Meeting the godbabies

I am in Cincinnati, Ohio at my friend Kimberly's house.  Just about 2 months ago she gave birth to twins, Aidan and Jaina.  She has had folks parents, an aunt, and many friends and neighbors here helping her out.  This week is my week and for the moment the last week with somebody staying at the house to help.

I don't know how much help I have been, but I am helping with the feedings, doing a little cleaning, doing a little laundry and of course holding babies, soothing babies and just in general hanging out.  Everybody is doing well.  There is the usual exhaustion of a house with a newborn, only multiplied because there are two and Kimberly is a single Mom so she has her hands full.  I am glad I can be here to ease the transition from having had help to being on her  own.

Funny thing is that I am not really a baby person.  Aidan and Jaina are very cute and as they were 7 weeks early, it is like being with newborns even though they are a couple of months old.  I have enjoyed the chance to snuggle with a little one and I think my favorite moments are letting them have some quiet alert time and watching them discover the world around them.

It is fascinating the process of becoming a family and being a baby.  Kimberly is doing a wonderful job and the babies are thriving too.  Jaina has some tummy trouble, but she's still eating and both of them are still so little that they eat alot, but they are on something of a schedule and now that they are considered newborns and full term, they no longer have to be wakened every 3 hours to eat so hopefully that will make K's life and nights easier.

A household with babies revolves around eating, sleeping, changing and beginning the process again.  It really is a tiring slog.  We've talked about how things change and you aren't as physically tired as your children begin to sleep through the night and can tell you the things they need.  Then comes an emotional exhaustion sometimes as you watch and help your child learn to make friends and socialise.  As you have to teach them about the world both the good and the bad, it can be a heartbreaking experience.

At the same time I miss my family and am very thankful for emails, phone calls and Skype.  It has been pretty cool to talk and see them over the computer.  I think they are doing just fine without me, just as I am, but it does feel like something or really somebodies are missing.  Thoughts will occur to me or things will happen and instead of acting on them or sharing them immediately, I have to file them away for later.

I am enjoying being here and I will be glad to get back to my family.  The traveling here had delays and typical travel glitches, but I made it, if a bit late.  It was also the most time I have spent "alone" (surrounded by people in an airport) in a long time.  So if you read this say an extra prayer for K & A & J as they find their way as a family.