01-29-15 Familiar

Last night I told C that with her help I was sure we could get the boys out the door this morning with no problem! She gave me a huge grin and a high five. This morning we delivered! They woke up thirty minutes early with smiles on their faces. While I fed the baby, C helped with getting E completely dressed and his teeth brushed. I was so proud of her as I listened from the next room. When she was done she paraded her little brother in front of me to show off her accomplishment. I was certainly impressed. There as no arguing to get shoes and coats on, no dragging of feet, no fighting. It was smooth. The only hiccup was when I got Baby E fed, changed, and dressed and he promptly threw up all over himself and me. Fortunately I had the foresight to wait to get dressed until after he was in his cars seat. 

I'm not going to lie, though. Dropping them off was hard. I hated leaving them behind and I definitely teared up on the way back to the car. 

When I got to work I was surprised to find this in my office!

What a sweet thing to come in to find! There were also bagels from the Bagel Place (including my favorite, Old Bay bagel. So yummy!) I work with some pretty amazing people and it made walking into the office so much easier! 

The first half of the day was a slow start. My mind felt foggy and sluggish as it tried to piece together the information it was taking in. My fingers were stumbling over my keyboard and actions that used to be second nature took some time to recall. But after a few hours, my hands started to work on their own, taking familiar motions. My editing got a little faster and more confident. A few more days and I should be back to normal. 

My mother and her friend spent the day at my house doing more painting and organizing. Imagine my surprise and delight to walk in to find my dining room and kitchen all put together and dinner ready to pop in the oven!

Spending the evening with the kids was extra special as they excitedly recounted their day. Today really did go so much better than I had imagined. Our little family is very blessed!

01-28-15 Baby Jesus and the Hair Salon

Well there it is... Twelve weeks come and gone. Today has been good, but tainted by that achy feeling that something wonderful is about to end. I played longer, cuddled more, laughed often, trying to soak it all in. Tomorrow we get up while it's still dark and venture out in our different directions. I suspect there will be tears, but that's ok. In a few weeks we will be settled into our new routine and nothing will seem amiss. 

This morning C insisted that we pretend that baby E was baby Jesus. I was Mary. And she was a wiseman, but a girl. Instead of the traditional gold, frankincense and myrrh, she brought warm red water to pour over baby Jesus' head to cure his cradle cap. 

In the same spirit, this afternoon E wanted to play baby Jesus again and he wanted to be baby Jesus. However C wanted to play hair salon. The compromise was that I would be Mary and I would bring baby Jesus to the salon with me while I got my hair done. Everyone wins. 

If you think of us tomorrow, whisper a prayer that this transition will go smoothly. Thanks!

01-27-15 The Kids

As I walked through my house this evening I felt something I had been longing to feel... Progress.

After multiple loads of laundry and lots of folding, the dressers are filling up and floor space is returning. 

Today was a rough day. I strained my back/neck this morning and could barely move. The kids were good to play by themselves as I rested but this afternoon all bets were off. There was a lot of whining and picking on a each other and not a lot of listening. They must feel the change coming because today they were all over the place. 

But instead of sitting here being frustrated with them, I want to take a moment to tell you about my children. 

First there is C, a definite born leader. At four years old she is fiercely independent and wants to prove she can handle life on her own. She isn't quick to ask for help and often works through her problems. She thinks princesses are real and something you can grow up to become. She is observant and always has a question that needs an immediate answer. She loves to tell jokes, play house, and name every imaginary animal or friend Elsa. Empathy is not her strong suit, but she can be compassionate when she really stops and notices those around her. Her greatest dream is to be a mommy. Her smile is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. 

Next, Big E- at two (almost three) years old he is the most compassionate and generous little kid I have ever met. He is the first to share his toys or food. He worries constantly about his sister and wants to make sure that she is happy and safe. He is quick to give hugs, kisses, and cuddles. He is sensitive and caring. He is not as bold as C, but he can play more independently. He wants to work with tools when he grows up and wants to work at the shop with daddy. He cannot help but laugh when he is tickled, no matter his mood and he has the absolute best laugh. 

Baby E is starting to form his personality. At nearly twelve weeks old he is becoming more interactive and social. He likes to be around people and he begins to fuss when he cannot see anyone. He smiles when he sees you. He is a good sleeper, loves his paci and seems to enjoy his siblings.

Sometimes parenthood can be a frustrating experience. But when I stop and really look at my children, look past the sticky hands, the alligator tears, and the impromptu tantrums, I see unique, amazing individuals that God has blessed us with to prepare and train and encourage into adulthood. 

01-26-15 Adventure

I woke the kids up this morning and told them we were going on an adventure but I wouldn't tell them where or who would be joining us. They were very excited when we met up with Aunt Jenn, Allie, and Josiah. after an epic struggle we managed to get all the car seats into one van and we set off on our way!

Ready to go! Even baby E fit in the row with the boys! 

