Happy Halloween 2012

Last Halloween

So easy (I had no idea)

 This Halloween

So chaotic (I am fully aware)

I'm excited to see what next year's Halloween photo looks like!

Sami is super excited because she gets to go on a field trip this morning (to a play, taking a bus) and then they are having a Halloween party in the afternoon. She is going to be SuperGirl for Halloween. She was going to be a ghost, then decided she wanted to be a zombie but when we were at the store getting face paint she saw the pretty pink super girl costume and there ya have it. Plus, that way she gets to dress up with her class this afternoon.

Stella is going to be a cow (hand-me-down from Fluge cousins) and Haddie is going to be a skunk (yes, the same skunk that Sami was and then Stella was).

Maybe I'll get some better pictures of the three of them when they are all dressed up tonight. 

Lunch Date

Today I had lunch with Sami at her school. It's funny how something so simple makes a kid feel higher than the clouds. Joe and I try to take turns having lunch with her a few times a month (which will probably change to once a month), for a few reasons: 1)it's the highlight of her day; 2) it's the highlight of our day 3) it gives her time with one of us without her sisters, so it's all about her.

It's good for me to see the other kindergarteners because it reminds me just how small and innocent Sami is. I lose sight of that at home because she is the oldest child and I think I age her a little bit, or expect more from her than I should.

It was a good 25 minutes of sort of bonding. Bonus: the lunch ladies were all nice today and the food was good!

Wow!!!

It's amazing what six consecutive hours of sleep does for a girl's attitude! (I would be the girl I am speaking of.)

I was awakened at 5:00 this morning by a screaming baby (or, more likely, it was my bladder that woke me and the baby happened to be screaming, also). As I was rushing into the bathroom, I realized that it was the first time I was up. So, I looked at Joe (who was getting ready to take Cash out for his morning bike run), and said "is this her FIRST time up?!" to which he replied something along the lines of "well, she's been screaming for a while now, but I thought you were letting her cry it out." and we determined that YES!! this was possibly her first time up. Or Joe and I are so tired that we slept through her cries all night.

Regardless, I GOT SIX CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF SLEEP LAST NIGHT!! And what a wonderful place this world is when I am somewhat rested. I used to think I needed at least eight hours of sleep in order to be a decent human being. Now, six is a blessing. Funny how our perspective changes with kids.

Thanks, Haddie. Or, I'm sorry if you screamed all night.

Kate

Crabby Haddie

This little girl is wearing us all out. Me especially. How can such a cute little baby scream and shriek and cry so much. Our house isn't big enough for the attitude she has.

Pajama Day!

Sami's class got to wear pajamas to school today because they filled their jar with 100 marbles. They get 10 marbles for every compliment their class gets and when they get to 100, they get to vote on a reward.

With a forecast of sunny and 80 today, I imagine she's going to be pretty toasty at 3pm when school gets out.

Great Grandma and Stella

These two spent a busy morning together while Haddie and I went to my Kids and Moms group. I am so thankful for the time my kids get to spend with her.

Cousins

On Thursday, the girls' cousins walked to our house after school. I thought this was pretty cute of Stella and her big cousin Grace.

Lake Friends

Out for a Stroll

Uninterrupted Bathroom Visits

If a mom goes to the bathroom and doesn't have an audience, it usually means one of two things: the kids are in bed or they are up to no good.

I returned from the bathroom today to find Sami elbow deep (literally) in a giant box of Goldfish, and Stella coloring various things around the house (herself included) with a black permanent marker that I have no idea how she got her sticky paws on.

Off Into The Big Wide World

I had been approaching this day with excitement. I knew that Sami was going to be ready and that she would have a blast. Why would I feel sad for her? I love 'growing up' because it makes us wiser and experienced. 'why do people get so emotional over this stuff?' I have wondered. I knew I wouldn't cry. And I didn't. BUT I was overwhelmed with emotions a we were saying 'goodbye.' There was a split second that I saw a look of concern or fear in Sami's eyes and suddenly I was so confused (emotionally, in addition to the standard mental confusion that comes with my territory). Sami and I hugged quick and I was out of there before the emotions won.

She had a great first day and is ready for Round Two tomorrow. I will give more details in the next day or so.

Kindergarten

Breakfast With Great Grandma

Sami had a special back-to-school breakfast date with her great grandma today! Then she helped with some errands and now she is hanging out for the afternoon at granny's place. A couple of special ladies spending the day together.

7 Months!

Haddie is celebrating her 7-month birthday with bananas and cereal in her new big girl high chair!

