"Having 2 kids is 10 times the work." 

That's what I kept hearing from others while my wife was pregnant with baby #2.  Now that little Bryana has been born, I'm happy to say that it's not quite that hard.  But here are four things that surprised me.

1.  Something is happening to my wife. First time around, my wife was itching to get back to work after just one month off. This time, 26 months doesn't sound long enough.  Maybe the quote should be "having 2 kids has 10 times the pull to stay home."  My multi-kid dad buddies confirmed this.  It's hard to miss so much fun, craziness, and activity going on every day at home.

2. Something happened to me.  Staring into the face of our new daughter, I'm mush.  I'm also inspired.  After 9 years of not working out (unless you count walking to and from the bathroom "working out"), I've joined a gym and my body is moving again.  And this time, it's not about steely buns, 6-packs, or bulking up.  It's about wanting to be around a long time for my family and to minimize saying, "Sorry, Daddy's too tired." Or maybe I'm subconsciously training to run down those bad boys my daughter may try to bring home in 15... no, 40 years.

3.  What is it about 4 that makes it really feel like a "family?"  It's not like we weren't a family with just 3 or even just a couple.  But now, when I look across 3 sleepy faces on a lazy Saturday family nap, I see an ocean of blessing, happiness, bliss, and fun (and $$ flowing out of my wallet). 3 faces, 3 souls, 3 pairs of hands & feet all jumbled together.  Maybe it's that with 3 of us, there's only 3 relationships to manage.  4 doubles it to 6 relationships among us.

4.  I'm dreading and looking forward to that day -- the day I'll be alone with the kids.  What's it going to be like: taking a phone call and cooking dinner, with Bryana spitting up and Me-me trying to pull off my pants?  One thing's for certain: those will be memories that last a lifetime.