Life with 3!

On the 21st December 2009 I was in Claridges celebrating my 30th birthday, eating shellfish and knocking back the wine unaware I was pregnant with baby number 3. 8 months later my beautiful baby girl was born at home in our living room and our lives changed forever.

 

So be warned, 3 children under 4 means:

You need a monster car. Picture a tank with fold down seats in the boot. This is not good if you are not capable of parallel parking a smart car.

No one will invite you to parties anymore, your family are a party in themselves.

You’ll need a new gigantic bag to fit 3 drinks, 2 types of nappies, snacks and 3 changes of clothes in.

You never leave the house with freshly brushed hair or well applied make up.

There will never be half an hour without someone crying or falling over or both.

There is always someone asking for food.

Someone always needs their nappy changing/bum wiped/bum checked for good wiping.

You’ll see more poo than you though possible.

Your Boots advantage card will become your best friend ( provider of free make up from points collected buying nappies ).

Say goodbye to a whole nights sleep, there is never a night without someone having a nightmare, wetting the bed, needing a drink or falling out of bed.

It becomes easier to walk ( with double pushchair and buggy board combo, or compliant older child on a scooter ) than get everyone in and out of the car.

You will always be hot, sweaty and late. By the time one child has shoes and coat on another will have removed theirs.

You can only relax between the hours of 7pm and 6am, at other time at least one child will be asking you a question, usually something you either don’t want to answer or don’t know how to answer.

What you need is:

Friends good enough to tell you when your hair is stuck up, or you have forgotton to rub your blusher in.

Friends who will take in at least one child, when you need to rush another to the doctors/A and E.

Endless amounts of patience.

Handcream (after endless hand washing from all the nappies/washing up has destroyed the skin on your hands )

A double pushchair and buggy board, preferably both together.

Super strong arms for when a sorrowful looking middle child wants you to carry her and the baby.

Eyes in the back of your head in case children 1 and 2 decide to ‘cuddle’ or play with/sit on baby number 3.

A cleaner.

Even with all the above, my beautiful surprise baby number 3 is the best thing that could have happened to us. She is so sweet and good natured and I appreciate every little smile and every cuddle all the more because time alone with her is so rare and so precious.

Our house is absolutely crazy, messy and loud, but I love it!