The First Six Months

So I have six month old babies. Me. I have babies. And they're six months old!! It's still weird for me to think that I have children. I had to pick up a prescription for Sweet Potato's eczema and the pharmacist asked if I had any questions about my son's prescription. Totally weird. (And by the way, his skin is so much better after only a few applications of the prescription.)

The past six months have turned my life upside down -in a good way. My priorities have completely changed, my spending habits have changed, my free time has changed, my work schedule has changed, my emotional state has changed! I don't see any of these changes as bad things.

In the past six months:

• I haven't purchased an article of clothing, a shoe, a coat, a purse, even new lip gloss for myself. (I realize if I couldn't fit into my pre-pregnancy, pre-fertility treatment clothes and shoes, I wouldn't be able to say this.)
• I spent more than half of the time not knowing what day of the week/month/season it was as it didn't really matter.
• I learned how to bottle feed two newborns at the same time with one laying on my legs with my knees up and one cradled in my arms.  
• My knees and left arm ache on a regular basis now.
• I used to go days without showering and now occasionally skip a day.
• I experienced anxiety the first few times I was away from my boys. 
• I've found some great baby purchases on craigslist and sold my dusty treadmill.
• I paid off my car loan.
• I use a coupon organizer and BJs club membership.  Budgeting is beyond important for me now.
• I added discount/savings/coupon blogs to my reader.
• I have bought and sold at a second hand children's store (including the activity gym the Dynamo is using here).
• I opened a Target credit card to save 5% on purchases including Target brand baby formula.  (Every little bit helps and I go through a lot of formula.)
• I joined Amazon.com/Moms and save money on diapers.
• I discovered new products like Oxiclean, Aquaphor and Mylicon.
• I stopped using pacifiers, a wipes warmer, SwaddleMes and blanket sleepers. (They never really took to the pacis; the warmer doesn't fit on the changing table along with them anymore; they outgrew the sleepers!)
• I watched my babies go from wearing preemie clothes to some size 12 months!
• I have a land line telephone for the first time in ten years.
• I haven't done any home improvement projects.  (This will be short lived as child-proofing is in my near future.)
• In a neighborhood I've lived in for less than a year, I've met new neighbors and watched some move away.
• I've seen generosity towards my children that I did not expect.
• I've watched my cousin and his wife raising their two year-old twins and learned some things not to do.
• I've watched my friends with their children and learned some things TO do.
• I've made some new blogging friends!  And kept some old. :)
• I've learned how to ask for help, even asking Fabulous D to bring me toilet paper. (She brought me wine and chocolate too.)
• I haven't forgotten what it was like to be TTC.  It makes me ache for my still-trying, still-waiting friends.
• I've become even more emotional especially with stories about children.
• I've made one baby trip to the emergency room. (All is well.)
• I've skipped dinner more often than I've had it.
• I haven't used my oven. (Grandma has.)
• I've rarely stayed up past 8:30 PM.
• I've rarely slept in past 7 AM.
• I've allowed my house to be dusty or cluttered with visitors!
• I stopped recording a soap opera I watched for decades.  I hardly ever watch television.
• I've changed my work schedule, forgoing a much needed pay increase.
• I've raised six month-old twin boys with the help of family and friends!  (I have been solo for overnights since month one with the exception of two or three nights.) 

And....  most importantly....  I have not regretted taking this path to motherhood for one second.

It is by far the best thing I have ever done.