Tutu Much Fun!

I love playing dress-up with my little girl. So far she is so much more photogenic than the boys, and so much fun to accessorize.

My dear friend Amanda made her Tutu and flower headbands. Thanks Girl, I absolutely love it.
http://joliefillebowtique.webs.com/



Practicing her ballet already.

Let's Pretend

Recently the boys have been getting more involved in pretend play. It is great because they interact so much more when they are doing pretend play than any other activity. There is less fighting during pretend play. They get on their little cars and drive around going to work, to Starbucks, and to different store. The last few days they have started playing house, or maybe it more accurately called putting baby down for nap. They invade Kayla's room and put their stuffed animals down to nap in her crib. I was never willing to buy the boys a doll, even thought it is suggested you buy older siblings one before the new baby comes along to help them adapt. It is not because I have any issues with boys playing with dolls. I just had visions on naked babies being thrown around my house, and decided there was really no point. We have noticed the boys playing with dolls in their nursery class at church and comment on how it is time to buy them one, but have not gotten around to it.
Tonight their pretend play got more involved. Andrew found Kayla's little pink doll and tried to take it's clothes off, (The dolls at church have no clothes) but the dress is attached so he couldn't take it off. I gave the boys some of Kayla's old onesies and Brad helped the boys dress Elmo, Orange guy (Dr. Seuss character) and Scout. The pretending continued and was caught on camera.

The boys rocking their babies in the rocking chair. Nathan is also breast feeding.

Brad decided it was time to give them bottles. =)



They insisted their bottles have water in them. Now Nathan is trying to squirt his baby.
It is night night time for Elmo.

my little jabber box

Swimming

Don't Judge Me,

Why is it as a mom we always assume we are the only ones. Even when we know the phase/situation we are fitting through with our kids is normal we take it personally or let it affect how we view ourselves as moms. When I stop and take a deep breath and reflect I realize that a lot of my stress as a mom is feeling like I should be doing better, or that I should know what to do in certain situations. Maybe you don’t struggle with thoughts like these, but I know I am not the only one who does. There were two ongoing lessons I wrestled with the first year with the boys. The first was giving me grace. I had to learn to take things one moment at a time and allow myself to make mistakes, to not know the answers, and to be ok when I was not able to meet my own expectations. The second lesson was letting go of my fears. As the boys have grown and we have added little Kayla I have done a much better job at letting go of my fear than showing myself grace. Sometimes I don’t like to admit it but; I have a toddler who likes to whine rather than talk, a toddler who tells me “no” and is determined to have his own way all the time, an infant who does not want to sleep through the night and can’t be calmed, a toddler who fights going to sleep, a toddler who could care less about being in time out, a house that is a disaster, a fight every time we get into the car, an infant who has attachment issues, and so much more. Again, I know that all of these things are normal. So why is it I feel like a horrible mom when my infant is screaming on the airplane, my kids is yelling “no” at me in the grocery store, or my son in whining and crying because I won’t let him squish the bag of peaches in his lap? Why do I feel like I have to apologize for their typical childhood behavior? I am not saying their behavior is ok, or that we as parents feel it is acceptable, but it is normal. Not only is it normal but it is a sign that they are growing up and having their own desires and opinions. Why is it I feel like good moms who are attentive, loving, and have good discipline don’t have kids screaming in airplanes or grocery stores? (Yes I know that statement is not at all true, but at times I feel like it is) If I know it is all normal and part of growing up then why do I take their behavior so personally? When will I learn to accept the fact that I am a great mom even when there are tears, fits, and no one is sleeping? I guess the truth is I am no different than my kids. They still touch buttons even when they know not to, and I still cling to my own insecurities even when I know the truth.

I'm a Minivan Mom

This week I was able to reconnect with an old friend. She was in the area and decided to stop by. The first thing she commented on how I was driving a minivan. Even though we have not seen each other in over a year we have stayed in contact. She knows I have 3 little ones in car seat so driving a minivan should not be a surprise, and yet she mentioned it several times. I was not quite sure why she kept bringing up our van, especially since that is exactly what she was driving around town. I have been thinking about her visit and I keep coming back to her comment on our van, I figured it out. When I stepped back and looked at my life from her perspective I realized this red dirty minivan is a significant symbol of my life and how much had changed over the past few years. This friend started out as a team teacher; she quickly became my mentor s well as a dear friend. She was one of the first few people we told when we decided to try and have a baby. She was there when I was unsuccessful at getting pregnant and started fertility treatments. She would come into my classroom on days I was away undergoing fertility treatment and get the latest heartbreaking medical updates from my mom. (My mom was able to substitute for my class, which was a huge blessing especially when I had to miss more days than I wanted for Dr. appointments). This friend would cry with me and continually encourage me with hope. She said she just knew I was going to get pregnant and that I was going to have 3 boys, a thought that completely terrified me. This friend knew me back when, back when all I wanted to be a mom and I was afraid my dream would never become a reality. Back when a cool Rav 4 was all I needed to get around town in. I am sure my friend did not have any hidden deep meaning behind her surprise about my minivan. Yet her comment reminded me of how a simple everyday item symbolized how far we had come and how many prayers God had answered. Her visit took me back to what sometimes feels like a different life altogether. God brought us through our struggles to get pregnant on our own, fertility treatments, a miscarriage, taking a break from fertility treatments, making the decision to do in vitro, the lovely hormone filled process that is IVF, a high-risk twin pregnancy, and c-section and NICU babies. And that was just the process of having the boys. He has answered so many more prayers by giving us our little girl. My life seems so different now, I am a minivan mom. Although that time seems like a past life not a day goes by when I don’t reflect back to some aspect of our pregnancy trial. As I stay in touch with some friends, and reconnect with others I realize that something unique happens to friendships when they go through trials. The shared pain, tears, trust, vulnerability somehow glue them together. I hope to see this friend again, but even if I don’t she will always be a glue friend because she knew me back when. Back when I dreamed and prayed to have a baby, back before I was a minivan mom.

Kayla has a booger

beep beep

Breaking Through the Toddler Years.

I have figured it out. I have broken the code to the terrible 2s. It is not that toddlers are really bad. It is just that we don't understand and follow their rules. If we as parents could live by a few simple rules we would all coast through the toddler years. All toddlers are a little different so not all these rules may apply to your household. I can only share Nathan and Andrews rules. You will have to learn your own child's rules.

Life Rules According to Nathan & Andrew

-If I deem it yucky, it belongs on the floor and not on my plate.
-It I can fit it in my hand it must be thrown regardless of its shape, purpose, or what it is made out of.
-All rules are allowed to be broken whenever Mommy is busy with Kayla.
-Any and all buttons must be pushed at all times. After all that is what buttons are made for.
-All liquid was created for splashing.
-If I get it first, it is mine. If I can reach it, it is mine. If I am not supposed to have it, it is mine. If you have it and I want it, it is mine.
-If something is funny, it will continue to be funny no matter how many times it is repeated.
-All girls’ hair must be down at all times and should not be played with.
-If Mommy tells brother "No", it means that I am allowed to do it.
-If Mommy tells me “no” it must be because she does not understand what I am trying to do. If she understood then she would let me do it. Therefore, I am allowed to continue what I am doing and don’t need to listen and obey. Mommy will figure it out eventually.