I have some blog posts in the works, but none of them are complete, so here is a nice random (read: obnoxious) post about random things. Woot!
-We took Naomi's paci away last week. I firstly attempted to use reason with her, which would be to explain why we were doing it (babies use pacis! Not big girls!) but I quickly realized she'd rather just be a baby if that were the case. So, I just took it away. She fussed a few times before naps and one time before bed (she only had it during sleepy times) and then she was fine. Note: I am always more terrified of transitions than my children are.
-Am I allowed to end a sentence with "are"?
-I am trying new makeup called "Too Faced" from Sephora and I LOVE IT. Seeing how I am in my last year before turning 30, it's time to step up my makeup game. Meaning, I should maybe learn how to use it. So I did and you will see a post about that coming soon. I know you are giddy with anticipation. Ha ha.
-Speaking of turning 30, I turned 29 last Sunday. This prompted me to start a little bucket list for myself before I turn 30. Oddly enough, the prospect of turning 30 does not intimidate me. I'm kind of excited about it, actually. But, it might be fun to maximize this last year in my twenties.
-Because, really, my twenties have been busy. In my twenties, I ...
-got engaged
-graduated college
-got married
-traveled to some fun places
-worked for three years
-had a baby
-had another baby
-sold our house and bought another one
- and had yet another baby
Major moments, kind of in a nutshell. In this last year of my twenties, I would also like to:
-Run a half-marathon
That's the only thing on my list right now. It's kind of a huge thing, though, because I'm not a runner. But I'm going to try. I have an awesome support system, who I am trying to persuade to push me through the finish line in a wheelbarrow. So far, they are not convinced. :)
-My Little Big (Naomi) turns two next month. TWO. I am in denial.
-My Big Big (Cub) has screening for school next month. SCREENING. I'm in denial.
-My Little Little (Lydia) is starting to roll over. ROLL OVER. I'm in denial.
Lots of denial over here, folks! :)
That's all I've got. Hooray for lame mid-week posts! :)
Have a lovely Hump Day.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Love: The Week.
I had a much-appreciated girls' weekend. Way fun.
I brought out the pear placemats for summer. Love my little breakfast club.
This little lady is now pacifier-less, sleeping with just her blankie. So big.
I have a new appreciation for my minivan. I never wanted to drive one EVER and still have a complex about it at times ... but it's really so great and roomy and sliding-door-ish and all of that.
Nomi's bestie came over to play and they were matching. It was just too cute.
We made more mud this week. It was way fun.
I joined in the fun this time and we were all covered in the squishy goodness. Very spa-like, right? ;)
We even made sand castles. I can't give my kids the coastal childhood I experienced ... but I can improvise. ;)
Have a lovely weekend, friends.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Three Months: A Letter.
Dear Lydia,
You are now three months old.
Holy cow.
You've moved into your bouncy chair during awake time, which you love. You kick and bounce and giggle at the moving toys and the music. Your face lights up every time we set you in there and it's the cutest thing. You also love to watch your siblings play and they provide constant entertainment for you.
You eat roughly six times a day and typically go to bed between 7:30 and 8:00. We've started giving you a dream feeding, since you take your last feeding around 6:30 and aren't usually hungry by the time you're ready for bed. You wake up around 3:30am to eat and fall right back to sleep (thank you!) and usually wake up for morning around 6:45 or 7:00. So, you basically sleep from 7:30-7:00 with a dream feeding and a real feeding in between. We'd keep you up later if we could, but, you are a sleepy bug. And we have no problem with that! Also, you're beginning to prefer your fingers rather than your paci. You'll still take a paci, but prefer to self-soothe to go back to sleep.
You do this new little "trick" that we like to refer to as "broken wing". When someone picks you up, you wrap your left arm around their neck and stick your right arm straight out behind you, to balance. It's adorable. You look like a little birdie with a broken wing (which, now that I type that out, sounds a little morbid ... sorry). But it's so cute. If "broken wing" is a bit to sad-sounding, we also noticed that it looks a lot like the penguins your Dad and I watch on Frozen Planet. Nerd alert! Either way, it's cute.
Your siblings love to interact with you and make you smile and I do my best to include them in whatever I happen to be doing with you. Like, for instance, this photo shoot. Brother was a big help with his camera ...
... and sister loved crawling all over you. It's safe to say you've been initiated into the sibling club.
