite book is Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide by Penny Simkin.
I wish I could offer some child-raising wisdom…but don't actually have any yet =( I hope I'll be there one day!
OH, I 2nd the Ergo Carrier. Well worth the money, especially with 4 children! They might have to get two, one for mommy, one for daddy.
Oh and silly, mommy-brain-me should have thanked Betty for this great idea to support this beautiful family! Blessings!
Hiya Katie and Devin!
Here is my best tip:
Noise control!!! No…you can't control the noise your kiddos *make* (ha!) but you can control, at least to some degree, the noise your resting kiddos *hear*! Nothing reduces me to a blubbering mess more quickly than just having put the baby (or big kids, for that matter) down for a nap only to have one (or more) of them woken up prematurely by an exuberant sibling. You can use fans, air purifiers, those cool nature sound boxes…the possibilities are endless! Just go ahead and invest in something to like that for each and every bedroom! I promise it will be worth your while!
Love you guys!
And thank you to everyone for participating!
:):)
Except whatever help is offered even if you feel uncomfortable doing so. God gives you just exactly what you need at all times. You just have to make sure you're willing to accept his gifts. God love you all!
Thank you Betty and friends! I have not heard or thought of of many of these ideas y'all mentioned, so this is very useful.