“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble.” …as the quote from Macbeth goes. 
We are feeling that “double toil!” …even as if we’ve maybe fallen out of the frying pan and into the fire!
Man, we knew a second set of twins was going to be a lot of work, but there have been many moments when Lyndsey and I have looked at each other these last few months and asked, “What have we gotten ourselves into!?” 

At the end of August, we had the pleasure of hosting Jonathan’s mom, who graciously came to help us survive the last few weeks of Lyndsey’s pregnancy. Once The Littles, Bae & Bo, were finally here, phew, what a relief, especially for L. It was less scary to bring home preemies this time around, but L’s surgery and therefore recovery, and having toddlers at home made things more complicated. It was a very tough transition for A&E, but they were strong, became great big sisters, and now couldn’t imagine a world without BaeBo nearby.

Shortly after we were allowed to take The Littles home, Lyndsey’s parents, Rob and Kristen, visited. We were so thankful for the energy they brought and the much-needed direct attention they had to offer A&E, who really needed it.

Here is a little snippet of the various aspects of our lives right now:

  • BaeBo: The little ones have been healthy and growing from birth! Praise God! They have slept better and fed more easily than A&E, so we are thankful for L’s sacrifice of carrying them so long. They are gaining awareness quickly and already recognizing/tracking faces. It’s rewarding to catch sight of a big smile when one of them spots you.
  • A&E: The big girls are learning how to talk, gaining new words every day, and understand A LOT. They are very active and love climbing on everything. Besides scaling every surface, hairdos and dress up are favorites, but only second to daddy-time after school. These quickly maturing ladies will surely enjoy Jonathan being home more over Christmas break.
  • Lyndsey: After two twin pregnancies, this recovery was much more difficult, particularly because of the extra two trips to surgery due to overdistention. However, despite a carefully slow recovery, she is finally feeling amazing again, loving an exercise each day, and excited for the demand of caring for 4 very little ones. She is really enjoying caring for her family and her capacity grows every day. She has returned to work partially and looks forward to diving back in deeper this coming month, as she emerges from Maternity Leave.
  • Jonathan: This semester has been an exercise in saying no to many things, to say yes to the best things, like caring for family! He has enjoyed using all seven of his paternity days to help keep things rolling at home. Every semester, work gets a little easier and more consistent. In his little bit of free time, Jonathan has been practicing pottery. He made a beautiful set of 16 mugs that sold out at the school Christmas market! Most of Jonathan’s time has been spent learning how to play with toddlers and taking the big girls for long walks in the stroller.
  • WE: Finding and keeping a team of nannies has been more than a full-time job. We are immensely grateful for our team of employees that keep us functional. Thankfully, we have been able to enjoy frequent outings and an increasing capacity for more adventure. Very recently, we have even felt the capacity to add extras, such as hosting birthday parties and art team-building evenings and baking for/selling at our church and school Christmas markets.

As we reflect on the past few months, we’re so grateful for the support of family, friends, and nannies. Life with four little ones under two years old is chaotic, but also filled with love, laughter, and countless precious moments. This journey has stretched us, but made us stronger and more appreciative of life’s simple joys. Thank you for sharing in our adventure; we’re excited for the milestones ahead and grateful for your encouragement along the way!