Close your eyes and imagine- wait you can't read and close your eyes. Ok, just imagine my first baby- Paul's nursery. My mom and I had worked months getting it ready. The theme was clouds, stars and the moon. I used the colors blue, white and yellow. We put white beadboard 3/4 the ways up the walls and painted the top of the walls a cute creamy yellow. I painted the ceiling a sky blue with clouds in the shapes of animals and fun things. When my beautiful baby would look up his brain would develop at increased speeds. I made paintings with a cute moon, star and cloud on it. Marilyn made a fantastic sign with a quote on it. I bought matching blue and yellow bedding for the crib and the day bed in the room. I bought a cute side table and painted it white. I bought the perfect yellow lamp with a moon side pull on it. I even bought a star shaped light switch cover! One of my favorite parts was the closet. We took the doors off and my mom and I wallpapered the inside with a really cute gingham blue wallpaper. I bought a fun white changing table and I made matching blue and yellow pads for it. I had cute baskets lined with diapers, desitine, burp cloths, the works. In the closet I had little hangers labeled 0-3 months. 3-6 months, 6-9 months- just like in the store. And all the little baby boy clothes were pre-washed, hanging up, ready. I had a blue rocking chair in the corner. There was a fun braided blue oval rug on the floor. I had hung matching pottery barn curtians in the windows. We had taken care of every detail. Everything was ready and perfectly cute for our new little baby. And when he was born I thought he was so beautiful. I was sure that someone would see him and want to steal him- so I put an extra board in his window to keep it shut.
Lets fast forward ten years to my 4th child. Pictured below is Gabe's "Nursery".
Below is a picture of what we like to refer as Gabe's dresser- or perhaps his closet. Really just a couple of baskets.
Here is what it usually looks like.
See, babies grow so fast, that as I get out his bigger clothes I just pile them on top of the smaller clothes. So as he grows the pile gets taller and taller. Thank goodness my blog that give me incentive to clean up so everyone can think I live a perfect life. BLAHhahaha!!!
If you look closely at my pile of books- the 6th one down is, "Time Management From the Inside Out". I gave it to myself for Christmas and still haven't had time to read it. If I only had some spare time. I should have gotten it on CD. That is something I actually do get to- driving. My kids would love it.
Back to the difference of your 1st and 4th child.
I loved every moment of Paul and couldn't wait for him to grow into the next stage. I scrapbook-ed every event of his first year in a ridiculously cute 12 x 12 binder that is 4 inches big. Ellie's is about an inch big and I haven't even started Kyles. But guess what? By now I have learned not to make everything perfect.- Just throw it together and call it good. So Gabe actually has a book I made digitally.
When Paul was born I gave him a bath every night in lavender baby bath while I played classical music. I had a towel in the microwave ready to wrap him up warm and snugly when he was done with his bath. I gave Ellie a bath once her first month and I don't even remember Kyles first bath. But guess what- with Gabe I remember all of us crowded around his cute little body. Paul, Ellie and Kyle all helping with the soap, sponges, and towel. Everyone looking at his little fingers, toes and umbilical cord. And Paul getting the towel out of the microwave.
Having my first was hardest- you go from complete freedom to your life is no longer your own. You are on your own. Then having toddlers was hard- especially when you have 3 under the age of 4. But as time goes by my children have gotten older and so much less work. Having Gabe has been SO fun! And so much easier! My older kids help so much. We all will crowd around him and try to make him laugh. I can have my older kids take Gabe on the back porch while I make dinner. The kids play games with him. There are moments I wish I could freeze time.
I have learned that with all the differences the love is the same. The love I have for my children is not something I can describe. When I see Gabe walk, or Paul do something good, or Ellie laugh, or Kyle dance I am filled with absolute joy. I love each one so much. I love having a baby with older kids. For me it has been so much easier. I enjoy each stage more- because I know they actually DO grow up fast. And when I see an older person in the store and they see Gabe and say, "enjoy them, because they grow up so fast!" I say, "I know, I have 4, and 3 are already so grown up!"
