The move

We had been planning to move after John's birth so things were pretty crazy. I decided the best option was to just leave Isabella at my parents since we were moving over there anyway. It was hard to have John in the NICU and Isabella at my parent's house. Coming home to no babies was really hard at the end of the day. Things were a bit easier when John came home but trying to pack everything for a move was hard while taking care of a preemie. My big goal was have the move completed by Halloween so we set it up and planned to leave on the 17th. Of course Isabella's first birthday was on the 15th and I just couldn't stand the thought of missing her first birthday, especially by 2 days. So I left early with John, I was nervous about traveling alone with him but everything worked out fine. Finally I had my babies together, it was a moment had waited a long time for and it was so wonderful. Isabella was quite interested in this new "thing" that I had brought with me. I hadn't seen her in a month and after spending so long around tiny preemie she looked like the world's largest baby ever. It took me a while to get used to her again. My dad flew out to help Corey finish up the move and get everything shipped and a week later we were finally together as a family of four.

So I began trying to parent two babies under age one. Isabella still couldn't walk and John couldn't do anything, the act of simply going from one room to the next became quite the challenge. And of course they always seemed to dirty and hungry at the same time. The good part was that Isabella experienced no jealousy at all. The only problem to arise has been bottles. John was unable to breastfeed after being in the NICU so he received breastmilk by bottle. Isabella was reaching the age of stopping bottles and seeing him get one was hard for her. She's still getting bottles on occasion and slowly she getting used to him getting one and not her. I'm just amazed at how she's blossomed around him. When he gets fussy she grabs his pacifier and tries to put it in his mouth, or she'll rock his bouncy seat to try to calm him. It showed a level of understanding that I didn't even realize she had. Having John has actually made me feel much closer to Isabella, it's had a great impact on our relationship. I had a very hard time getting attached to Isabella as an infant, she was so fussy and really didn't like me holding her. John seems the same way and it made me realize how far my relationship with Isabella has really come. I absolutely love her and am so connected to her now and I know that eventually I'll get to that point with John as well.