it takes a village

parents have always said: “it takes a village” & i didn’t really GET THAT until we had our 2nd daughter.

bc holy cow wow.

between cluster feeding the new baby on the hour for 15-20 min at a time while the toddler is climbing on anything she can…
or trying to squeeze into little spaces as best she can (that she can’t get out of on her own)…
to keeping up w/ laundry & remembering to eat…
to fixing said things to eat while also fixing the toddler food while she throws it on the ground for the dog to eat…
yknow… while the baby wants to eat… AGAIN.

w/ the hurricane that just hit our west coast & anderlee not budging, we weren’t sure when she was going to arrive…

& that made my mother in law’s flight get cancelled & us unsure when she could make it down.

thankfully it all worked out wonderfully & my MIL was here for a few days before i was induced.
we got to spruce up the house & run last minute errands before the baby arrived…
while also having 1:1 time w/ lurayna.

she stayed w/ us for 2 weeks & was more of a help than i can find words for.

she cooked.
she baked.
she bought us milkshakes.
she picked up toddler toys more than 3x a day (bc half the fun is getting them out again, right?).
she took care of the dog & the toddler while we were in the hospital.
she entertained a very busy girl.
she made sure i had ice water by my side when i started breast feeding.
she was ready for all the baby anderlee cuddles & burping while i snuggled lurayna.
she helped organize & make us lists of to-do’s when our minds were mush.
she changed diapers.
she encouraged, prayed & shared her expertise.

i don’t know how we would have gotten through the first 2 weeks w/o her.

my mom was there at the hospital, ready to do food runs.
even if it was just for dessert or coffee.
she was there for breathing w/ me.
teaching me ways that worked for her.
helped communicate w/ the nurses & jonny when i was in my own world when in labor.
she made 4 different types of soups to freeze for us.
along w/ 3 different types of breakfast casseroles.
she volunteers to have sleep overs w/ lulu.
she extends her time & drives countless times up to us while dealing w/ rush hour traffic & tolls to help us.
so thankful she’s nearby & now retired!

my sister flew down to be here from nashville for baby snuggles.
she had a sleepover w/ lulu so we could get situated w/ the new baby.
baked us brownies to munch on (most of the ones i inhaled were for breakfast)
& even sent us $$$ for our first “dinner out” which we had delivered to the hospital after anderlee was born (ya’ll… cheesecake factory is still reeeeally good delivered).

my sister in law let us borrow her 7 passenger vehicle while we’re working w/ just 1 of ours so we could go take newborn photos in tampa & then ordered us pizza so no one had to cook after such a long day.

my nieces & nephew are the biggest helpers & best babysitters for lurayna.
she literally follows them everywhere which gives jonny & i a break from telling her “no” or trying to distract her every time she gets into something she’s not supposed to at their house. smh.
luckily their dogs don’t mind sharing their cage beds. haha

our best friends ej, linds, mikey & david had a beautiful bouquet delivered when we got home from the hospital.
it made me smile & look forward to the time we would have soon to share the newest addition!

our best friends thom & kathryn visited all the way from jacksonville from performing in a show to spoil us w/ bucees treats, champagne, donuts & apple fritters + very sweet presents for the girls.
it had been way too long since we had seen them (december 2021 to be exact).
it was so wonderful catching up!

our friends erin & greg came over & visited while also bringing me homemade lactation treats (they’re so yummy… need to get the recipe from her so i can share).

& last but definitely not least…
my best friend, ale, organized an online “sprinkle” back in august where friends placed “bets” on when anderlee would be born… the person who was closest to her arrival would win half of the pot!
every person who placed a bet donated money to help pay for the most expensive item on our registry: our dual stroller.
& w/ their help & contributions…
AND the VERY generous gift of the winning half given by my girl, ashlyn…
we were able to get it!!
SUCH a blessing!!

so many ppl donated & contributed to make this gift possible & we are so so thankful.
we take walks almost every day & wearing andee was so hot.
now we can take them together wherever!
i’m just so excited!!

not to mention the sweet gifts we’ve received via amazon that have helped us complete the nursery & needs we’ve had for baby #2.
the diapers & wipes we can’t get enough of.

it takes a village.
& i will be happily & gratefully writing thank you cards to each of you. (it may just take awhile bc the toddler wants everything i have).

if you don’t see us out & about…
or you invite us out & we don’t come…
know that we still love you.
we just have a toddler & newborn now. haha

the grace i’m learning to give myself…
the patience i’m learning to have for my toddler & just… life…
the imposter syndrome i’m pushing out of my mind…
the “i got this” thought i’m reminding myself of…
it’s all happening…
1 day at a time.

so if you’ve made it this far…
i hope whatever you’re going through…
whether it’s new or old…
you take out this little tid bit.
give yourself grace…
patience takes work…
& your life thus far has proven that you’ve got this.

& when you need help.
ask for it.
it’s ok if it takes a village.
you’ve got one for a reason.