Cleaning and scrubbing will wait ’till tomorrow, but children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs! Dust go to sleep! I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep. – Ruth Hamilton

Monday, April 30, 2012

I Owe, I Owe, It's Off To Work I Go!

Last week marked the first week back to work after having my little Lincoln.  It was hard to imagine leaving him as well as the other two (I am sure I am saying the exact thing I said after having Macklin).  It was even more challenging to imagine leaving them all alone with someone else.  I know how much work they are-would someone else be able to give them the time and patience?

When Monday rolled around I knew it was time to find out!  All my worries were quickly resolved.

I only work part time so I got to stay home until lunch, then Emily only had lunch and naps (plus all of Lincoln's needs).  We also added an extra hour on to the day so Mark and I can go running every Monday and Wednesday.  We decided to start this with everything else, so when we got home I was anxious to hear how it went.

Well...our nanny is pretty much amazing because everything went GREAT!  You want to know what else?  She LOVES my schedule!  She liked to know when to get Lincoln's bottle made and when to put him down for a nap.  And that my friends is why we have to have a schedule for all our kids-we can easily predict what comes next. 

At first I thought I was going to die from exhaustion, but by Thursday I really felt great and was happy to be back with my friends and students.  I also feel great from running!  Then this Friday was even more exciting because I had the day off (which I have off every Friday).  I conquered one HUGE task-taking them all out of the house by myself.  It was refreshing to know we CAN do it.  I got a coffee and took them to the park.  We all had fun playing on the equipment and running through the sand.  Then it was home for baths (because of the sand) and everyone got a nap (yep, even me)! 

I am not trying to say everything is perfect-far from it (as stated in the previous post), but I am trying to have a positive outlook on what is happening.  I could let myself become depressed from what is happening-there is NO time for myself.  Instead I have to look at what we can do and that everyone is happy and having fun.

A few other things have happened this week that made me realize how important it is to Cherish every moment, but how do we do that?  When life feels like a whirlwind?  That is why I love this blog, I can keep tract of all these special memories. 

Saturday, April 28, 2012

A Perfect Little Day

One thing I hate about reading Facebook and some blogs, is that people write about a perfect life.  No life is perfect and ours is far from it-Mack is screaming and throwing his food as I write this.  But I am not going to lie, today was one of those perfect days. 

Mark and I are trying to run three times a week for now.  That leaves us with one of our runs with the kids.  Today we took them all to the park and ran with them in the strollers-then we found a private area and had a picnic.  While I fed Lincoln the rest of the family ran around having a blast.  No one had any break downs and Avery and Mack played together very nice.  We also came across a dog event-not sure exactly what it was for, but they got to play with puppies!

Of course I didn't have my camera, but I took a few with my phone.  This all happened at my favorite place in Columbia-Stephens Park.  They have many many acres and the perfect running path for us.  Plus there are multiple play areas for the kids to play.

 He loved the fresh air!
 We asked if they thought they could get their arms around the tree.

Then Mark taught them how to play tag-I have never seen them run so fast for so long!

This just reminds me of how much fun the five of us are going to have and there are perfect days here and there!

One On One Time

One of our goals with our three children is to make sure they get a lot of one on one time since life can get crazy and we seem to clump them together.  So last week my parents came and picked up Mack for a little time with him.  He got to go to the lake and go out to dinner with them.  They said he was a totally different child when he was alone (Mack tends to have a temper at home).  Once he exited the car he was on his bike and then realized he had all their attention!  This was perfect for him and I am so glad he can have these times with his grandparents.  Below are pictures my dad sent me from his phone.


Sunday, April 22, 2012

Tons of Boy

We went to an event here in Columbia that we went to last year called Tons of Trucks.  We didn't have as much fun as the year before, but Mack loved every second of it.  I know I say this many times, but he is ALL boy and will get into anything that runs.  He has no fear and would love if he could make things go.  For fun in the evenings Mark gives him rides on our tractor and he just pulls the lever that makes the bucket go up and down.  Here are a few shots from the event!
Cousin Cohan was there too!


Thursday, April 19, 2012

Does What Mommy Does

I was waiting for this to happen...


When my niece was little she would always "nurse" her babies and loved to sit next to me when I was nursing Avery.  I knew Avery was going to be interested in this process.  She is always getting me burp clothes and brings me my nursing shield (for when others are around).  Now she sits next to me and says, "I help!" this is her putting her hand on Lincoln's check while he eats.  Now I find her playing and "feeding" her babies.  The shots above are only a few I have caught with my phone.

...and don't forget about Mack and his "baby"!  It's a penguin, but he takes VERY good care of it.  This is him perched on a stool watching his baby under the gym.


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Flying High

Happy Spring!  Yesterday was a perfect spring day to fly a kite.  They both won one in a raffle at their gym class and had been dying to try them out!  I was so impressed that they could hold on to them-the wind was strong.  Poor Avery lost hers in a tree!



