What were we thinking???

When we told my mother we were pregnant with boy #2, she looked at us and said, "congratulations. you're insane." I sort of knew what she was talking about, but how could I really know what she was talking about? (and why didn't she elaborate??) So here we are now with two boys under 18 months (under 17 months, to be precise) and we're now asking ourselves, "what were we thinking?" 

Take tonight, for example. We decided it would be fun to go to Chinatown for dinner. We're trying to get out more as a family--figure out how to do it. So, at 4:45 we make the decision. At 5:30 we meet at the back door. That's right--it took 45 minutes to even get out the door with TWO OF US. Between feeding Harry, changing both boys, socks and shoes, packing a purse, loading Harry into a carseat (no small feat), we were finally ready to head out. We make it down all the stairs, to the car, only to realize we now own the two biggest car seats on the market. And to install them right next to each other, which we have to do by law, is just asking for trouble. First of all, it's almost impossible to get the infant seat in, as it's installed too close to the toddler seat. Then, I had to ride in back to keep Brice from torturing Harry (all in the name of curiosity, I can only assume). Something I won't be able to do when it's just me.

We finally make it to Chinatown, and had a lovely dinner. We let Brice run free for a while in the open area and he charmed the locals while Seth ran after him and tried to keep him from running into stores, climbing the open staircase, eating ice cream off the ground and more mundane dangers.

Once we got home, I began to panic. Honestly, how am I supposed to do this? How can I get Brice and Harry (in his carseat, thus tripling his weight) out of the car/stroller and in the condo and up the (many) stairs. Brice immediately takes off once he's on the ground. I'm getting a headache just writing about this. I have to keep telling myself these times are precious and they'll be gone all too soon. I know it's true. I know i'll miss this (and every) stage.