I took the boys (yes, all three of them) to the zoo by myself on Friday. Milo didn’t have school, so we needed desperately to get out of the house and have a small adventure before the small adventure found us… and destroyed our living room. It was not the first time I had taken all three of them, but it was the first time I felt a bit… overwhelmed.
As with most things these days, we alternated between times of togetherness and times of complete chaos and times of pure hilarity.
Like, for instance, the time Milo climbed inside the above giant jack-o-lantern before I had the slightest idea what was happening.
… and the look on this little girl’s face.
Don’t get me wrong. I am fully aware of the trouble we are in. We have three boys very close in age and the youngest isn’t even able to get into any trouble yet. I am thankful that I will be easing into that bit sometime around a year from now. When Emil starts walking. Whoa, Nelly. I need to sit down.
What is it with this kid and climbing into small spaces???
But no one really warned us about the difference between having two and three kids. Everyone had different opinions. Some people said, “Oh, going from two to three is soooooo much easier than one to two.” Disagree. Others chimed, “Oh, you won’t even notice, the other two will be so busy playing with each other!” If by playing you mean breaking something.
But my Aunt Barbara (a very wise woman indeed AND a mother of four) once warned me about going from two to three kids. “They will now outnumber you.” Wise words. They do, indeed, outnumber us. Milo’s energy alone can require the attention of two highly skilled adults (preferably ones with some training in wrangling circus animals, preferably with superhuman speed, agility, and stamina. You know, super-humans). So, wow. It is going to be a WILD RIDE! WooooooooooooOOOOOOOOO!
But back to the zoo.
We go there at least once a week. It is a fantastic place with so much to do. But this day we did something Milo has been BEGGING to do for the past four months.
And of course, has to do with transformations. This kid LOVES to dress up. Be something or someone else for a bit. Pretending is his top game.
Lizard face, please.
Why is Oliver’s face turning red, you ask? Oh, may it have something to do with the death grip on his neck? Nah.
Get me out of here, you crazies.
Happy Sunday. Happy October.
haircut for you? i like!
did you plan your ensembles? you are quite the stripey-clad family for this outing. i also like! were there also BabyStripes in that BabyBjorn? if i have one weakness, it’s boys in stripes.
impressive trip, mama! i wouldn’t have the nerve.
Oh my gosh, Whitney! Yes, we were ALL wearing stripes- even the baby. And I swear I did not plan it that way. It is not the first time that has happened (i.e. we are all wearing the color gray, etc.) and surely not the last. I, too, am a sucker for a boy in stripes!
I was also going to ask if Emil was donned in stripes…love it. The whole gang!
Digging the haircut. Lookin’ good lady.
I was going to mention the stripes and haircut too…cuties. Lauren, you have the heart of a lion to brave outings with those wild things alone. There are days when going out with two is a challenge. Rock on.
You = super mom. I can’t believe you did this! I agree with the being outnumbered insight.. haha Your haircut is so cute!
p.s. let me know if you try chia seeds! I am liking them more than flax.
Piling on about the haircut: Love it. That’s the cut you had when we met at “old park” back when Milo was little enough to fit into those tiny spaces he likes so much. You look exactly the same. Really: You may feel (understandably) tired and overwhelmed, but you still look beautiful and full of life.
Love to everyone,
nbk
Two to three was the hardest for us. Didn’t I tell you, or perhaps you couldn’t hear me over my three screaming kids. 🙂
The noise level just increases and the sleep level decreases with the 4th.