Sunday, April 15, 2012

Acid Reflux

Lincoln is seven weeks tomorrow and has been growing like a weed.  I took him into the doctor on Friday after much debate about his eating and sleeping patterns.  When Avery was a baby she was put on medicine at 2 weeks old for acid reflux.  She would spit up like crazy and go through multiple burp clothes at one feeding.  It was painful for her and luckily my mom told me to ask the doctor about acid reflux.  The medicine helped right away with her and she was sleeping through the night at about 7 weeks old.  Then, I thought maybe Mack had it too, but now looking back and comparing him to Lincoln and Avery there is no way. 

Lincoln is a great baby!  He is so sweet and as time has gone on his time awake has been spent crying and screaming with his stomach cramped up.  I knew he was probably suffering like Avery, but was a little more reluctant to put him on medicine after talking to our doctor-he wasn't as willing to start medicine at such a young age.

I had a few minutes to talk to one of my best friends who is going through the same thing (it's nice to have someone understand this).  She had taken her daughter in and started medicine-this kind of gave me the will to call our doctor.  Our wonderful nurse said if it has gotten to the point of interfering with his sleep, (yep he was waking up every two hours to nurse because it was soothing him) his play (yep, he couldn't enjoy any time on his back because it was burning him) and our everyday life (yep, poor guy couldn't go into his car seat for too long either).  So I knew it was the right thing to do!

At the doctor he weighed in at 11 LBS!  I guess eating every two hours caused that.  Our doctor asked about what was happening and agreed it was time to try some zantac.  I gave it to him and that day he took a two hour nap!

I was beginning to feel really overwhelmed.  After every feeding (even at night) we had to hold him up for 30 minutes or longer to make sure his food was settled (we still do this).  So, by the time I got him down I would only get about an hour and a half of sleep. With only getting a few hours of sleep every night I wasn't sure how we were going to survive and go back to work. 

Last night he slept from 8:30 until 1:30 and then until 6:00-I couldn't be happier.  It really is making a difference. Poor little man was in pain!  
  With a happier baby and some sleep we can do this!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Who needs a schedule!?!

Life with three is crazy and unpredictable.  I didn't think of the little things, like when the heck I was planning on having time to breast feed Lincoln while entertaining the other two!  Yes, we do have help from family and our nanny still comes part time, but I will be going back to work soon and then have the summer with these three munchkins so, who needs a schedule?  I DO!!!!  If you know me I don't like it when things don't go as they should and love to have a plan.  Now that is even more apparent.  What the @#$% would I do with out having some kind of order at our house.  I'm pretty sure there would be a lot more screaming happening (not just from the kids). 

This past week I read up on some books I had been meaning to read-one being Toddlerwise.  I know Babywise has a lot of controversy, but some of it really worked for us.  I am not saying we followed it directly and I'm not saying any book is going to give me answers, but between Mack throwing objects in the air and Avery trying to grow as a two year old we needed something.

This book gave me great ideas!  We have started a new schedule with Avery and Mack so that I can give Lincoln the time he needs as well.  I also think this will make life easier when I leave them to go to work.  Before, Avery would get up about 7:30 and come downstairs to watch some T.V. and Mack would sleep in until 9:30 or so...

But now:

6:30-7:00 Lincoln eats and has one on one time with me.
8:00 is time to get up and put our P.J's in the hamper to start our day!  Then it's downstairs for breakfast at the table (this used to happen closer to 10:00.)  I am able to get Lincoln back down for a morning nap by this time.
8:30 is free play time in the living room while I clean up breakfast and then it's on the ground with them!
9:00 is craft time at the table.  They both sit in their high chairs (or at the island) to participate in some kind of activity.  This might be cooking, drawing, or anything I have on the shelves.
9:30-10:30 is outside time or movement upstairs. I feed Lincoln around this time.
10:30-11:00 is independent time in their rooms while sitting on a blanket.  Avery loves this time and Mack is beginning to enjoy it (in small amounts).  This is a time I can get some stuff done upstairs while they play.  Lincoln also goes back to sleep.
11:00 is more free play
11:30 is time to watch a little T.V. while I prepare lunch
12:00 is time to eat!
12:30 we spread a blanket out and they read books until it's time for naps. I then have time to feed Lincoln again.
1:00-4:00 Everybody naps (on a good day)
4:00 they both have a drink and play upstairs or if it's nice we are back outside.  I feed Lincoln again!
5:00 craft time!
5:30 continue crafts or watch a little T.V while dinner is made. Here is when we hope Lincoln sleeps.
Then baths and bedtime by 8:00. (plus three more feedings with Lincoln until the morning)

This has only been implemented a few times-mostly when I am by myself with all three.  Granted there are days we have people over, Little Gyms, Library or go to a friends house so this schedule doesn't exist.  Weekends are also a different story-they get to stay in their P.J's which Avery LOVES!

