Hi everybody!! I’m so excited that you’re reading my first blog post! I can’t wait to read your responses and start a conversation about this amazing, complicated, rewarding, anxious, whirl wind journey on this road called “parenthood”! I’m a mommy of 3 little ones. I have two year old twins, and a 5 year old. So where do I start?

Let’s back up to before I had my first child. One of my producers at the time told me when I was pregnant: “Sheinelle, enjoy your quiet Saturday mornings, sleeping in… and getting up whenever you feel like it, because that will end!” Ha! I listened… but I should’ve listened even more!

Sure, you know when you’re pregnant that life is going to change after you bring baby home--- but goodness! After the baby comes home, your entire world is consumed with worrying about someone else besides yourself. That “free feeling” of waking up when your body feels like it? Well…. those days are going “bye-bye” for a while.

One other tidbit — before I had my first child, I didn’t have very many “mom friends,” so my advice would be to find some. They will tell it like it is, because they get what you’re going through — and they will be your support when you can’t see straight.

Now fast forward to bringing home TWO MORE BABIES three years after my first son… AT THE SAME TIME! TWINS!

I will say — the books these days for moms of multiples are pretty good. Some of the best advice I read? Learn to laugh. When both babies are screaming at the same time, and your 3 year old is pulling on your leg because he too wants attention, you just have to smile, breathe, and get through it. One child at a time… address their needs, and know they will be okay. YOU will be okay! Through the fog of having two babies at once, realize that these little bundles are a gift and try to enjoy it. You made it through pregnancy, after all. To me that was nature’s boot camp!

That leads to my last piece of advice…

Even when you’re sleep deprived, excited, and yet a little anxious because you don’t want to “mess up” — try to be in the moment. Try to *purely* and *deeply* enjoy your baby/babies! Enjoy with all your heart their little fingers, those big wide eyes staring at you — and yes, even enjoy those stinky diapers!! (I’m trying to tell myself that, but I’m ready to potty train the twins —I’m over it! That’ll be another post.)

So that’s it. That’s what I would say to anyone before bringing baby home. For me babies are such a blessing. I’ve always loved kids. I used to have a baby-sitting service as a teen back in Kansas. Now that I have 3 of my own, when I have moments of crazy stress, I try to breathe through it and listen to all of my colleagues who have kids in college. I hear this time is going to fly by!!!

Love ya! Talk to you soon! I’m giving you a hug. J

Sheinelle Jones is a weekend anchor at TODAY, and a mom of three: a 5-year-old and 2-year-old twins. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.