ADD

I swear, my oldest daughter, Abby, is (or has, whichever is correct:)) ADD. Getting ready for school in the morning is an hour long process even though we've been at this drill for a year and a half now. "Put your pants on.... Put your socks on..... Put your shoes on..... Other shoe....." Each task is interrupted by a quick sketch on her notebook, or a quick play with her bear, or a quick narrative of her new book. We are all used to this routine, so it is not necessarily annoying. But today, she was particularly distracted which caused me to think, "Gosh is there something wrong with her? SHould we get her checked out? How is she doing in school?".  

As Daddy took Abby to school. I began my morning with Gigi and Livy. OK - get dressed. But first, check e-mail, then clean the kitchen. Oh, yes, bag up those items for goodwill. The baby needs to nurse and Gigi wants toast. OK - get dressed. But first, dress Gigi and put on a DVD. Then read an article in the paper about a dolphin expert. The baby's awake....

Needless to say, I'm still not dressed. Abby comes by ADD honestly and I think she'll be just fine:)

TIRED

Ughh. Gigi was up crying every hour or so!? What's the deal? Ryan fielded most of the night wakings, while I fed the baby. And then at 5 am, Gigi and Livy were in bed with me and Ryan was snuggling with Abby. It makes one wonder how people find the opportunity to make more than 3 babies?

So, we are all tired. I'm trying not to be cranky, but darn it! I need sleep. And its raining, so there's no "Go outside and jump" today. I've got to be creative, but I find it taxing when this tired.

Life

Haiti. The damage is unbeleivable. I am so thankful that there are lots of ways to help people in such need. See -  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/13/world/main6090814.shtml. I selfishly had to turn off the news last night as images brought me to tears. There I was holding my perfect little baby with two bigger girls safely tucked in for the night, and I thanked the Lord for our health, safety and wealth. Ryan and I had a little wake up call last night. 2009 was a financially challenging year, but we are so wealthy compared to 90% of the world. I pray for the people of Haiti - that relief will come to them.

Lovely Livy

Livy - almost 10 wks

Time to talk about having baby #3. I was scared to have a third. We already had our hands full with an active and verbal 6 year old and a two year old (enough said). We also thought, wrongly, that we were blessed with two healthy, beautiful, talented, etc. kids - we were pushing our luck having another! But, as always God knew best. Livy has been a beautiful addition to our little family. Not only is she perfectly formed and healthy, but she is lovely just like here older sisters.

She has blessed our lives - all of us. I've seen Abby grow due to the love she feels for her tiny sister. She has taken to the Big Big sister roll beautifully.

And Gigi, well, she's still adjusting to being bumped from baby status. She is growing through a stage, which though challenging, is good for her.

And me - I'm a better mother now with three than with only one child. I remember having my first and being so scared to mess up. I was so afraid to ruin her that I was, at times, paralized and infantile. With my second, I was more mature and practiced. I was more confident in my parenting and put to use lessons learned parenting #1. And now with Livy, I'm enjoying the process of mothering.

My advice to new moms - Keep going, it gets better and easier.

First day of preschool

Today was (is) Gigi's first day of Preschool.

She ran up to the gate, stopped for a quick "hello" to the teacher, ran into the play yard, ran to the swings,  ran to the trikes and then told me to leave. And I heard her whisper "awesome" as she looked  in her lunch box.

Livy - 2 months

Livy is now two months old. Gigi is going to be three next month and Abby 7 in another 2 months. I think about how full our life is now and am amazed. The girls are all growing so fast. I blinked and the last two months are history!

Livy is such good baby - calm, sweet, and a bit tentative. She has this furrowed brow "face" she makes when uncertain of her environment. Gigi does a great immitation. Livy is now cooing and smiling. I forgot how fun this stage was!

And Gigi, well, she's still my little card. THe family clown. She can dance on a dime (just this morning, she was doing a hippie chic dance at Starbucks). She also can throw a fit like no other. And she's two.

Abby. My sweet Abby. She loves to love. She loves to hug and kiss and cuddle. And she can sing better than anyone in the house. She has my heart.

back in the saddle

Ok, so I'm going to give this blogging thing another try. I'm inspired by my sister-in-law, Pioneer Woman, and Julie (from Julie & Julia). Also, I heard that you can have your blog printed in a coffee table style book... Hmmm... Journaling, Scrapbooking, etc. all acheived by blogging. Cool.

So, lets catch up on Christmas 2009. What a great holiday. The kids loved it. Abby, my 6 - soon to be 7-year old, is still full of faith and wonder. She bought Santa and the elves hook, line and sinker. So fun. Grammy and Papa (aka "the elves") brought the girls little gifts every evening of the 12 days of Christmas. And Papa wrote cute little poems to the girls about the gifts. I tell you, we are certainly spoiled!

Today's stuff

Today's favorite quote from Abby... At the dinner table, Daddy looked at Abby and commented on how fast she's growing. "Thats up to God, Daddy. He made me so its his choice how fast I grow." Huh, shut daddy right up.

And Gigi is trying to jump. She crouches down into a deep knee bend then raises herself up lifting one leg off the ground. She's not quite getting air, but the learning process sure is cute.

Here is a picture we took last night. Abby fell asleep in our bed and someone else did too. If we let her, kitty would smother our sleeping kids. Somehow she snuck into the bedroom:)

Thats all!

Cheers,