Life as a Mom of 3!

So…how is life with three? I get asked that a lot these days, so I’m going to do my best to put it into words.

In short I can tell ya this…it is exceedingly, abundantly more than all I could ask or imagine.

If I only had dollar for every time I heard, “Wow, you have your hands full!”

A couple of times I responded with “Yep, and a full heart to go along with it!” But then I realized, ya know what? I DO have my hands full! Literally…they are full. And figuratively, they’re pretty full too. And that’s okay, because we did this “on purpose.” (I actually said that to one lady. Why would I say that? To a stranger? Cue the awkward face sweating. Ha!) And you guys, we are LOVING it!! Seriously, would not trade it for a second. We’re enjoying it enough that I have the confidence to say…if you’re on the fence about another, I think you should totally GO FOR IT!  (Yes, even after changing the 19th diaper today & carrying an oversized 3 year old to the car after a toddler tantrum because I wouldn’t buy him a firetruck. He has like 13 already.)

They are all so precious, so unique…and it’s an absolute blast watching them grow and develop into their own little people. They each have a a little of me, a little of their daddy, and enough of their own uniqueness that it whirls together to make this precious little being. They melt your heart! (But you guys with kiddos already know that.)

I’ve heard having three kids is the most challenging number. We are outnumbered now, and someone is always needing something, so that has it’s own set of challenges. But y’all, the joy? I just CAN’T!! I feel like my heart could burst & sometimes I am literally so overwhelmed with gratefulness that I can’t do anything but praise the Lord for them. They are TREASURES.

Children are a BLESSING & a gift from above. And to whom much is given, much is required. So naturally they bring an incredible responsibility.

One of the tougher things to figure out has been logistics. Figuring out who goes where in the car, who to unload and load first, do I even have room for the stroller, etc. We stay home a lot because it literally takes FOREVER to get everyone ready, packed up, & loaded. And then of course somebody needs a diaper change as soon as I have everyone loaded. Never fails! (Amazon Fresh & Thrive Market are my new BFFs.) I have become a master at multitasking (like nursing the baby and loading the dishwasher), but definitely not a good phone talker & I really struggle to respond to texts/emails/messages in a timely manner…or at all sometimes. I try, but I’m just not as on top of it as I used to be because there are so many other things demanding my attention. And I’m tired. Mama tired is a special kind of tired- the kind of tired that requires a little bit of Spark & a whole lotta Jesus (& maybe an afternoon nap if you can sneak one in…)to be able to function. So I’ve had to learn to let some other things go too. Sometimes one of them needs something and I just can’t get to it right away. Sometimes the baby has to cry for a few minutes while I finish doing something. They each have a different set of needs right now. I don’t get to spend as much time with them individually as I would like, but I do try to do that each day, even if just for a few minutes.  And I decided not to beat myself up over it because I know that I am loving them well. I refuse to let the enemy steal my joy as a mother focusing on all the things I can’t do or I feel like I’m not doing “good enough.”

It is SO incredible to me how the Lord actually multiplies your love with each new addition.  You know when you have your first, how you think you will never love anyone as much as that baby? Well, when you have another, you do. And when you have a third, you still do. It’s different but the same all at the same time. Your time is divided more, of course, but not your love. It just multiplies. And they get the precious gift of a sibling! I pray they have a super strong bond and are always best friends & have each other’s backs.

You know how the Bible tells us to pray without ceasing? And that feels kind of impossible? Well, try having 3 boys. That’s one way to become a prayer warrior. I feel like if I’m not talking, I’m praying! Lots of times I’m doing both. Sometimes in my head, sometimes out loud. For their hearts, their futures, their attitudes, their decisions, their testimonies, their driving, their relationships, their obedience, their self-control, their wisdom, their discernment, their protection, their ministries, their future friends, their thoughts, their future wives, their protection, the people in their path, their purity, their fleeing from sin, their SALVATION, & their relationship with the Lord, and did I mention their protection?

My boys aren’t perfect, and we’re not perfect parents. And sometimes life is chaotic. And if you see me in public, you’ll probably see that in action. (Remember that time I didn’t shower for like 4…maybe even 5 days? Did I just admit that? #reallife) Like when they are all three crying at the same time…(yes, that has happened.) Or all three needing me to clean up a #2 at the same time…(yes, that has happened too.) I’m still trying to figure things out. Like when am I supposed to work out? Will I ever be able to get a pedicure again? How do we have so.many.CLOTHES?

But God is so good. He is so faithful. He is teaching me more than I ever could have imagined through entrusting these precious gifts to us. Being their mama makes my heart so full! And with three, it’s just even more full than it was with two. (And that was as full as I thought it could get!) I am so enjoying this season with littles, and I know if goes fast. Every mom I’ve ever talked to has told me that, s& I know it’s true…so I’m soakin it up.

Life with three…(3 boys, 3 and under, to be exact): a little loud, a little stinky, a little crazy, a little more challenging (& we’re just getting started!), but.. a lot more laughs, more LOVE, and even more JOY than I ever thought possible. We are richly, richly BLESSED.

Life with three…it’s good.