Love,
Mama
You are now three months old.
Holy cow.
(Gahhh baby double-chin! LOVE!)
You, baby girl, continue to be a source of joy and love in our family. You are still in the sweet snuggly stage where we pick you up and you just melt into our shoulders, quietly grunting, all shmooshy and perfect. But, sadly and happily, you are also becoming much more aware of the world around you. You hold your head up proudly and love to survey all that is going on around you.
You've moved into your bouncy chair during awake time, which you love. You kick and bounce and giggle at the moving toys and the music. Your face lights up every time we set you in there and it's the cutest thing. You also love to watch your siblings play and they provide constant entertainment for you.
You eat roughly six times a day and typically go to bed between 7:30 and 8:00. We've started giving you a dream feeding, since you take your last feeding around 6:30 and aren't usually hungry by the time you're ready for bed. You wake up around 3:30am to eat and fall right back to sleep (thank you!) and usually wake up for morning around 6:45 or 7:00. So, you basically sleep from 7:30-7:00 with a dream feeding and a real feeding in between. We'd keep you up later if we could, but, you are a sleepy bug. And we have no problem with that! Also, you're beginning to prefer your fingers rather than your paci. You'll still take a paci, but prefer to self-soothe to go back to sleep.
You do this new little "trick" that we like to refer to as "broken wing". When someone picks you up, you wrap your left arm around their neck and stick your right arm straight out behind you, to balance. It's adorable. You look like a little birdie with a broken wing (which, now that I type that out, sounds a little morbid ... sorry). But it's so cute. If "broken wing" is a bit to sad-sounding, we also noticed that it looks a lot like the penguins your Dad and I watch on Frozen Planet. Nerd alert! Either way, it's cute.
... and sister loved crawling all over you. It's safe to say you've been initiated into the sibling club.
We love you, baby girl. Our lives are fuller with you in it.
Love,
Mama
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A Gift With A Purpose.
Hey friends!
With Mother's Day quickly approaching, I thought I'd throw out a gift idea. If you are vacillating between the usual jewelry or chocolates, let me make a recommendation for something way fun: Pajama pants. Or lounge pants, for those of us who might, um, wear them all day.
Ahem.
So! These aren't just any pajama pants--these are Punjammies, an extension of the International Princess Project, an organization that provides aftercare for women who have been rescued from the sex trafficking industry in India. To quote their website, "When a woman escapes from this life [prostitution], she has few options. Beyond their emotional and psychological trauma, women in India who have been forced to work as prostitutes cannot easily enter schools, return to family systems or secure jobs to support themselves. A high-quality after-care center is one of the best options a woman has for rebuilding her life."
Punjammies are created by women in aftercare. By purchasing Punjammies, you are empowering these women. They are learning a skill, you are changing a life--a life that most of us can't imagine. Each print is beautiful and unique, just like the women who make them.
Images from Punjammies website
I've already ordered mine and, if you feel so led, I would encourage you to do the same. A gift with a purpose.
Have a lovely day, friends!
Monday, April 23, 2012
It's Fun, Too.
I've mentioned the struggles that I've faced in this journey (my youngest is almost three months old), so, now I want to share some joys, too, for a little encouragement. All three kids are bathed and in bed, the dishwasher is running, the laundry is put away, and, for the most part, everything is in its place. And, my husband worked late tonight, so this feat was a solo accomplishment.
See? It's hard at times. But not impossible.
Some more noteworthy sweetness:
-Cub and Naomi's blossoming friendship. These two adore each other. They also boss each other and are learning to share (yippee, siblings!). But, their love for each other is awesome. The first words out of their mouths when they wake up is to ask for the other. "Where's Nomi?" "Where's Kay-bub?" Love.
-Lydia is becoming more and more a part of the family. The big kids love to make her smile. Naomi is absolutely smitten with her and loves to help me dress her, change her diaper, rub lotion on her tummy, etc. It's so fun. Her routine is going well and all three kids typically go down for naps at the same time, which is kind of like the heavens opening up and pouring down glory from above.
-I feel more empowered than ever. For all of the brain-dead and klutzy moments, there are great moments, too. Even if it's just a shopping trip where we receive compliments on good behavior, it's great to feel like the kids and I ... we're doing this. And maybe, just maybe, we're doing this well at times. Aaand I'm pretty sure the compliments are born out of an expectation that with three small ones, a fit is inevitable or, at least, Mom's head will explode. When those things don't happen, people seem to appreciate it! ;) Since Cub is not in any sort of school program yet, if an errand needs to be run, all three go with me, and learning how to make that happen is a pretty good feeling.