Despite the sleet, we headed up to Bethesda to the Playseum. When the kids walked in they were so excited! The Playseum so divided into multiple themed rooms. Some are sponsored by local businesses like Safeway and Dominos. And others are rooms geared toward dressing up or crafts. They have an animal room with bunnies and birds. There's a fire truck room, a travel room and a grandma's attic. There are so many different things the kids can explore and have fun with. 

It's hard to focus on lunch when there is so much playing to do!

Time to make pizza!

The boys loved the fire truck.

They all enjoyed grocery shopping.

Dressing up was fun!

Petting the bunny. 

I will probably post more pics tomorrow because I took a ton! By the time we left the kids had had many adventures. C can't wait to go back! 

Exhausted!

We got home in time to sneak a nap in. I'm gonna miss my little napping buddy!

It was such a blessing to spend time with my sister-in-law and her kids! It's not often that I get to hang out with friends, so I was happy for the opportunity! It's wonderful that my kids have so many cousins that are so close in age and proximity. I love watching them grow up together! 

01-25-15 The Last Weekend

Well, the last weekend of my maternity leave has come and gone. I am so incredibly grateful to have spent twelve full weeks with my family. Thursday I go back, and to be honest I am starting to get a little nervous. The idea of getting three children and myself ready to go and out the door each morning by myself seems pretty overwhelming! I know it will take a couple of weeks to settle into our new routine and I just need to not be hard on myself during this transition. I had hoped to be more settled in our house before going back, but the timing didn't quite work out. That's alright, it will all come together! Also, I should seriously start doing some laundry because I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate me showing up in my sweatpants and t-shirts! 

I am looking toward to being creative again, to start a project and finish it with minimal disruption. No one at work will scream at me, or throw things at me, call me stinky face, or follow me into the bathroom. But, I will miss little hands in mine, baby coos, mid afternoon naps, spontaneous hugs, duck duck goose, and cuddles. I will have to stock up in the evenings and weekends!

Tomorrow if the weather holds I will be taking the kids on a little adventure... A last hurrah before I go back! Stay tuned!

01-24-15 Furniture is here!

Finally the furniture is here! I am so very excited about it. I should have spent the day unpacking, but as it is my last Saturday before I go back to work, I tried to take it easy and enjoy my family. 

Brothers. 

E has been sleeping on a cot since Baby E was born because I wasn't able to lift him into his crib after the C-Section. So tonight is the first night he is sleeping in his big boy toddler bed. It used to be C's but we pulled off the butterfly stickers and promised him he could cover it in Batman stickers. He was a happy boy!

Everyplace I have ever lived, I have lived near water. If I couldn't see it out my window, it wasn't ever more than 10 minutes away. Now that the bay is only a few blocks away, I'm looking forward to spending many evenings strolling on the boardwalk with my family! 

01-23-15 Neighbors

Remember when I wrote about those neighbors and the fact the police kept showing up. Little did we know that the first time we saw the police they were partly called because of us. Yes, you read that right... Us. As I recall that particular evening, Jenn and Steven were over helping us paint. At one point I ran to the grocery store. Tim ran to the farm house to get our toddler mattresses to sleep on. It was the first night we spent in the townhouse. However my recollection of the evening differs from the neighbor that called the police claiming that Tim and our next door neighbors (whom I have met twice and I can't even remember her name), were in the woods shooting air guns at her parked car. (Because we have nothing better to do with our time.)

Thankfully no one is taking it seriously, the police didn't even talk to us that night. They could probably see us painting away through the window. But I do wonder what the future holds now that we have become a target. I've never met her and it saddens me that she would be so aggressive and dishonest. What a sad way to go through life.

Today we made much more progress at the farmhouse. Tomorrow we unload all the big items here... Which means I will finally have my mattress!! A whole big mattress that I can stretch out on! At the farmhouse I had been sleeping on the couch since having the baby, so tomorrow night, for the first time in nearly twelve weeks, I will sleep in my bed!!! 

While Tim was over at the farmhouse packing this evening, I got to spend some time with my cuties. My favorite part of the evening was when the kids decided to read bedtime stories to baby E. 

When the kids went to bed, I started the task of sorting boxes and putting things away. The worst part about moving is that it will be months before I know where everything is and possibly longer to find a spot for it! 

This was after I had already started clearing things out. Yikes!

Ahhh... Much better! At least I can see the floor. There's a long way to go, but at least it is progress!

01-22-15 Tradition

We have one annual holiday tradition in our family. Each year we get together with a family we met and grew close to back during the years that we homeschooled. We've been doing this every year for at least the last fifteen years, if not more, and it is always an occasion that I look forward to. This year was no exception. It was nice to take a break from the craziness of packing and moving to spend a few quiet hours with good friends and good food! 

We always enjoy dinner and then exchange presents afterwards. The kids had a hard time getting through dinner knowing there were presents sitting in the next room! The torture! E learned he liked cranberry sauce, mushrooms and broccolli; three things he won't even try at our house. 

It was our last little taste of the holiday season.

Today Baby E turned eleven weeks old. 

