Tuesday, March 15, 2011

6 Weeks?!?!

I have just under 6 weeks left until baby Addalyn joins our family and I have to be honest, I am not ready! I have had some serious anxiety about #4 joining our family. I know that she is supposed to be here with us, and I know that she has waited patiently for her chance to finally join us. I am just not sure how I am going to adjust to 4 kids.
I admit I feel a little guilty about adding a new one to our family. I struggle with patience already for the three I already have, and I know that my patience will be stretched even thinner with a newborn. Another part of my guilt comes from my life beening so busy with school and everything else. I feel I don't give my kids everything they need right now attention wise, and it seems a little neglectful to add another that will take up more of my time and attention that the other three need. I don't want my other 3 to feel pushed aside just because Addalyn will be here.
Part of this realization on my part has helped to contribute to the decision that I need to put schooling on hold for a bit to give my kids more of my time and hopefully help me not to be so stressed and on edge.
I think that the child I worry about most with another baby in the house is deKyn. He starts Kindergarten next year and as many of you know has his own struggles that we are trying to help him through. deKyn needs more of his own "type" of attention and I worry that I won't have the time to give it to him. I don't want deKyn to fail at anything and more than anything I want to see him succeed academically and socially. I just don't want Addalyn to be one more reason that I can't give him that extra attention and help that he needs.
Davyn is such a mamma's boy that I wonder how that adjustment will go for him when he's not the baby of the family anymore. He has always been really good with other babies that he sees, but he gets jealous if I show anyone extra attention and not him. Especially if that someone else is Taegyn. He gets down-right mean when I am giving Taegyn loves or cuddling her.
Taegyn on the other hand is one that I am not too worried about when it comes to adjusting to a new little one in our household. It's true she is more of a Daddy's girl so maybe it might be hard if she doesn't get as much daddy time, but Cory is pretty good about giving her lots of attention.
It all just comes back down to me. I am not quite prepared and ready for another one. I stress all the time about how much I yell at my kids and ask myself everyday why I can't just let the little stuff go and "enjoy" them more. That is the biggest thing for me. I Love my kids more than anything but forget to just enjoy them and the stages of life that they are in right now. I don't want to look back and have a bunch of regrets that I didn't enjoy them enough because I let the little things of everyday life keep me from doing so.
So I guess that's sort of where I am at, denial. Cory keeps telling me we need to bring up all the baby stuff and get it put together and cleaned and rearrange things so that it is all set up for when she comes. I keep telling him we will do it later and that we still have plenty of time before she comes. Truth is, it is going by way too fast and she is going to be here before we know it. I need to start preparing myself as best as I can now so it's not such a shock to our home front when she does arrive. I need to snap out of my denial and make a plan as to how to prepare myself better for whats ahead.

4 comments:

Bobby Sue said...

You are so amazing. Not everyone can admit their true feelings and you have put it here nicely. You will be wonderful. Just know that you are not alone in your feelings. I think every mother feels lacking and needs to be told that they are going great. Abby, you are doing great! You are a wonderful mother and your kids will know that and love you for it.

Shad and Brittany said...

I feel ALL of those same feelings too. Maybe that is our curse as mother's! We need to do another playdate before Addalynn arrives! Call me!

Annie said...

I know how you feel - sometimes it's like taking time to appreciate the moment is one more thing on my list that I don't have time for and that I feel guilty for not doing. So I take lots of pictures for appreciating later. :) You ARE an amazing mother Abby, I really admire you. Also remember that your kids will learn a lot from each other and take some of the burden from you in that way. Also, they will all have their relationships to rely on in later years. That will make up for the sacrifices that they made in their younger years to have a sibling. At least that's how it worked for me growing up. :)

Daisy said...

Wow- thanks so much for sharing! I seriously was wondering how 4 would be! I am having trouble adjusting to just 2 and I feel the same way! It is SO hard to let the little things go and just be in the moment.
We really should get together and chat! If you have any time before she comes that is! I don't have a car during the day but I could meet you at the Deli or Pizza place nearby for lunch if you want- or anytime anywhere on a Saturday!
I LOVE her name by the way- very cute!