At the most random moments, it hits me, like a bag of bricks...but happier - that I have three THREE wonderful girls. It's incredible.
Three.
How did I get so lucky to have them entrusted to me?
I have no idea, but they fill me with so much joy that I could burst - and I hope they know that somehow. I hope they know they mean the world to me.
Abby is growing up so quickly. It pains and excites me to watch her blossom into an amazing girl. I'm so proud of her. She is so kind and empathetic...and sometimes bossy - but just the way a big sister is supposed to be. She's protective.
Elizabeth amuses me with her antics and completely melts me with her eye-squinting grin. She gives the BEST hugs. She hugs with everything she's got. She impresses me with her physical skills and keeps me laughing with her general craziness
Madeline nestles quietly into the crook of my arm, buries her nose in my sleeve and relaxes. She stretches every limb when she's unswaddled, blinks 10 times, looks at me and grins. She is nothing but sweet and easy and soft and she smells like honey. She makes my heart palpitate with gratitude. I have to restrain myself from kissing her all day.
This life I have - even with it's stressors and day to day parenting battles, financial woes, and hard moments - is fantastic. I'm so thankful for it. May I never take a day for granted.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
today
Madeline is nearly 2 months old now...I guess that happens next week. I feel like we're just starting to get into something that resembles a routine around here. Between having a new newborn and vacation, it's only now that the dust is getting a chance to settle.
I'm still trying to figure out Madeline's sleeping schedules. Maybe not figure out as much as mainstream. She sleeps, she wakes, she eats and smiles and then she's ready to sleep again about an hour after she wakes up. Sometimes that stretches to an hour and a half or 2 hours - but rarely. In the mornings, she wakes up and goes down for her first nap 45 mins later. So - the times between naps are relatively consistent, but the time on the clock changes a little day to day. At any rate, a large percentage of my days are spent swaddling, rocking, nursing, and putting her paci back in to settle her back to slumber when she fusses.
She does cry - but, really? Only when she's hungry or tired. She's otherwise, such an easy baby. I dare say she's at least as easy as Abby was if not easier. Definitely easier than E was. In hindsight, that shouldn't shock me. E was a pretty easy baby, but just not as completely chill as Abs was.
Madeline doesn't have any constant nicknames yet. There are several we toss around with reckless abandon. The most common is when we mimic E's pronunciation of "Madi-Lion" Baby Jane, Sweetie, and a barrage of nonsense names that Abby throws at her "Good morning, you little pickle-goose" and the like.
Overall, this transition to 3 kids has gone well. It's been smoother than I've expected. I'm thankful for that for sure.
I was actually going to write about our day. But, I'm drawing a blank on anything blog worthy to write about. We fed our frogs new crickets. They were bigger crickets, and it was unsettling to watch the frogs eat something nearly as big as they are. I don't think I'll watch next time, I feel too bad for the crickets. The frogs have been fun, but I think I'm ready to let them go. Abby won't like that, so it may take a few weeks to work up to that.
I had my official post-baby check up today and all was well. Now it's time to strap on my running shoes and find (I know, I know *make*) time to run again. Or...maybe jog. I'm not looking forward to rebuilding all the endurance I've lost...but I am looking forward to dropping 20 lbs.
That's about it for us today. I'm tired, so I'm gonna wrap things up here, do my last pumping and cleaning duties for the night and go to bed. :)
I'm still trying to figure out Madeline's sleeping schedules. Maybe not figure out as much as mainstream. She sleeps, she wakes, she eats and smiles and then she's ready to sleep again about an hour after she wakes up. Sometimes that stretches to an hour and a half or 2 hours - but rarely. In the mornings, she wakes up and goes down for her first nap 45 mins later. So - the times between naps are relatively consistent, but the time on the clock changes a little day to day. At any rate, a large percentage of my days are spent swaddling, rocking, nursing, and putting her paci back in to settle her back to slumber when she fusses.
She does cry - but, really? Only when she's hungry or tired. She's otherwise, such an easy baby. I dare say she's at least as easy as Abby was if not easier. Definitely easier than E was. In hindsight, that shouldn't shock me. E was a pretty easy baby, but just not as completely chill as Abs was.
Madeline doesn't have any constant nicknames yet. There are several we toss around with reckless abandon. The most common is when we mimic E's pronunciation of "Madi-Lion" Baby Jane, Sweetie, and a barrage of nonsense names that Abby throws at her "Good morning, you little pickle-goose" and the like.
Overall, this transition to 3 kids has gone well. It's been smoother than I've expected. I'm thankful for that for sure.
I was actually going to write about our day. But, I'm drawing a blank on anything blog worthy to write about. We fed our frogs new crickets. They were bigger crickets, and it was unsettling to watch the frogs eat something nearly as big as they are. I don't think I'll watch next time, I feel too bad for the crickets. The frogs have been fun, but I think I'm ready to let them go. Abby won't like that, so it may take a few weeks to work up to that.