Testosterone

I love this man. He puts up with me. He doesn't get mad at me when I wake him to kill a spider just after he fell asleep. He's not afraid to hold a purse for one of his many ladies. He goes to work with glitter stuck in his stubble. He comes on family walks with his ladies. I could go on all day about him, but I will spare you.

I kinda like his dog, too.

Kindergarten Countdown

One week left until Sami starts kindergarten!

Baby Blues Nailed It!

This is Stella.

1 Down, 19 To Go

Haddie had an especially rough day yesterday and the rest of us had headaches by the end of the day (well, I did, at least). Her first tooth finally broke through her gums.

Man, we had it so easy with Sami. We only knew she was teething because she would wake up at night once in a while. Stella would have a few rough nights in a row and then be done with it. Haddie, sweet Haddie. She doesn't want a moment to go by without everyone knowing she's got a tooth coming in.

Well, THANK GOODNESS IT HAS ARRIVED! Now only 19 more to go.

How Cute Is She?!?!

No need to answer that! I was taking pictures of GrUmPy Haddie when I noticed Stella was watching oh so adorably.

Under-where?!?

Sami has issues with underwear. She doesn't like to wear 'em. There was a period of time that I didn't fight the battle, as long as she was wearing appropriate clothes. But not anymore. It's a requirement and she deals with it.

Today, however, she took the opportunity in the locker room after swimming to skip her skivvies (I wait in the hall with the babies). It took a couple hours before I noticed, at which point I told her to skivvy up immedietly. She ran to her room and returned wearing her undies...on her head. Clever little stinker.

Sami quote of morning

"Come oonnnn. You're showing up the hold up."

I canceled our Dish today for a few reasons: it's a time-suck, there are better things we could do (we seem to lose creativity when the tube is on); it's just one more screen to look at; and after I heard Sami say "I waannt thaaat!" for the billionth time today I stopped just thinking about canceling and made the call. Sami was watching a show and the screen went blank. I told her what I did and today became

"THE WORST DAY EVER!"

Which made me confident it was the right decision.

My Assistant

Sami doesn't need much help from me anymore when changing Haddie's diapers. I didn't realize this was a Kodak moment until Sami was snapping Haddie's onesie.

Now I just have to train her on the messy diapers!

Laid Back

Haddie in bed. She owns this place.

6-Month Check-up

Turns out Haddie is a shorty like me and Stella. I don't remember what percentile she's in for height, but the doc said she's petite like Stella.

This morning at breakfast we were clapping our hands singing the paddy cake song, and Haddie started clapping her hands with us!

2-year Check Up

Stella has moved up from the fifth percentile for her height! Now she's in the tenth percentile!

Both Stella and Haddie had their well child check-ups today, but only Haddie had to get shots. Sami was my assistant. I'm very lucky to have her!

Centerpiece

Haddie has been the centerpiece at our table lately, no longer minding her own business in her swing while we eat. She prefers to be where the chaos is and she feeds off it.

Sami the Fish

Sami is 5 1/2, will be 6 in November. Here is what she's been up to:
• She is chock-full of drama, sass, heart and goofiness...and toots.
• She has a wardrobe crisis nearly every day (NOTHING TO WEAR-AH!)
• She started swim lessons mid-June and loved it so she's still going at it. She told me today that she loves it so much she wishes it lasted all day long.
I like it because it is teaching her to face her fears (deep end, diving board, lifeguard stand). This little lady is very cautious!
• She starts KINDERGARTEN in a month! I am so excited for her, I know she is going to love it. Plus, she has her cousins to guide her and chum with at recess.

Stella turned Two!

On Monday, July 9th, Stella turned TWO years old. We celebrated on Sunday, July 8th (our 7th anniversary) with a small (for my sanity) picnic in our backyard.

Here's what Stella's been up to:
• About a week before her birthday she started to finally say "two." Stubborn girl. She is getting some speech therapy to help encourage her to use more words, and it has been helping. Not a big deal, just a stubborn two year old who prefers to scream and grunt.
• We can't go out in public without someone commenting on her big brown eyes.
• She is very adventurous, has little fear/caution and marches to the beat of her own drum.
• She is an entertainer. Definitely fun to watch if you have a case of the grumpies that you need to kick.
• Still maintains the nickname "Griz" and/or "Bear."

