The New Un-normal

We're eight weeks in with our new family.  Paul and Elise are doing well, growing fast and giving us a bit more sleep and a lot more smiles.  Lily continues to be a good big sister, always curious about what's going on with her siblings, or as she says "my baby brovah sistah".  But we can also count on one hand the number of days it's just been the five of us.  Actually, there have been zero days where it's been the five of us for 24 straight hours.  Even the "alone" days are only alone for eight hours or so.  So we're surviving just fine swimming in this new sea of kids, but we're wearing a big life vest.

We'll dip our toes into solo life this weekend as Grandma and Grandpa are breaking away from Munich to spend a long weekend in Salzburg, Austria enjoying lots of Mozart and castles.  Three whole days as a family of five doing everything for ourselves.  Yes, we can handle it.  No, it won't be as easy or enjoyable as it is with Oma and Opa or Grandma and Grandpa here.  We won't eat as well and we may all be pulling our hair out by Sunday afternoon, but we'll make it.

Of course the next big leap from there will be Nicole on her own for a whole day while I work or have a day trip.  That still feels a ways off.  We've been interviewing lots of babysitters over the past few weeks to help make that transition easier, and have found a couple of good ones that will hopefully be a big help.  And beyond that there's what happens when I start having overnight work trips again, or a week trip to Portland for a team face to face meeting.

We're getting out a bit more with the twins, usually in the ergo and sling since they're not the best in the stroller.  It's nice to get out and walk a bit, but the Munich winter is in effect with temperatures in the teens (Fahrenheit), so it's not exactly inviting and takes a bit of baby bundling to prepare.  We do get a few smiles from folks on the street though and even a few people breaking through their German privateness to comment on them.  And that's enough to keep us wandering out into the cold.