I had my official post-baby check up today and all was well. Now it's time to strap on my running shoes and find (I know, I know *make*) time to run again. Or...maybe jog. I'm not looking forward to rebuilding all the endurance I've lost...but I am looking forward to dropping 20 lbs.
That's about it for us today. I'm tired, so I'm gonna wrap things up here, do my last pumping and cleaning duties for the night and go to bed. :)
logistically speaking
I've discovered a new problem that's keeping me from blogging as much as I'd like. And, it's actually not having three kids or time management or something like that.
It's the iPad.
Kyle got me an iPad mini for our anniversary and I love it. And much in the same way that Elizabeth looked so much bigger and older when Madeline was born - my laptop now seems an archaic hunk of plastic...or whatever this thing is made of. The problem, of course, is that while I strongly prefer using the iPad for browsing and reading - I don't love it for typing long things like blogs.
And so, when the kids are all in bed, and I sit down - I grab the iPad and I read or browse, but I don't blog.
I compose blogs in my head everyday, and I'm always surprised when I realize I never wrote any of them down. It's sad, and I really need to do better with it, because I won't remember these days if I don't. They're too fast.
that said -
Life is good. We took our vacation to Cocoa Beach and had a great time--
(baby just started crying...that is another reason I don't blog often, I guess)
(ok, I'm back)
The girls are doing well. Abby got her first haircut before vacation - just a trim. It was a positive experience for her - it was a sad one for me. I secretly wish we hadn't cut it...but it so needed it. Elizabeth is just growing and growing. That includes molars, which is what we're blaming some recent epic tantrums on. When she's not tantruming or whining, she's adorable.
Madeline is a super baby. She is sleeping great, which is really the only thing we have to judge her by. She goes down at 6:30pm at the latest and wakes between 6 and 7am. I usually give her a small bottle once during the night - around 3 or 4 am most night. She naps well and is generally just still sleepy...but she's smiling now, and that is super super awesome.
(she's fussing again....I guess she didn't want her paci...She probably wants to wake up from her nap)
Ok. I'm gonna sign off. I'll try to open this big 'ol heavy laptop more often so I can document our days in actual detail instead of large sweeping hand gestures.
peace
It's the iPad.
Kyle got me an iPad mini for our anniversary and I love it. And much in the same way that Elizabeth looked so much bigger and older when Madeline was born - my laptop now seems an archaic hunk of plastic...or whatever this thing is made of. The problem, of course, is that while I strongly prefer using the iPad for browsing and reading - I don't love it for typing long things like blogs.
And so, when the kids are all in bed, and I sit down - I grab the iPad and I read or browse, but I don't blog.
I compose blogs in my head everyday, and I'm always surprised when I realize I never wrote any of them down. It's sad, and I really need to do better with it, because I won't remember these days if I don't. They're too fast.
that said -
Life is good. We took our vacation to Cocoa Beach and had a great time--
(baby just started crying...that is another reason I don't blog often, I guess)
(ok, I'm back)
The girls are doing well. Abby got her first haircut before vacation - just a trim. It was a positive experience for her - it was a sad one for me. I secretly wish we hadn't cut it...but it so needed it. Elizabeth is just growing and growing. That includes molars, which is what we're blaming some recent epic tantrums on. When she's not tantruming or whining, she's adorable.
Madeline is a super baby. She is sleeping great, which is really the only thing we have to judge her by. She goes down at 6:30pm at the latest and wakes between 6 and 7am. I usually give her a small bottle once during the night - around 3 or 4 am most night. She naps well and is generally just still sleepy...but she's smiling now, and that is super super awesome.
(she's fussing again....I guess she didn't want her paci...She probably wants to wake up from her nap)
Ok. I'm gonna sign off. I'll try to open this big 'ol heavy laptop more often so I can document our days in actual detail instead of large sweeping hand gestures.
peace
Thursday, July 11, 2013
I'm here
I'm still here.
Kyle left for the NFB convention for a week and...surprise, surprise...blogging didn't make the cut at the end of the day.
The day that Kyle left for his conference - early Sunday morning - I was pretty productive that day. I decided not to be chained to the house and I took all three girls to mass on my own. Um - I'm lucky it went well. I rewarded them with a girls lunch at the Cheesecake factory. On day 2-4 we got out everyday. We did easy things like Target and the grocery story, and we played at home, and we made it. Then it was the 4th of July. That day was busy from the get go and we were completely exhausted by day's end. Day 6 - was recovery day, we didn't leave the house or do anything...I think they ate all 3 meals in front of the tv. And then it was the weekend again...but, unlike the beginning of the week, I was now worn down with the exhaustion of tending to 3 on your own all day. I don't think I got out of my PJs for 3 days. On the day Kyle was to come home, the girls were insufferable....I mean, of course they were - we hadn't left the house in days and we were all driving each other a little crazy. Then they shoved plastic beads up their noses and a huge screaming fit of panic ensued from both. Alls well that ends well and the beads came out fine.
And then Kyle got home and we all celebrated...but then he went to work the next morning and we resumed our girls day norms.
Kyle's been home for most of the week now, and things are back to our new normal. The girls are good, I'm good, Kyle's good.