You know what that means? One more week until I go back to work. Wow, that time has just flown by. I'm going to miss spending my days with the kids, but I am looking forward to a little more structure and routine making its way back into out lives! 

Naptime at the farmhouse while we packed. I'm impressed how well my kids have handled naptime in strange locations lately. I know I can count myself lucky that C still takes naps, and I know by summer we will need to start weaning her of them, cause, you know, she starts kindergarten in the fall. Time flies! 

01-21-15 Grandmothers

There are few things more wonderful than watching a grandmother enjoy her grand kids. I have been very fortunate to have my parents living relatively close by (less than two hours) and my mother has been indispensable during my maternity leave. Shortly after having the baby she came and helped me for several weeks, cooking meals, changing diapers, burping the baby. (I have nicknamed her the Burpinator because no one can get a baby to burp better than my mother!) We stayed with them for a week in early December and then around Christmas. And when I came down with the flu and baby E was so sick she took the older two for a week to let me recover and focus on the baby. She has also spent countless hours helping us paint the townhouse and pack up and move out of the farmhouse. Through it all she has been such a blessing. She is industrius and focused, great with the kids and I truly enjoy her company! 

Today she took a short break from the busyness of packing to spend some quiet moments with her youngest grandson.

What a beautiful pair! I love you mom!!

One of the few things I will miss about the farmhouse is the yard. We have enjoyed the privacy and seclusion of fifteen acres, far from busy roads and other people. I loved opening the back door and letting the kids out to play. I imagined them spending their youth exploring the woods and ravines around the house. 

My favorite memories from that house are from the yard. We had a huge hill near the house and two bright red crazy coupes. We would put one kid in each crazy coupe and push them off down the hill, letting them race to the bottom. Of the hundreds of times we did that, they only overturned once! It also made an amazing sledding hill. I loved having a garden and working in it and looking over to see C digging at the patch of dirt we had dug up and planted with flowers so she could have a garden of her own. These things remind me of my own childhood. 

But now we start a new adventure. Their childhood won't look like mine, but that's not a bad thing, just different! 

01-20-15 Wrestling

I've been warning C for awhile now that her little brother won't be smaller than her for much longer! They are 18 months apart, but she only outweighs him by about two pounds. 

01-19-15 The Box

There is a box that follows us every time we move. Between moves I completely forget about its existence, but halfway through packing I always stumble upon it. The top of the box is usually filled with non descript office supplies, and as I dig deeper into the box, voila, I find them. It's my box of newspapers and magazines that people saved for me after 9/11. 

Yesterday in Sunday school we talked about Abraham and someone brought up the point that when God made covenants with Abraham He had him build an altar. That way when he would pass by that area again, he would see the altar and remember. In our culture, we don't build altars, we keep mementos. There's a booming tacky tourist industry to prove just that. Take a trip? Buy a keychain. 

Well, I think this box is one of my altars. 

Each time I find it I think, "this time I'm going to throw it out." But I never do. I open the box and the newspapers are a little more yellow, the magazines seem a little more dated. I'm reminded that time has trudged on like it is prone to do; that one day, more of my life will be after than before. And then I'm reminded that my greatest blessings have come in the last thirteen years- my husband and three children. 

With each move, He takes this opportunity to get my attention. To make me pause and remember where I was and where He has brought me. To remind me of His faithfulness. To whisper once again, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So for now, the box comes with us. 

01-18-15 A Three Ibuprofen Night

You know that terrifying feeling when you realize you are falling and there is nothing you can do to stop it. All of a sudden everything is in slow motion and sped up at the same time. A million thoughts race through your head that all lead to the same conclusion... This is gonna hurt!

That was me this evening when I stepped on a sheet of black ice. One moment I was standing talking to Tim and the next I was in a free fall. I went straight down and landed in a sitting position, the impact jarring through my limbs. Grateful that it wasn't worse I stood up on shaky legs and regained my footing, convinced I was no worse for wear. 

Fast forward ten minutes later. That's when the pain and stiffness started to set in. Holding a crying baby and having two whimpering toddlers hanging on me wasn't helping my situation. They are all finally asleep and I'm sitting at my dining room table afraid to make any sudden movements! So tonight I will be downing at least three ibuprofen with a salted hot chocolate chaser. 

We spent the better part of our day at the farmhouse continuing the great purge. I had placed a ton of items on freecycle so today people started coming. It was great to see so many items leaving the house knowing I wouldn't have to find a way to transfer them to the new house or find a place to put them once they arrived. We are hoping to be finished within a few days. 

The kids did great today. Baby E had a lot of wakeful time and graced us with many smiles and coos. 

And the older kids were very patient while we packed and met with people. Fortunately most of the old toys disappeared while they were napping! We had one meltdown when C witnessed me giving away one of her toys. In her mind I was giving away her absolute favorite toy and she was going to miss it terribly. Never mind that she hadn't touched it in months and had all but forgotten that it existed. Sigh. There are still way more toys than necessary that will find their way here.