I forgot how much work a newborn is. Oh well, she's cute enough to make up for it. I am grateful when she sleeps 3-4 hour stretches at night instead of 1-2. I'm getting better at doing housework one-handed while holding the baby. I lost my hour for finishing the dishes after the kids go to bed, because now I spend it feeding and rocking her to sleep, and then sleeping myself.
I like four kids. Nice even numbers. When I'm tired of holding baby, I can snuggle my toddler, who is quite hungry for mommy attention. The two of us are working out a new dynamic: I can't carry him around but I can hold his hand; he won't let me take his picture with a red scarf, but he will sit next to baby. When they can all walk we will have fun going for family hikes, and in four more years the oldest can babysit for me.
The two oldest are playing together so well this month that I forgive them for not picking up anything. Christmas decorations double as sets for new games. They play with the stockings, mice, ornaments, tree, etc. Another new game is "bad baby". One child is the parent and the other is a toddler that goes around making messes and getting in trouble.
I have yet to figure out how I'll ever get groceries without help. Probably no homemade Christmas gifts this year. But it will be fun watching all these little people play on Christmas morning!