-My husband and I are strong. I remember when Cub was born, my husband and I would glance across the room at each other and wink whenever Cub did something cute or noteworthy. It was like our secret language, like, "Look! We made this little dude and WE THINK HE'S AWESOME." Well, now that there are three, the opportunities for winking have tripled (if we're able to pause long enough to do it) and we've loved and encouraged each other through the highs and lows of it. We still go to bed chuckling about something one of the kids has done (typically Naomi, our funny bug). I can't imagine this journey without him by my side and I love that we both delight in our kids together. He loves our kids. And I love him for it. We've also learned how to give each other space for our own interests (for me, it's Zumba, for him, it's hobbies). We take care of each other, ourselves, and the kids. So important.
-I've lightened up. I'm picky about how certain things are done, but I've learned that a cluttered countertop or a pile of folded laundry that's been sitting there for two days isn't the end of the world. Because I'm busy. It's just the truth. It's meeting one little need after another, all day, every day. I'll catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and sometimes I frown at the mom pooch (gut?) that I'm still harboring and will probably have for a while. And then I tell myself to remember all of the things I've done today--all of the nursing, the laughing, the playing, the laundry, the meal-preparing, the feeding, the reading, the chasing ... and suddenly I like my reflection. If a pooch is what it has taken for me to get to live this life I'm living every day, then I'll take it. A thousand times, I'll take it!
-I love naps.
(Sorry. Had to throw that in there.)
Have a lovely day, friends.
See? It's hard at times. But not impossible.
Some more noteworthy sweetness:
-Cub and Naomi's blossoming friendship. These two adore each other. They also boss each other and are learning to share (yippee, siblings!). But, their love for each other is awesome. The first words out of their mouths when they wake up is to ask for the other. "Where's Nomi?" "Where's Kay-bub?" Love.
-Lydia is becoming more and more a part of the family. The big kids love to make her smile. Naomi is absolutely smitten with her and loves to help me dress her, change her diaper, rub lotion on her tummy, etc. It's so fun. Her routine is going well and all three kids typically go down for naps at the same time, which is kind of like the heavens opening up and pouring down glory from above.
-I feel more empowered than ever. For all of the brain-dead and klutzy moments, there are great moments, too. Even if it's just a shopping trip where we receive compliments on good behavior, it's great to feel like the kids and I ... we're doing this. And maybe, just maybe, we're doing this well at times. Aaand I'm pretty sure the compliments are born out of an expectation that with three small ones, a fit is inevitable or, at least, Mom's head will explode. When those things don't happen, people seem to appreciate it! ;) Since Cub is not in any sort of school program yet, if an errand needs to be run, all three go with me, and learning how to make that happen is a pretty good feeling.
-My husband and I are strong. I remember when Cub was born, my husband and I would glance across the room at each other and wink whenever Cub did something cute or noteworthy. It was like our secret language, like, "Look! We made this little dude and WE THINK HE'S AWESOME." Well, now that there are three, the opportunities for winking have tripled (if we're able to pause long enough to do it) and we've loved and encouraged each other through the highs and lows of it. We still go to bed chuckling about something one of the kids has done (typically Naomi, our funny bug). I can't imagine this journey without him by my side and I love that we both delight in our kids together. He loves our kids. And I love him for it. We've also learned how to give each other space for our own interests (for me, it's Zumba, for him, it's hobbies). We take care of each other, ourselves, and the kids. So important.
-I've lightened up. I'm picky about how certain things are done, but I've learned that a cluttered countertop or a pile of folded laundry that's been sitting there for two days isn't the end of the world. Because I'm busy. It's just the truth. It's meeting one little need after another, all day, every day. I'll catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and sometimes I frown at the mom pooch (gut?) that I'm still harboring and will probably have for a while. And then I tell myself to remember all of the things I've done today--all of the nursing, the laughing, the playing, the laundry, the meal-preparing, the feeding, the reading, the chasing ... and suddenly I like my reflection. If a pooch is what it has taken for me to get to live this life I'm living every day, then I'll take it. A thousand times, I'll take it!
-I love naps.
(Sorry. Had to throw that in there.)
Have a lovely day, friends.
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