Daddy

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What is it about three girls that makes strangers pat Ethan on the back and give him this pathetic “I’m sorry look” ? Is three girls really that bad? Strangers are drawn to the baby carrier, and when they get a peek that this one is a girl too, they have to show their disappointment for the Daddy. Well, this Daddy is okay with his girls. This Daddy gets on the floor and wrestles and tickles. This Daddy loves the excitement they show when he walks in the door. This Daddy loves their hugs and kisses. This Daddy can put on tights and fix hair clips. This Daddy can name all the Disney princesses. This Daddy loves them all and wouldn’t change a thing.

Thanks for taking care of all of us.

All smiles at 2 months

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Audrey went for her 2 mo check today and is growing great. She is right between Alyssa’s weight and Megan’s at this age. Imagine how big she would be if she could hold down any of her food. She is 50% all around and doing good. She is smiling and generally happy. I haven’t heard much cooing yet, but those third born probably do everything slower. We are getting better at napping. I say “we” because it does take work on both our parts. She usually goes down quietly while watching her mobile and takes a good nap until the next feeding. At night she is sleeping between 5- 7 hours, so I feel a little better during the day with more sleep. I can’t believe how fast she has grown out of the newborn stage, but I am looking forward to the days to come!

Update: I didn’t do as well as I hoped for playtime with the girls. I was able to put work on hold to Ethan’s dismay, but I have a hard time letting the housework go. But I did get all five of my New Testament readings in this week. And I am proud at that.

Working our muscles

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Audrey is approaching 2 months. She is looking around and following what her crazy sisters are doing. She does a good job of holding her head up and is smiling. She may be reaching and grabbing for toys by now if someone would give her some. I look back at the time I used to lay around on the floor with Alyssa and read and play from the day she was born. It is no wonder that she is so bright. Well, I just hope Audrey has some divine intelligence. She seems content to just hang out on the floor (with a constant drip down her neck) or in the swing. She doesn’t even realize that she has other options. But I am re-dedicating myself to motherhood this week. I will be on the floor. I will tickle. I will sing. I will make goofy faces. I will ignore the mess. I will enjoy these moments because I know they will be gone all too soon.

A New Year

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We had a low-key Christmas this year, at least until all the Whaleys arrived on the 26th. Though it is hard being away from my family and the activities that we would usually share, it is nice to wake up in your own house and celebrate Christmas as our own family. The girls got a few gifts Christmas morning and we enjoyed a big breakfast together. I think we played and relaxed all day in our PJs. Ethan’s family arrived the next day and we had another present ceremony where the girls got a lot more stuff. Megan’s favorite is her own pair of princess shoes and Alyssa is enjoying her LeapFrog Tag. We have enjoyed doing nothing for the last week or so and have a few more days before we have to get back into the school routine and maybe started on some resolutions.

One that I am doing this year is spending more time in the Word…okay lets be honest…spending any time in the Word. I have been making mental excuses for way too long, and I think God finally is giving me some help. At the church we have been attending, they announced last week that they are encouraging the congregation to read the New Testament in 2009. They have a schedule to follow and you can read 1 chapter a day, Mon thru Fri and be done in one year. This seems like something I can do. I was excited to get started today, but the schedule doesn’t actually start until Monday, the 5th. If anyone is interested, I will send you the schedule. Happy New Year to all.

Tradition

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While this is a tradition I tend to keep for a long time, it is more fun when someone else is in charge. It requires baking cookies, making icing, setting up table, 30 minutes of interest from kids, then the clean up process. All of that was better when I was the kid and left the other responsibilities to Mom and Ann. But someone has to do it, right?

The girls did good this year, and both of them really enjoyed it. Megan ended up with sprinkles, icing and goldfish for lunch, but totally worth it. There is a video if you want to see the experience.

Aren’t I cute?

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Usually from 2:00- 3:00 Audrey and I get to hang out together in peace. Alyssa is not home yet, Megan is napping and we can just pretend she is the only child. Except this only child must be making a huge mess of my house. She has her standard load of laundry each day, but I am pretty sure the rest of the junk on my floor belongs to some other kids. Today in her peacefulness, I decided to take a few pictures and I really liked this one. It doesn’t quite portray her since she has been extremely fussy today and is screaming even as I type. But for a few moments she was calm in the sunlight.

She has been on Zantac and now Reglan but I am really beginning to hate these drugs. Today she has cried most of the day, which is abnormal for her and I can’t see a signicant difference in her pain or spit up. I am really tempted to just quit it all and deal with it. No official word that she has reflux anyway – those tests are too expensive for us to take right now. She is sleeping okay at night going about 4 hour stretches, but is really having a hard time calming herself down after each feeding. Cute as a button, but this third girl is giving me a run for my money.