Haddie: 6 Months Old

Haddie Elizabeth is 6 months old already. My last baby is growing up :(. What she's up to:
• Starting to sit up on her own
• Teething, however haven't seen the white of a tooth yet
• Laughing her little but off
• Ear piercing squeals (copying her sisters)
• Been rolling back to tummy for a couple months now. Rolled tummy to back once or twice during the past month.
• Hates her rice cereal, wants what what everyone else is having.
•. Wakes up at 3am (like clockwork) every night to eat. The first of the three to not consistently sleep through the night-most likely because she is still on the boob and now refuses bottles.
• She LOVES bath time. Splashes like a mad woman and squeals and screams in delight. Definitely NOT a fan of the cooler water in the pools and lakes, though.
• She gets bored easily when her big sisters aren't around to entertain her.

Parenting

The other day, I busted Stella in the recliner 'reading' my Love and Logic parenting book (upside down). I grabbed my phone to take a pic of her in action, but she saw what I was doing and struck this pose.

Babies = Love

There is not much that compares to the sweet smile of a baby. Haddie has been smiling and cooing for a while now and it just melts my heart.

Sami was the most perfect baby and because of that, she made Stella look bad as a baby. But Stella was still a great baby, she just cried - as most babies do. And Haddie cries a bit more.

The thing with Stella was that, while she was generally a happy baby, she went from calm to pissed in about three seconds. She knew what she wanted (but we may not have), and she knew how to express the urgency of it (even though it was usually not really an urgent matter). It really stressed us out for those moments that she was screaming.

Haddie is pretty much the same as Stella, but even more dramatic. The urgency of her scream is life or death. And, unlike her older sisters, she has not been a perfect sleeper since day one. She's just starting to sleep some good stretches at night. But I still love her. ;)

I am going somewhere with this.

I can't wrap my head around how many unloved babies there are in this world. I just want to scoop them all up and snuggle them and hold them and let them know that I just love them so much. It doesn't matter that I've never met them before. Babies = Love. It doesn't matter if they are miserable, unadorable babies. They are BABIES. The most innocent little creatures on Earth, and I love them all.

I think that this has been on my mind more lately due to the blood curdling screaming that Haddie does. It stresses me out and I sometimes have to just put her in her bassinet, shut the bedroom door and let her scream it out. While I do that, I still can't help but try to make her feel my love through thought and prayer.

I know that I'm not the only person that feels this way. Anyone out there want to start a baby loving business with me?!

The Girls

Here are some pics to shush up the husband and sister for a while. (They've been saying I need to update the blog.)  More later.

Oh. The pictures of Haddie are to see how she grows into the 9 month outfit she is wearing. Both pics were taken on the same day (Monday).  She will be 6 weeks old tomorrow, so I wasn't sure if I should put 5 weeks or 6 weeks...or 5 1/2 weeks.

...and then there were five

It has been 18 days since our family has grown.  Before our lives changed, I was terrified of what was to come and of how I would handle it.  I expected the worst. Not from the kids, but from me.  I expected that I would have a meltdown within the first week.  That my head would be spinning and I would need to be committed.  It's a bit dramatic, but that's me. It has actually been pretty fabulous. Although I have learned what being tired really is, I am totally enjoying being a mom of three - 100%.  I love the chaos of it.  Joe and I both do.  Tomorrow is when reality will really start to set in because Joe goes back to work, but I've managed all three kids on my own many times in the past week so I know we'll survive. The hardest part will probably be the mornings.  And preschool drop off and pick up. I am excited, though, to get back into a (new) routine. 

Haddie Elizabeth was born on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012, at 8:21 a.m.  She weighed 6 lbs., 7.7 oz. and was 19 inches long. When we left the hospital on Saturday, January 21st, she weighed 5 lbs., 14 oz.  Laying on the operating table it seemed like it was taking an eternity to get the Cub (will explain later) out of me.  As I was laying there I had said that I just wanted to hear that baby cry already, but I didn't really get to hear her cry.  Crying is an understatement.  This little girl came out kicking and screaming. Her feet were the first thing that caught my eye.  She has the skinniest legs I have ever seen and at the bottom of them are narrow, long feet with long toes. Monkey feet.

Sami loves Haddie so much, she just wants to hold her and kiss her and squeeze her and touch her.  Stella doesn't care too much about the new addition.  She'll occasionally come up to Haddie and pet her while saying "nice" or aggressively rock Haddie's car seat, but other than that, it's business as usual for Stella. She has been loving having her all time favorite person in the world (her daddy) home so much.

We are so extremely grateful for all of the gifts that we have received and especially all of the food we have received.

January 5th?!

This might be the only time ever in January in North Dakota that we are out for a walk in sweatshirts and no hats because it is 56 degrees!!!!! I should be cleaning the house or grocery shopping but this seemed so much more important. Totally worth it.