We're home

It has been about ten weeks since our new life started. I can't believe it was about ten weeks ago Abigail was born, and Benny requested for Bonding Leave. I still remember bringing Abigail home that Sunday, and realizing that our "family of three" had finally come to an end. We were a "family of 4" now. As crazy and chaotic as it was going to be, THIS was our new life together.

As if we weren't crazy enough to have a "family of 4," we have decided to take the kids (yes, a two-week-old newborn, who didn't have any shots besides her very first one in the hospital, and a 21-month-old who does not sit still,) to New Jersey for the summer. Benny was able to get 8 weeks off from work (it IS a blessing,) and the thought of being in New Jersey for the summer really excited us. We were able to be with families and friends, and have Caleb run around with his uncles and his never-hung out cousins. The plane ride was a blur; we got to New Jersey in one piece.

The next 5 weeks were like a dream now to me. Between seeing families and hanging out with friends, besides eating every bad food you can ever imagine (pizza, buffalo wings, pounds and pounds of red meat, beers, sodas, ice creams and sweet treats I can't even name,) we were able to really enjoy ourselves. We savored every ride down the green pastured roads, and treasured every night-occurring thunderstorms (at least Benny did.) A part of me wanted to stay there; a big part of me, in fact. Although I wasn't really a fan of the mosquitoes, and I can't really say ticks are my friends, either, I was happy, and thankful. Then one day my husband reminded me that we were only young once (although I no longer,) we drove down to Georgia to see our best friends. 14 Hours of road trip (that's one way,) plus two kids under 2 and a car full of luggage (when you have two kids, you can no longer travel clean,) the traveling part was not exactly fun. We missed the times when we could just take off, without the worries of, "did I bring this?" or "I can't forget that."

5 weeks passed like 5 days. The day we were leaving wasn't the funnest, either. Between adjusting my own emotions and feeling sorry for the grandparents (at this time, they have spent 5 weeks, with the kids,) we took off and left. I am not even going to get to the traveling home part. Let's just say, I am DONE with traveling with two little ones for a WHILE.

Finally. Now that Benny has started working again (he was ready and excited,) I have started my real role as a mom of two. Thank God I have two good babies. It is not easy, to juggle between tending for Caleb's breakfast and nursing Abigail at the same time, but I should manage. Finally we're back to routine, to our new life here in La Habra, California. New Jersey seems so far away now. For now, that is. Once again we have to get back to calling, emailing, and keeping in touch through the Internet. There is no more driving down the road and smelling the fresh sense of summer, there is no more grilling in the backyard, either. But there is looking forward to coming "home," and cooking in my own kitchen once again.

Of course, that makes us look that much forward to our next trip.