This Change is Good

I really don't expect blogging to be a big part of my life for quite awhile, but I will try to keep you updated with pictures! We are continuing to adjust and adapt our lives so that we are not just managing, but really thriving. I have recently felt some desires to recommit myself to this new "job" I have being home with these sweet little ones and to create a schedule for us to keep our days intentional and purposeful. I have also ordered some educational curriculum to do with Hailey and Eli to help challenge their little brains. I am really excited and thankful that God has given me this conviction to spend more quality time with the kids. It is easy to get consumed with the laundry, cleaning, cooking and the lures of social media like Facebook. Today, we had a great start. I will try to update more in a month or two once things are more routine for us, but I am feeling refreshed after seeing what one intentional day can do for all of us. :)

My phone is always loaded with pictures these days. I wish I had more pictures taken on my nice camera, but the moments seem to come and go too quickly for me to run and get it and my phone is always within reach.

Aunt Stacey gave Hailey some of her company's kid friendly nail polish in her favorite color so we had to try it out. You can check out Piggy Paint HERE!

 Isaac had his first blow-out!!! Many more to come I'm sure.:)

I can't tell you how much these two already love each other. I can tell Isaac recognizes Eli's voice. He quits crying immediately when Eli talks to him and turns his little head in the direction of his big brother's voice. They are going to be good friends.

Isaac took his first bottle at five weeks and did really well. I gave Eli and Hailey both a turn in giving it to him. This bottle was the test run the day before Marc gave me an entire morning away from the kids. The time away was so therapeutic! I ate breakfast at Panera and lunch at Chick-fil-A and then shopped around a bit. It was a treat to get waited on and to not have to prepare anyone else's food. Marc did well juggling all three kids by himself, but he had a new appreciation for me when I got home. :)

Some pictures of Isaac remind me so much of Eli at this age. This is one of them.

 Enjoying some snuggle time while the big kids nap.

This little guy is filling out! He is around 12 pounds I think. He is down to just one feed per night and that usually comes 6-7 hrs. after his bedtime feed which is AWESOME!

 Big eyes just like Eli and daddy

 The Princess and Knight of our castle.

Feeling beyond blessed these days, and continually humbled.

February catch-up

It seems that every time I sit down to type up a blog post I get sidetracked trying to catch-up on all the other blogs I like to read that I have neglected over the past month. And then, just when I feel caught up and ready to type my own post, someone needs me and I close the computer. So goes life these days. :) We are loving our sweet new addition. It is really hard for me to remember life without Isaac. Maybe those are my post-pregnancy hormones making me sentimental and cliche or my lack of sleep making my memory foggy. Probably a combination of the two. Regardless, Isaac has filled our home with more joy, smiles, and laughter and we are so grateful to have him join this family.

Isaac is now one month old and proving himself to be an easy going baby much like our other two. We are loosely following the Babywise schedule like we did with Eli and Hailey and he has taken to it like a champ. He is consistently taking 2 hr. naps in his crib during the day which frees me up to spend time with the other two kids and maintain the house. He is going 4-5 hrs. at night between feeds. While I know this method does not work for everyone, it has made our kids so happy as infants because they are well rested and the eat-play-sleep cycle seems so natural to them. The effects of establishing good sleep patterns early on have carried into their toddler years as well. Eli and Hailey rarely protest going down for nap or bed when it is time. Hailey actually put herself down for a nap the other day when I was nursing Isaac! She had finished her lunch and asked me if it was nap time. When I told her "yes" she went to the potty and then went and got into her bed. By the time I was free to check on her, she was already asleep. :)

Life with three kids under four has not been much different than having only two. Eli and Hailey are at a very busy stage so Isaac doesn't put much more demand on the pace we already had going. I'm sure things will change once he doesn't sleep all the time. :) The biggest struggle for me is trying to figure in the tasks like cooking, cleaning, and laundry. I used to tackle these things each day while the kids slept, but now all I do is sleep as well when the kids are down. :) I'm not sure where my blood counts are, but I know I am still anemic and certainly not getting a full night of rest. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, the fatigue will subside and I will get a bit of a routine again. For now my "to do" list keeps growing and I am TOTALLY ok with that. I am just enjoying where God has me right now and trying to be faithful to the things he has given me.

I do hope to backtrack a few posts in the next few days and catch up on some pictures and memories that we made in this first month with Isaac, but for now, I will throw in a few random pictures from our life lately.

 Eli made a George Washington wig at school during President's Week. We thought this was hilarious!

One month of age for our kids always means baby acne and hair loss :)

 Trying to get that head up during tummy time.

Hailey is really doing great with Isaac. She loves holding him and helping me change diapers.

 Eli loves doctoring all his stuffed animals.

 Still our one and only princess. :)

Winter Fun!

I am not a fan of cold weather. I'm told this winter has been relatively mild, but I am very eager for some spring temperatures that will allow us to escape the indoors. However, it was nice to get in one pretty snow before Spring arrives in a few weeks! I had found the kids some snow gear after Christmas that they were very eager to put to some use. I bought the snow bibs and boots a few sizes too big so they should carry us through next year as well.

Poor Hailey is just too short for Eli's arm embrace. He does this choke hold move every time I ask him to put his arm around her in pictures. Too funny!

Snow castle???

I'm glad Marc volunteered to be the one in the snow!

This look says trouble to me. ;)

I love the joy I get to see in our kids as they experience life.

It was a fun snow day...but I hope warmer days are ahead!

Happy Valentine's Day

Don't you love a good excuse to make some iced sugar cookies??? The kids enjoyed helping me out this year to make some holiday cookies for Valentine's Day. I love that each year they become more capable of participating in certain activities with me like baking. Eli did so well rolling the dough. I have to catch myself trying to help too much! They are often able to do more than I give them credit for. :)

(These pics came off my phone hence the quality of some.)

This year Eli was able to celebrate Valentine's Day at school because it fell on a day that he attends. He had so much fun decorating his valentine box and putting together his Cars valentines with Smarties attached (his favorite candy). He came home with a box full of goodies! We had our own little bag of treats for each of the kids that they opened before Eli headed off to school. My mom and dad had sent some surprises as well which they enjoyed.

Marc surprised me with a much needed gift on Valentine's Day! I was in Isaac's room after lunch putting him down for a nap when Marc walked in unannounced with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. He told me he had taken some time off from work to come home and clean up the house and do the laundry so I could take a NAP! What a treat. :) Hailey was already asleep so I laid down and took a 2 hr. uninterrupted nap.  When I woke up the kitchen was spotless and he had 3 loads of laundry folded and put away. He is such a tremendous blessing to me. I hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day celebrating those that you love!