One month gone

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We are officially the parents of three kids. I guess technically we have been for the last month, but not until  you are on your own do you believe it. Trying to tote 2 young kids, making sure the third is not getting run over by cars in the parking lot, figuring out how to feed one kid when the other one needs to be up and eat for school, trying to carrying two kids down the stairs, and my favorite, chasing the oldest down with the wooden spoon while the youngest is in the sling. (Yes, we spank.) We have done well lately. Ethan and I have learned to depend on each other more…ok, maybe I am just depending on him more. He has been a great father and husband helping me in the middle of the night when Audrey is not going back to sleep, getting up when he hears the spit up shoot on the carpet, bathing and putting the older girls to bed, even going to the store for me yesterday before work. Thank you husband. One day, I promise, you will have my full attention again.

As for Audrey, she is growing. She weighed in at 9 lbs 3 oz today. That is 2 lb 3 oz in 4 weeks. Okay, I am a little proud of that seeing as how I am the one nourishing her. And taking into account how much she spits up, she must really be eating well. She is content most of the time, not too fussy, but something does not settle in her little tummy. I almost took a picture of my laundry basket yesterday, but just take my word for it, we go through an entire basket each day of bibs, diaper cloths, blankets, clothes… Audrey is currently on Zantac to see if it helps any, then we may move her to one of the stronger ones. However, I am hestitant because she is not in alot of pain and don’t really want her to take those meds if it isn’t going to change the spit up. She is beginning to stretch her nights a little going as much as 4-5 hours. I know I will look back at those middle of the night feedings and cherish that time with just me and her in the dark, but honestly, does any mom enjoy it at the time? I do love the times when she stays awake after eating and just lays on my lap and looks around and then fixes on me when she finds me. So cute and sweet. And then she spits up everywhere! Joy!

Our playtime during the day.

Winter activities

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Ethan’s mom, Oma, came to meet Audrey this week. She was able to stay through Saturday and help me with cooking, cleaning and entertaining which ever kid I needed her to entertain at that moment. I think she had some good quality time with Audrey and you can’t say you’ve had that unless you were spit up on at least half-dozen times.

It has been freezin’ here. Literally. I will admit I was the one complaining that it was way to warm into October, but this is ridiculous. Audrey is too little to be hanging out in this weather and all Megan wants to do is go to the playground or the pool. She doesn’t really understand seasons yet. So while we have not been out much in the last 3 weeks, we have done some fun stuff inside. Painted Christmas ornaments:

And painted nails:

And then just in general, we are being cute:

Someday

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My mom and I discussed several times before Audrey’s birth if we could all handle 3 weeks together. Because of the timing of Thanksgiving, it didn’t make sense for her to leave before that, so she was here for 3 complete weeks. She and my dad drove in the weekend before the birth, my dad left mid-week, and then drove back with my brothers for Thanksgiving. And now, it is Saturday 3 weeks later and she is gone. I have only cried a total of three times (that I remember) when it comes to my parents. 1: As they prepared to go home after dropping me at ACU. 2: Going home after they flew up to get us moved into our home in TN. 3: Yesterday. Hugging them good-bye after 3 good weeks.

My mom had been there every moment since Audrey’s birth. She watched her come into this world. Watched her meet her sisters. Watched her come home. Watched her eat, sleep, and begin to spit up. She held her even while her back was in severe pain. She comforted her when her little stomach got upset after each feeding. She learned her signs and could predict and prepare before the spit up went everywhere. She washed and folded. She cooked. She cleaned. She played with the big girls. She got Alyssa ready for school each day. She let me take naps. She went to the store. She planned for the cousins arrival. She planned Thanksgiving lunch. Could I possible remember everything she did for me? She did all of it without complaint, but with joy. And for once in my adult life, I let her help me. It was a blessing to have my mom here with me as I learned about life with another baby. Since we have always lived so close, she has not really spent this much time with me or a new baby. She would visit, then go home. But this time, she was able to be with us around the clock and we loved it. I think we could have gone longer, but it is time that I learn to do this on my own.

Today, was our first day as a family of five. We had both of my brothers and families here for Thanksgiving and really enjoyed spending time with everyone. But now they are gone. Mom and Dad are gone. And it is just us. And I think we did pretty good today. Here is to Monday when I am on my own all day. And thank goodness Oma arrives on Tuesday! Then I do it on my own, I promise.