Madeline had her 1 month check up yesterday. She weighed in at about 9lbs 4oz. So, she's gained about a pound. You can tell, her face is rounder and her ankles are slowly filling out. She's battling baby acne pretty bad, but I think it's on the mend as well.
What else? Have I mentioned that Elizabeth is 2 going on 12? She can do so much stuff. She talks and, like, understands us and such. It's incredible and Kyle and I are constantly surprised by some exchange or phrase or concept that she brings up. She's also far more strong willed and defiant than Abby ever was at that age. She will routinely tell me "no" when I tell her to go to timeout. Luckily, once I put her there - she stays and they are still an effective discipline for her - but that initial "NO." is all too common. She's so two.
Oh, and we have frogs now. Jen brought over 4 baby frogs for Abby to watch. Long story short - I ended up buying them a tank and a box of tiny crickets to eat. Craziness. They're fun to watch, I'll admit. I don't know how long we're going to keep them...but, for now, we have 4 frogs. Abby's names for them change on a regular basis and they're all a little crazy anyway...I'll let you know if we settle on anything.
My mind is feeling disjointed at the moment. We just made brownies, so maybe it's just that I can smell them. I dunno. Apologies for the random and scattered stream of consciousness update. I figure it's better than nothing. ;)
Kyle left for the NFB convention for a week and...surprise, surprise...blogging didn't make the cut at the end of the day.
The day that Kyle left for his conference - early Sunday morning - I was pretty productive that day. I decided not to be chained to the house and I took all three girls to mass on my own. Um - I'm lucky it went well. I rewarded them with a girls lunch at the Cheesecake factory. On day 2-4 we got out everyday. We did easy things like Target and the grocery story, and we played at home, and we made it. Then it was the 4th of July. That day was busy from the get go and we were completely exhausted by day's end. Day 6 - was recovery day, we didn't leave the house or do anything...I think they ate all 3 meals in front of the tv. And then it was the weekend again...but, unlike the beginning of the week, I was now worn down with the exhaustion of tending to 3 on your own all day. I don't think I got out of my PJs for 3 days. On the day Kyle was to come home, the girls were insufferable....I mean, of course they were - we hadn't left the house in days and we were all driving each other a little crazy. Then they shoved plastic beads up their noses and a huge screaming fit of panic ensued from both. Alls well that ends well and the beads came out fine.
And then Kyle got home and we all celebrated...but then he went to work the next morning and we resumed our girls day norms.
Kyle's been home for most of the week now, and things are back to our new normal. The girls are good, I'm good, Kyle's good.
Madeline had her 1 month check up yesterday. She weighed in at about 9lbs 4oz. So, she's gained about a pound. You can tell, her face is rounder and her ankles are slowly filling out. She's battling baby acne pretty bad, but I think it's on the mend as well.
What else? Have I mentioned that Elizabeth is 2 going on 12? She can do so much stuff. She talks and, like, understands us and such. It's incredible and Kyle and I are constantly surprised by some exchange or phrase or concept that she brings up. She's also far more strong willed and defiant than Abby ever was at that age. She will routinely tell me "no" when I tell her to go to timeout. Luckily, once I put her there - she stays and they are still an effective discipline for her - but that initial "NO." is all too common. She's so two.
Oh, and we have frogs now. Jen brought over 4 baby frogs for Abby to watch. Long story short - I ended up buying them a tank and a box of tiny crickets to eat. Craziness. They're fun to watch, I'll admit. I don't know how long we're going to keep them...but, for now, we have 4 frogs. Abby's names for them change on a regular basis and they're all a little crazy anyway...I'll let you know if we settle on anything.
My mind is feeling disjointed at the moment. We just made brownies, so maybe it's just that I can smell them. I dunno. Apologies for the random and scattered stream of consciousness update. I figure it's better than nothing. ;)
Monday, July 1, 2013
my madeline
Kyle left for Orlando yesterday. He'll be gone for the week while he stays busy at the NFB national convention down there.
So, it's me and the 3 girls most of the week. I managed to get all three to mass yesterday, and then we went out to lunch together - it all went well, and I was happy for that.
Last night, after I got Abby and E in bed, I came downstairs and held Madeline. She fell asleep on my shoulder - and as I listened to her little baby breaths in my neck and smelled her sweet baby smell, I felt myself bonding with her. It was nearly tangible. My heart swelled, a shot of endorphins or some hormone ran through me and I took a deep breath, smiled, and snuggled her closer.
Then I took a picture. So that I could remember that sweet moment.
So, it's me and the 3 girls most of the week. I managed to get all three to mass yesterday, and then we went out to lunch together - it all went well, and I was happy for that.
Last night, after I got Abby and E in bed, I came downstairs and held Madeline. She fell asleep on my shoulder - and as I listened to her little baby breaths in my neck and smelled her sweet baby smell, I felt myself bonding with her. It was nearly tangible. My heart swelled, a shot of endorphins or some hormone ran through me and I took a deep breath, smiled, and snuggled her closer.
Then I took a picture. So that I could remember that sweet moment.
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