Theo James

June 18, 2025

Luckily Cora started walking a few weeks before he was born. I was worried about her being kicked out of the baby spot so quickly but she was SO excited about a new baby.

She is much more involved with Avery and Thomas and just acts older. Mostly.

It's weird to think back, when I first saw the positive pregnancy test I just thought How in the world am I going to do this? Cora was 5 months old and I just couldn't see why God would throw me into another pregnancy.

Brad getting the news about the fourth pregnancy

Brad preparing for the long 9 months ahead

But as the pregnancy went on, I realized this is why we don't plan things out. God knows

what we need more than we do.

Presenting my latest list:

Top 5 things about having 4 kids at a very rapid pace

1. No free time. Which sounds like a negative thing, but when you have so little free time you also don't have time to get into the latest politics, waste money on the latest skincare things, or this write posts for an obscure blog. You become less materialistic and vain, because who has time for vanity on a Sunday morning when SO MUCH needs to get done before you get out the door.

   
   

   Also you become very streamlined with the tasks of running a household. Less time forces you to be more efficient.

   
   

2. Limited mental energy. Which means you say no to a lot more than you would before. Someone wants you to organize a function? No. Someone wants you to text people about a function? Sorry No. Someone wants to fill you in on the latest trial with ALL the gorey details? No, probably not. You realize your time and energy is a VERY limited resource and do not waste a drop of it where it isn't absolutely necessary.

   
   

   

   Postpartum brain cells attempting to complete a thought

   

3. Fully committing to Motherhood. When I had less kids I was always doing something else, trying to find a way to make money, trying a new hobby, etc etc which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But for me, something shifted when I knew I was going to be a mom of 4. It made me take my role more seriously. Now there are 4 tiny vessels that have to be poured into everyday. And its not just a quick watering and then Go play and let me do my thing. Its kind of constant pouring.

   

4. Receiving Help. From literally anyone who offers.

   I have a new policy now when I'm out in public if any stranger offers to help with anything, I say yes. My favorite person right now is the old guy at the grocery store who walks out my groceries and packs them in the van between all the beach toys and strollers while I buckle in the kids.

   
   

   This also means and accepting help from your husband without a big load of guilt. I love when I am able to be caught up with everything, lots of energy, productive, can help Brad with a bunch of extra things, etc etc. But when you are on top of things you don't need help. It can make you feel a bit more stubborn and its easy to scoop up that pride and honor.

   
   
   
   

   

   Lucia carrying around any compliment she's received in the last 10 years.

   
   

   In pregnancy and postpartum you are your least productive self. Statistically its the least common time of life to be taking extra helpings of pride and honor.

   
   

5. People leave you alone. It makes sense that if you saw a car broken down on the side of the road, you wouldn't stop and ask if they could come move a couch for you once they finish putting on the spare. Same thing applies here.

   Which is nice in a way, you don't have to say no to people or even make the decision if you should help or not. Life is pretty simple. Every day, you wake up and there aren't many options to choose or decisions to make- you just need to keep everyone alive, fed, clothed, emotionally supported and maaaaybe fold one basket of laundry. There's something nice about simplicity.

Theo's baptism was this Sunday, and I snapped a few pictures of him and got a family pic at church.

Brad said after, I think you were supposed to turn him around for the picture. Well probably but he was fussy and there was too much else going on.

Which basically sums up life right now! Treading water, and sometimes it looks fun to be swimming laps. But the water is warm and the sun is shining, and who cares about production anyway?

This is just my experience - I don't mean to make anyone question their current choices or advice in their phase of life, just feeling thankful with how things are going over here.

Haven't quite figured out who he looks like yet.

As far as babies go, he is my first baby to not take a pacifier, so I probably wouldn't recommend that route. He only sleeps on his belly which is slightly stressful, lots of breathing checks BUT he is big and holds his head up pretty well for a 2 month old. Some would even go as far as saying he has the neck strength of a 3 month old.

baby seal waking up from his nap

He is used to being left in the dust, as the other 3 suction up any attention from people faster than a good deal goes on the buy/sell groupme. Such is life for the fourthborn, no quality facetime with grandma and grandpa. He was born into a competitive environment with limited resources, but has already figured out a strategy. He waits for the other 3 to go to bed, then stays up late. This grants him quality time and attention from both parents.

Kids are smart, and when attention is limited, they will find a way to get it.

talk again when baby is 6 months old and I have a bit of breathing room.

love peace happiness,

potato farmers wife