Four Airplanes and A Wedding

We went to Washington, DC for Josh's brother's wedding and I didn't have my camera with me at the temple! I came home with a lot of pictures of my kids but none of the bride and groom. Josh has some on his phone but I can't post those. Whoops! I recommend every new mom taking a trip. I came home with a marker between the early postpartum days and the rest of my life. Ah, here we go three kids!

We got up at 4am to make our first flight. I had slept three hours and had mastitis, again. Rough start. Anna slept the entire way except when she ate. The boys were very excited to be on a plane and watched a lot of movies on the laptop. We flew to Seattle, then into Baltimore. We were so lucky to stay with my sister and her family at their house. I would not have done the trip if we had to stay in a hotel the whole time. We went up to Philadelphia for the reception, stayed in a hotel that night, and blessed Anna at the ward Josh grew up in the next morning.
Our Georgianna is named after her great grandmother who was there. It was perfect. Grandma Anna, as we have started calling her, is a wonderful example of faith, endurance, and charity. We love her with all our hearts and are so thrilled our daughter is here at last to share her name. She gave the baby a ring she was wearing when she prayed to know more about her Heavenly Father and found the Church. Anna wore this ring on a chain as a necklace along with the blessing dress my mother made by hand when my oldest sister was blessed. We were so happy to be there with all of the family in town for the wedding and my sister Debbie with her boys, Matt and Jacob, and daughter Lydia who drove up from Maryland to be at church that morning.
Anna reached six weeks while we stayed at Debbie's house. The boys played pirates and knights all day long with dress up costumes and props galore from the basement. Their cousins were very patient play mates, or should I say "Mateys!" Arrrgh!The exhaustion caught up with us and Michael spent one day sick in bed after throwing up his breakfast all over himself. He obediently stayed in bed, sleeping a five hour stretch and being very sweet. Debbie went out to Radio Shack, twice, in the rain, with a terrible sinus headache, to get a new power cord for a little t.v. so he could watch Peter Pan in bed. Bless her!Sam didn't like being without Michael at first, but quickly learned how fun it is to have playmate all to yourself. We were exhausted zombies the entire time we were there, but we managed to visit in between meals and feedings and felt so at home. We were all sad to leave!
We did spend one afternoon visiting friends in Virginia. Here the boys are with our good friends from our old ward. When we left their little son my boys' age said, "Bye! See you next week!" It was so sad. I wish we could see them every week! They love him and his older brothers doing boy things together like sword fighting and climbing trees.
We flew home late at night with a plane change in San Diego. Sam left his bear "Moe" in the airport but our flight attendant raced back into the terminal and rescued him, from two gates down, for the flight! Thank you!!! We went to bed at 3am eastern time that night and are still a little off from the sleep situation, but we have a newborn too, so who knows what time it is anyway!

Back at home, summer has finally come. It has been cold (50's) and rainy and miserable. We bought some flip flops which Michael especially loves because he can put them on himself. I love that too! Hurray for more independence! He's also stopped having potty accidents, at least "#1" since we've been home.
The boys love Anna. They wonder why she cries and drive me insane while I'm nursing her jumping on the couch, pawing at her and screaming at the top of their lungs, or, if I manage to "banish" them as Michael puts it, they make huge messes on purpose. The only thing that works is t.v. which we have been trying to use less and less. They really do love her though and talk about teaching her to talk and play. Michael says when she grows up he will marry her. I think that is true love right there. And really, who could resist those cheeks!

Girl Time

Today while the boys were saving the Universe with Transformers,

Anna and I ironed.
See how neatly she folded her dad's handkerchief? I am so proud of her.



It's fun to have another girl in the house.

I'm pretty sure she started social smiles yesterday. They are adorable, if I do say so myself.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you who find joy in taking care of little ones, your own or others'.
The boys sang Mother's Day songs with the Primary for the first time during church. It was darling. Michael's face was only visible from the nose up. Either he was hiding or he's just so little! They both sang and it was great.
And then there's little Misses Anna. So fun.

We didn't do much because I still feel sick from the mastitis but I did get a great two hour nap! Thank you Josh! That's what moms REALLY want! Hope you enjoyed your special day.

