Verbally Challenged

We’re still on spring break and having a ball! Miss thang has been enjoying her brother had home, bossing him around and working the attitude. I swear you can see it in this photo just a little:

She’s definitely going to give me a run for my money!

Today leaves me packing for a quick trip. No problem right? WRONG! Packing for three kids for two nights is a bit tricky. Heck, I’m having a hard time packing for myself since I basically need to double the wardrobe since I never know when Mr. Spitter upper will strike! Fingers crossed that I remember everything.

And then quickly, I had a few cards published in this book and got an extra copy.

I don’t need two so I’m happy to send if off to someone. Leave a comment if you’re interested – it’s full of some really cute things! And if I get a few folks interested I’ll draw a name.

See you in a few days!

Today. And he’s totally looking like his daddy in these photos (and baby Liam who also looked like his daddy).

He’s settling into a routine (again) nicely. Let’s hope another cold doesn’t come along and mess everything up! He’s sleeping well at night and starting to go to bed around 9-10. Hopefully that’ll naturally back up over the next couple of months. And he’s napping during the day in a somewhat predictable routine. He rarely cries now and I’m not sure if that’s because I understand him more or he’s more content. While awake he’s quite alert and smiling at those around him (including still his friend the rooster on the wall). He loves the bouncy seat and swing. He’s just a joy. OH and as you can see, he’s a chubber. Looking back at photos my poor Liam was always so skinny. And Addy was…well…full in the face (that’s code for a big head). Finn seems to be right in between.

He can’t quite hold his head up yet (and looks like Nate’s uncle in this photo):

But we’re working on it!

Happy three month birthday little man (and more photos coming soon)!

Today is one of those feel good days. The ones where you wake up well rested, the kids play nicely together, the baby doesn’t cry (not once since waking up this morning and it’s almost noon), the house is clean, the tea gets drunk before going cold – the ones that come around every once in a while. I love days like today.

Some things on my to-do list:
A layout for the American Crafts blog (have you checked it out lately? They’re featuring something new everyday and really using their DT – cool stuff)!
Make a spinach salad for lunch – new recipe – love those!
Clean the studio since it became a dumping ground for some things when we had some tile work done a week or two ago
Get some clothes sorted out in the kids room – old sizes, new sizes
Dig out a corner or two that has become stuffed with stuff
Do a photo shoot with a little boy who is soon to be three months

Loving life.

This about sums things up for me right now.

Spring is here which puts me in a whole new mindset. The fresh air, longer days, signs of life – all very good things to me!

Things have been a bit hectic lately as you’d expect by lack of updates. I think that germs should fly south for the winter with the birds in November because they’re part of winter that makes me crazy. It used to be snow, now it’s the germs. My littlest dude is still slightly congested from a cold that he caught over two weeks ago. We all caught a version of it at one point but Liam and the baby were hit the hardest. Well actually with a sick baby I could say mom and dad were hit the hardest.

And then there is cleaning, spring cleaning. Oddly enough it has been making me feel good and productive. It’s not as much as I’d like but a little bit here and a little bit there when I have a second or three is adding up nicely. And I still have a lot of purging to do!!!

So let’s hope I can get back into the swing of things and post a bit more.

And a photo update for the impatient ones:

Our gal doing what she loves best, eating a snack:

And then the wee dude hanging out in his bouncy:

Feeling happy.

And a bit more intense.

More later…er…sooner!

Getting the balancing act down…at least for today. Perhaps it the weather today – 70 degrees and sunny. Or yesterdays outing to the symphony. I volunteered to drive for Liam’s school assuming they’d let me bring the baby – they did. I popped the little dude in my Moby wrap and he was happy and didn’t cry once (I won’t lie, I was sweating it at first). It was great to experience my boy interacting with his classmates. Asking questions during the musicians talk. And watching the symphony play to a reading of “Where the Wild Things Are.” Fun times.

I’m also getting the house back in order. I’ve been organizing a bit and tossing things out (thanks Oprah). I’m working on cleaning to get rid of the winter germs. It feels good.

I’ve also been finding a little (LITTLE) creative time. For now, it’s just enough to keep up with some deadlines but I’m not the early bird that I used to be. I give it one more month and I’ll find more time hopefully when the little dude sleeps a bit more…maybe it’s wishful thinking.

But I’m getting there. And oddly enough, I’m starting to fell like I’ve been a mom of three for a lot longer than two months. That’s a good sign, no?

And because posts are better with photos, one of my little dude. It was from one of my first photo sessions with him but I’m just editing now.

Enjoy the weekend!

I’ve been wanting to get a photo of the three kids together for a while now! Talk about difficult! With one in school, weekends crazy busy (except for naptime) and losing my light early in the evening – I’ve had next to no opportunity! I tried last weekend and won’t even share that attempt. By the time I got the shot all set up, the kids were cranky, the light was awful, there was a bit of hair pulling and licking on addy’s part (don’t ask)…so I gave up. I’ve learned not to fight the photos. If kids don’t want to do it, you’ll lose. It’s a lot like potty training.

So for a while, this was the only photo that I had of all three kids together:

Did I cheat? You bet! Was it easy? You bet! Two of those kiddos didn’t move a muscle!

And then there was Sunday. Everyone was dressed in a decent outfit. Hair was fixed and they were all relatively happy. We were on our way out the door and I yelled for the kids to sit on the edge of the couch quickly and let me take a photo. And you know, they did it! I was floored! I definitely need to find out what they ate for breakfast.

Notice the crap in the background. I was so shocked that it happened that I didn’t have time to re-position and move stuff around (Liam’s piece of hair sticking up included). IF I’d have set the shot up, I’d have had grumpy kids. I’d bet money on it.

So I decided to press my luck and throw Finn into the mix. Again, the shot was totally not set up so we plopped him on LIam’s lapped and prayed he wouldn’t drop him. Now the poor kid may end up with some neck issues after the shot (he had some serious slouch going on) but heck, I got all three!

And I’ll tell you, I’m one happy mama now.

NOw, to get the PERFECT shot. Dare I try it?

Blog lapse…bad me. Things have been busy as I guess you’d expect!

But this little dude was two months on Friday. TWO. MONTHS! It’s amazing how the days all blend together in my sleep-deprived, stay home to keep germs away state.

When I have more time I want to add more photos of the other kids. It’s amazing, our babies are little clones of each other! And they all look like their daddy (not a bad thing). Then they morph and look like me, or Nate or both of us – so we’ve heard. It’s still too soon to tell but I think that this little dude may have blue eyes as well – not that I be surprised since that would fit the trend.

A few stats of our little cherub…yeah cherub..he’s a chubber and that’s DEFINITELY new for us. We seem to get better with each child – making them bigger! This guy is actually on the charts…never had that happen before.

At two months:
*He weights 12lb. 14oz. (a 4 pound weight gain in one month…go mama’s milk)
*Smiles
*Starting to “talk” a bit
*Falls asleep around 11 and goes until 7 (waking up 1-2 times to eat) – sweet lovin’
*Loves baths…hates getting dresses
*Nurses like a champ (hello…4 pounds in ONE MONTH…yeah I’m proud)
*Is a happy baby
*Still has hair…can’t remember when Liam’s fell out but I’m waiting
*Likes to be held (surprise)

He’s still a total and complete joy and fits in so nicely with our little family. And his big brother and sister love him to pieces. It’s awesome.