Making Smoothies


Rice Crispy Treats


Free Drawing


Some people may think this is obsessive (I know you are thinking that) and to that I say, "everyone is different!" We all have to do what works and in order for me to give my all to these precious babies I need a little order:)

So who needs a schedule?!? 

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

No HOP HOP

All week we tried to build up the Easter Bunny for Avery and Mack, but when the time came...it wasn't pretty! We went to brunch on Saturday and a lady introduced the bunny. Avery turned around with such excitement! But that quickly disappeared when she saw that six foot massive furry beast. We all know they aren't supposed to look like that and Avery agreed. Suddenly, the entire place was silenced by the terrified screams of a 2 year old. I have never seen anything like it. I was in between crying and laughing because she was literally shaking and wouldn't make any eye contact with this strange creature. Mack was a little hesitant, but surly didn't react like Avery. From then on it was "No Hop Hop!" We would say the Easter Bunny is going to come leave presents..."No Hop Hop?!" So like last year we focused on the true meaning of Easter and told her mom and dad bought them gifts in celebration of our Jesus Christ!

Our weekend started on Friday when Nanny and Cohan came by for a visit.
Nanny brought over their Easter baskets




Then we drove to the lake to meet up with my family.  We had pizza from our favorite place and settled in for our big holiday weekend.  Saturday we all dressed up for brunch and an Easter Egg Hunt.

They started to get the idea...



Here we are trying to hide her from "The Thing".

After all that work it was a much needed bath night!
We also decorated eggs.  Mack wanted to eat them (and he did) and Avery didn't like getting her hands dirty.
When they went to bed I was so excited to prepare their baskets.  Mark and Aunt Sarah stuffed all the eggs for our own egg hunt.  The morning was full of excitement.

Then we headed to church.  We have found this tiny Church down at the lake-I mean tiny.  They don't have children in the congregation so they were loving all six of ours!  A nice lady invited them down stairs for their own church-they just got it started.  Avery sat the whole time with us, but Mack went with Uncle Brent and played.  He sat the whole time the lady gave a lesson!

We can try...I love Avery's face when looking at her brothers!

Then the hunt began.  By this time they knew what to do and there was no hop hop to interfere!



I can't believe we got this shot!  This will be a great gift idea.


What a beautiful weekend!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Here We Go Go Go Go On An Adventure

Avery has a favorite show right now-it's "At in the At" (Cat in the Hat) and the theme song starts as; Here we go go go on an adventure... This has become our theme song as a family!

Since I have been on maturnity leave we have been hanging around the house, so when spring break came it didn't seem much different. I wanted it to special for the kids and give them something different to look forward to.  We packed up on Wednesday and Mark drove us half way to St. Louis then my dad drove us the rest of the way. I love coming home!  Even after getting married and having kids.  I love walking in and have yummy food everywhere (homemade chicken pot pie was waiting) and I love the feeling it brings!

 Oh man was it an adventure below is our journey:
Thursday my mom and I took them to the science center.  There is a discovery room just for kids their age.  They had a blast!  I had to leave in the middle of it to feed Lincoln, but my mom said they didn't want to leave.  Thankfully she has lots of energy to help with these two.
Thursday night Avery fell off a bench right onto her arm...so off on an adventure we went...to the ER!  That was not fun and we spent about three hours there bringing us back home at two in the morning.  My mom went with us and my dad held down the fort with the boys.  I left him with no bottles so he did a great job holding Lincoln for an hour until we got home.  I wasn't sure we would be able to do anything on Friday because of being tired.  We had plans with my cousin Abra and I was going to cancel, but I am glad I didn't!  It was the best thing for Avery and Mack because they got to play and have a blast and I had sanity by socializing with my cousin.

On top of everything else it was just plan old snuggly time with the family.  Mack has really attached to my dad and he loved the extra time being held.  Below is him after a rough nap: 
Then Mack wanted to snuggle with Avery while she slept (her and I took a nap on the floor-I love snuggling with her)
That night Mark came into town.  My brother and his three girls came over so we had dinner together plus some time in PJ's.


Our next adventure was to the St. Louis Zoo.  This place is wonderful and it was the first time I walked that much since my surgery.  They saw lots of animals and rode on the carousel twice.  Then they got to brush the goats.  Mack wanted to feed them rocks!

Then Saturday night was spent at our favorite place-Rigazzi's on The Hill.  It's kid friendly and has fish bowl beers for the adults.  We celebrated my neice's 7th birthday!  I can't believe she is that old.
These two are only six months apart and are very interested in each other.
After dinner was Ted Drews!  The best ice cream-pretty sure Avery and Mack thought so too.

What an adventure it was and they did great.  So great we are even attempting another outing to the lake next weekend for Easter.  I am proud of Mark and I for being able to still do things with three.  I am pretty sure it's because of the super amazing help we had-thank you mom and dad-you made our adventure one to remember!