The third one put me over the edge!

Updated--Denise has Maggie and e-mailed me some photos in the middle of the night. You can see them all here and read about it here (have tissues). She is SO beautiful! Denise said she is a little sad but amazing. Here is one (okay, two) to hold you over until you click away....

Maggie is saying "Mama" here at the prompting of her nanny. How sweet is that?

Asleep in her Mama's arms.



I am sitting here waiting for Denise to get her loving hands on Maggie Mae in China (like she is going to call and tell me all about it or something). I started thinking that Maggie will be their fifth child! I am in awe! Let me begin by saying that I love my children dearly and would not trade any of them for anything. Let me also say that I think ALL Mommies work very hard. It is hard to have one child or 21 children. It is hard to stay at home or to go to work. However, I can pinpoint when my life turned into a 3 ring circus.

Back in the day when I had two children, my house was immaculate (and I do mean immaculate). I was the picture of organization. Everything had a place and it was always in its place. I took the kids to the library each week, we did crafts (sometimes), I cooked lovely meals. The houseboy and I even had a date every week. The laundry did not pile up and everything was ironed. I was room parent and I was darned good at it too. I was even the president of a local charity in my spare time. I NEVER lost things. Then it all changed. When, you ask? When I became the Mom of 3 kids!

Most of my friends have 3 or 4 kids. I didn't plan it that way. They just do. I remember when I was waiting for Kate and my life was clean and easy and organized with just two kids. My friends with three children would often say, "That third one just really makes it hard" or "Just wait, Kim, that third one really puts you over the edge." I knew they were just warning me but inside it hurt because I wanted my third one (Kate) so badly and the wait was SO long. But now I know what they meant.

I don't think it is the actual third child that is difficult. Kate Emerson is actually a rather easy child (especially considering what she has been through). I just think three kids pushed me over the legal limit of sanity. My house is a MESS and I do mean mess! I am very disorganized and I lose things all the time. Just this week, I lost my keys. And I did not lose them for a few hours. They have been gone for a week! I am still room parent but I am not a very good one. We rarely got to the library anymore and I am the picture of disorganization. I keep thinking that the old Kim will reappear and I will pull it together but I am not sure. I just might have morphed into one of those Moms with 3 kids (who calls them all by the wrong name). Oh and sometimes I look at these families with like four and five and seven kids and I think---How do they do it? I really want to know. How do y'all do it?

Please tell me.

I love how Kate is just watching her brothers here.

Oh, she is pure sweetness. Look at those adorable lips!


P.S. Denise "might" e-mail me a picture of her Gotcha tonight! That is why I am really sitting here at my computer. I am so excited! Please pray that it all goes well for her.