"Tonight, Tonight "

Tonight wasn't "just any night." Josh had meetings and a temple cleaning assignment and is still gone at 10:30. We ate dinner together with him before he left, then it was time to put the boys to bed. One hour later Sam threw a tantrum when it was time to turn out the lights. He is having nightmares about robbers and refused to sleep in his bed unless I left on the light. He shares a room with Michael and I knew two boys with the lights on equals no sleep so I refused. He went into my room and is sleeping in Josh's spot in our bed.

Then I went to feed Anna, about an hour late after being told I need to keep her on a 3 hour schedule during the day for my own sake. (I'm on my second round of antibiotics for mastitis in two weeks). I fed her downstairs, trying to relax enough to get the job done while Michael was upstairs slamming his door open and shut for 45 minutes. I called to him to come downstairs but he wouldn't which could only mean he messed his pants and didn't want me to know.

Upstairs. I skipped rocking Anna to sleep. I skipped pumping. I convinced Michael I wasn't mad and put Anna in her crib to hope she liked looking at something and wouldn't cry. I made Michael take off his own underwear and wipe his own bum and legs which mortified him. "But I'm scared! It's disgusting! I don't want to touch it!" Guess what, me neither! Maybe this will help get the message through to him that the toilet really is better. He has been making friends with the idea and even went into the bathroom once before doing it in his pants. Tonight he said he did it in his underwear because he had just been to the bathroom, washed his hands, and brushed his teeth. I guess it just sounded too hard to go in their again after just coming out, but the cleaning up may help him get over this issue in time to start preschool in August. Let's all pray! I am looking forward to preschool!

All clean, I get Michael to his room, sans Sam. He then asks me a series of questions that are impossible to ignore: Why did Jesus die on the cross? Why was Heavenly Father sad that he died? Why did the devil trick Eve? Does the devil like daddy? Where does the devil live now? Wow! Really? At 10pm when I am dying to sleep (after I post about this, of course).

So, Anna is sleeping in her crib for the first time ever instead of the bouncy seat in our bedroom. I have to move the nursery monitor. I have to make sure she eats enough during the night and then pump to make sure it's all out so I can get over this infection once and for all.

Sam is sleeping in Josh's spot. I will make Josh move him when he gets home. Michael is contemplating the universe but cannot make it to the toilet to do his business. I have to wash the pump, read the Book of Mormon, and try to fall asleep before Anna wakes up to eat. I am leaving the dishes, even the pan that reeks of salmon, for the morning.

Just thought this was one for the record. Goodnight!

Pretty In Pink

Hello from Babyland. We've been re-cooping, going through the ups and downs, and playing babies. My mom and dad came out for a week and took care of me, then we had a week on our own, then my niece Angie came for a week last week to hold the baby and entertain the boys. We are so thankful for their help and will miss them!
So, tomorrow will be four weeks since she was born and we begin being on our own for good. I am feeling a lot better physically and emotionally and I think I'm figuring out how to get Anna to sleep even with the noisy boys here but that will be my biggest challenge this week.
She is changing every few days. We no longer have any idea who she looks like but she does look like both of her brothers.

We love it when she puts her arms over me like this.
Grandma and Grandpa with grandchild number 23!
The boys were a little perturbed that they couldn't have me all to themselves and spent the week with Grandma and Grandpa at a safe distance until their last day or so here.
Reading to them is a sure way to win them over.
Sam loves Anna. He sings to her and like to get her pacifier even though she usually spits it out.

Today was the first day I went to church. Here's Anna in her dress from Grandma all ready for her first Sunday. The boys were proud to show her off.
Pretty in her first dress.
Here's her favorite place to be - held!
Not thinking about what I'm writing so much as just wanting to get the pictures up and say we're doing well. I think the boys will appreciate having me all to themselves, and Anna, this week. I am feeling stronger and hope to get out of the house so the boys don't spend so much time watching TV.

Now I'm going to hold my baby, listen to her breathe, and smell her baby smell! I love this girl! I feel so much more of a kinship than I did with the boys. Maybe it's just easier to bond with one than it was with two, or maybe it's the fact that I am actually getting some sleep this time around, but I feel like we're such good friends.

