What to Expect-Three Kids Later by Emmy

I am truly honored to have Emmy from Emmy Mom-One Day at a Time to share my space today.


She is a wonderful blogger who hosts two memes:


These memes are always filled with great stories from moms as well as her own.  She has 3 adventurous and adorable children that keep on her toes and when she's not rounding them up she's also running her own photography business.  I must say this gal has her act together, and I hope as I add to my family that I can to do the same---or at least take great notes! 
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When I was pregnant with my first I gobbled up any information I could get my hands on.  The What to Expect books, the baby center subscription with the weekly emails telling how big your growing baby was.  I was going to be prepared and ready and an amazing mom.  We attended birthing classes and knew what our plan was.

18 hours of labor- 4 of which I pushed- only to end with an emergency c-section and I realized this thing might not be quite as I planned.  But still- I was going to do it!  I continued to consume those baby-center emails always analyzing.  Was he growing enough?  Was he hitting the next milestone. And he was- he soared.  I would often look at a few months ahead of his age and he was already doing those things.  Yes, I was an awesome mother with the best baby ever!  The best baby that would scream until he passed out (at less than 2 months old) and had to be kept on a very strict schedule- but dang it the best baby ever!

Then I was pregnant with my second and I began to remember- remember the labels and comparisons that just naturally occurred among my 5 siblings- the smart one, the people pleaser, the popular one.... and I did not want that to happen.  I knew it was inevitable but I was going to do my best to not compare and especially not ever express those comparisons in front of my two children.   After all I had studied psychology in college- so I knew the right ways to always talk and interact with my children (insert sarcastic laugh here).  I must admit- when I found out my second was going to be a girl I was relieved.  Not only did I want a girl but I just knew it would be so much easier not to compare as boys and girls are different.

Alex, my daughter's birth was wonderful- a scheduled c-section with no complications- able to nurse her almost immediately after my surgery.  This was good.

I enjoyed watching her grow, seeing her smile and how much she adored her big brother.  She adored him so much that she was walking at 10 months trying to keep up with him-- this was two months before Lucas!

Oh wait- I just did it. 

But it's okay- I wasn't going to do it again.  I wasn't going to fall into the comparison trap. Huh?  Shouldn't Alex be talking more?  Didn't Lucas used to speak in full sentences at just over 18 months old?  (Check the baby book, watch old videos- he did!)  Oh no, is something wrong with her?   Wait- look at the baby center e-mail, she is totally on track Lucas was just super advanced.

Scenarios like this played out far too often- I kept telling myself I wouldn't compare but let's face it- it's inevitable.

Finally my third came along- another boy- going to be a mirror of my oldest of course since they are both boys.

But it all changed.  Maybe it was experience, maybe some maturity on my part.  But my baby was just who he was- his own unique story (which he started way too soon when he came 8 weeks early).

I no longer compared or worried- I saw the progress, saw the steps he was taking and that was good enough.  He loves trucks like his brother, his eyes twinkle just like his sisters- but he is my Ryder and that is good enough.

My three kids- all each who they are- and I love them all for it.

Thank you so much Natalie for letting me guest post today. 

Thanks! Emmy My Photography website: http://www.emilykathrynphoto.com
My blog! www.emmymom2.com