My Girl!

She's here! Our beloved Georgianna Ruth, or Anna, made her grand entrance into the world on Monday. This little squishy bundle weighed in at 8 lbs and measured 21 inches. I woke up Monday morning with painful contractions at 6:45 am and got to the hospital at 9:30. She was born at 12:30! There was no time for any medication but at least it was fast. I pushed for 30 minutes and was so excited to see her. She's been my little friend these last nine months and I feel like we already have a relationship. I was so alert after the birth and could think straight, something that took me weeks after the boys were born. I highly recommend having children one at a time and avoiding c-sections!
She's perfect in every way. She's eating like a champ and sleeps a lot. With the boys there wasn't enough food to go around and we were all exhausted and crazy from the crying. She only cries when she's hungry and then feeding her takes care of that for a few hours. What a concept!!!
Hello world! I'm a little sleepy!
Her big brothers are being incredible. They were so excited to see her and have given up their places in the middle of the van so Anna can be there. They are feeling more grown up, we all are, and are helping a lot. That's not to say they're not trying various attention-getting devices, but they are acting more mature sometimes too. It's great to watch.
Josh took the whole week off of work and has let me sleep the mornings away while he takes care of the boys and does clean up duty. Tomorrow my parents are coming for a week and I feel so blessed to be able to enjoy this baby! She is so kissable and makes adorable noises when she nurses. She sneezes sometimes and then kind of screams as if to say, "What was that?" We love her and are so happy she's here!

Happy Easter

Were you this excited about Easter this year? The excitement level at our house was contagious. The boys had completely forgotten all about how we celebrate Easter and everything was new to them. Check out the boy-colored eggs. I don't think I've ever had Easter without a pink hard boiled egg. Blue, green, purple, even brown. We had them all. We dyed them yesterday afternoon and promised the Easter Bunny would hide them so they could hunt for them this morning. We did it all together and Sam was so excited about "what we did with our mom and dad!" When they tried to peel them this morning Michael was excited to find out they had "butter" inside, the yolk. I think he may have eaten 4 or 5 egg yolks. Cholesterol anyone?
The Easter Bunny had to plan ahead this year just in case we were at the hospital or had a new born when the day rolled around. He brought pads of paper and crayons and Sam drew his first recognizable picture today - a pirate ship. I should take a picture of that too. There were bubble wands and, of course, some jelly beans and chocolates. Nothing like a little sugar for breakfast to get a kid off on the right mood for the day!
This is blurry but I love the expression on Michael's face.

After Conference we set to work making our Easter dinner. I decided against ham in favor of a boneless pork loin roast but had the creamed new potatoes and peas, Brussels sprouts and rolls with some sparkling limeade. My helpers made it more fun. I love that he's wearing gloves to scrub the potatoes. Don't want dishpan hands, you know.

I really should be better about letting the boys help me more. They love doing things they see me do and it keeps them from fighting, but it is so messy and stressful:
Stay away from the stove.
Don't touch the knife.
You can't eat roll dough. Because it's just gross.
Be careful not to push him off the chair.
Please don't turn up the mixer so high.
Excuse me, I need to get in there.
Ah well. You get the idea.

But look at the smile on that face. "I am helping! I am big! I can DO IT!" This is the mantra around here these days so I might as well start teaching them how to do more accurately and embrace a certain level of help, precarious though it may be.

You would think they would eat more of a meal they helped make, but the call of the Easter Cake was too loud. All day Michael kept checking on it in the fridge just to make sure it was still there and to decide which jelly beans he would like to eat. I loved it.
I brought out the china plates and put some daffodils on the table. The boys may not like pork roast, but Josh and I did, and it was such a nice Easter. I was able to listen to so much more General Conference than I have the past few years. I actually took some notes this afternoon! So many of the talks were addressed to parents and I really felt inspired in ways I can help my family more and really think about my parenting instead of just winging it so much.

There was a great feeling in our home today and I hope that can continue as I try to be more patient with and focused on the boys, oh, until the new baby comes, that is!

Here are some movie clips from the day. My favorite is the egg hunt when they fail to see the egg on the rug by the door. Hope it puts a smile on your face. Happy Easter!

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