crazy is the new normal

This morning, I called my mom on the way into the office to tell her about the previous 15 hours of my life. How an argument over a bracelet turned into E giving A nursemaid's elbow, leading to a dinnertime trip to UrgentCare trip for A and daddy, leading to a full-on meltdown from E when she saw A got a Happy Meal on the way from the Urgent Care because A was soooooo lucky. How, for the fifth morning in a row, C has decided that the 5 o'clock hour would be an awesome time to start the day...and E thought she'd just finish up the rest of the morning in our bed. How I discovered that A and E have been taking baths but neglecting to wash their hair or use soap when doing so (though, in her defense, A said she did soap "a leg" on Monday).

When I finished my recap, my mom said, "It's always something over there, isn't it?" And, it's true. Life with three kids has definitely gotten crazy. Getting the stars to align where everything is running smoothly seems pretty impossible.

Since I haven't printed out/framed any pictures of all three kiddos together yet, I made a quick collage of my favorite Instagram pics taken on my iPhone and printed it out for my desk at work. Every time I look at it, I have to smile.

Life might be crazy...but it sure is a lot of fun.

what we've been up to...

Jeez...I can't believe that I haven't posted anything since Baby C turned two months old! We've been busy 'round these parts, and add to that there's a certain member of our house who refuses to nap for longer than 30 minutes at a time...and there's not much time for blogging. Alas, I am going to make an effort to post more regularly.

So here's the Instagram version what we've been up to!

 

A learned how to ride a two-wheeler. She basically taught herself while she was at home and E was in school. She's crashed a couple of times, including one pretty bad fall where she busted her lip and gums...but gets right back on the bike. She stopped going to daycare in early June (we had kept her going a few days a week) and is super psyched for K next year.

 

E finished up first grade in high style. She ended up getting awards for Top Wildcat of the Quarter and for the Year as well. So, she was 4 for 4 at awards assembly this year! Quite impressive!

 

C turned 12 weeks on Friday! She is so awesome...just a happy, adorable baby. Well, except for the lack of napping. The whole family adores her. Last night, I got her to giggle by zerberting her belly and giggling at her. Soon all four of us were standing around her changing table listening to her giggle. It was so cute. We haven't recreated the giggles again...but not for lack of trying.

 

As for me, I'm officially a stay at home mom. No, really. I got laid off from my job in early June. Over the phone. While on maternity leave. Yeah, it kind of sucks...but I was unhappy there anyway. I've been sending out some resumes and had an interview or two...so hopefully I'll have news to report soon. But, until then, I'm hanging out with these three cuties. Not too shabby.

what we've been up to...

A, Pop Pop, Baby M, Kiki, AJ, Nonna, Baby C, Me, E, John
Not pictured: Uncle Steve

The last week and a half have been so much fun...but so busy. My sister and her family were in town for 10 days or so, so we spent half our time at our house and the other half going down to my parents house (about 40 minutes away). I have discovered that, while Baby C is not an all out hater of the car seat, she is also not the kind of baby that conks out and stays conked out in the car seat. There is some crying and pacifier cramming that must go on before she will sleep...and 90% of the time, her eyes will pop open once we have reached our destination.

So, now we try to get into some sort of routine. Hopefully that routine will involve Baby C napping while not in my arms for more than 20 minutes. Ah, a girl can dream...

one month

It's hard to believe, but yesterday Baby C turned one month old! On the one hand, I can't believe it's already been a month. On the other hand, I can't believe it's only been a month. But such is life with a newborn.

 

For me, at least, parenting a newborn is just not fun. The sleepless nights...the fussiness and crying...the fact that they can't just tell you what the hell they want or need...the lack of smiles despite your best efforts. Add to that I've been hit with PPD again (I had it with A and E, as well...but this time it is worse). Luckily, I got help early, so things are definitely better for me (after a rough week or two), which is great.

All in all, we're hanging in there. The whole family just adores her. As you can see, it'd be hard not to. So I think we'll keep her!

 

I can see a bit of both A and E in her face...I think her nose is very much E's, while her eyes are remniscent of A's (except in color...I think we have another brown-eyed girl on our hands). But there are parts of her that are uniquely and distinctly hers.

I can't wait to find out more about what she is going to be like!

three sisters

holding out for diamonds

The March birthstone is aquamarine. April's is diamond. SlackerBaby decided to stick around for one more day so she would have the better birthstone. Even if that means being called an April's Fool forever.

Baby C
Arrived 4/1/2011 at 11:42 AM
9 lb 2 oz
21 1/4 inches

We're all so in love with her. Especially her two big sisters.

34 weeks

I'm 34 weeks today...which means we've got six weeks to go! (Do you like my delusion that I'll give birth to this baby on her due date, despite the fact that only 5% of babies are born on their actual due date? Yeah, me too.)

I've gotten a couple of comments on how big I look, so I trolled back through the photo archives to do a side-by-side comparison with my previous pregnancies. Of course, there is nothing from A's pregnancy, but I did find one with E.

Honestly, I feel like I'm slightly smaller than I was with E. And carrying a little lower. Which makes me feel marginally better. And I think we can all agree that my hair should never be cut in the 2004 style again.

We've made progress on getting ready for baby. Her room is coming together. I purchased an Ergo Baby Carrier from BabySteals yesterday for a bargain. And, this weekend, I'm headed to Babys-R-Us this weekend to trade in our old infant seat (which expired) and getting a new one.

It kind of cracks me up, because even though my kids aren't *that* old, but it seems like so much has changed! The car seat expired! The bottles are poison (BPA)! The crib is a death trap! I swear, it makes my head spin how different things are in just a few years!

kicking some you-know-what

We had one of those weekends where we kicked some @$$ and took some names, if you know what I mean.

First of all, it was the end of the 2nd quarter for E's school. She got an award this quarter, for Computation Queen. Although she won that award a couple of times last year, earlier this year she won the Top Wildcat Writer. So, with the mad writing AND math skills, I guess she's a Renaissance woman of sorts.


She also got her report card. Again, she did great! She even made some improvements in a couple of areas (including Listening...though you could've fooled me). But, the best part about it was the note from the teacher. It was quite possibly the best teacher's note ever.

E is progressing well academically this quarter. Way to go! E is energetic and loves participating in class. I could easily picture her as a movie star one day. For example, a while back, E was pulled out of the room for testing. When she came back, she opened the door and raised her hands to the air and said "I'm back!" She definitely has a big personality. Also, I wanted to share that E is very "word smart" and "math smart"!

John and I were cracking up at the image of E walking into the room like that. Totally her.

Secondly, the girls made their Valentines. After last year's Valentine's Day FAIL, I knew we needed to step it up a bit. So, we filled goodie bags and added a little tag to each. A gave her friends a bouncy ball and Hershey's kisses, with a tag that said "I have a ball with you!". E gave her friends a pencil and eraser with "You've got the 'write' stuff!" They turned out adorable, if I do say so myself!


Finally, this weekend, we made big progress on SlackerBaby's room (and the rest of the house)! On Saturday (after an exciting, barn-burner of a basketball game where E's team beat a previously undefeated team 22-20), we headed to IKEA. We got a new dresser and bookcase for A's room, so we could move the dresser/changing table and bookcase into the baby's room. (We also got some other furniture for the basement and living room. Part of me hates it that I'm in my mid-thirties and still shop at IKEA. And, yet, it's reasonbly priced, looks good, and if my kids take a Sharpie to it and ruin it, no bigs. IKEA, I just can't quit you!)

On Sunday, we got the furniture delivered and assembled it all, and moved the furniture into place in the baby's room. We also lined up the painters to come and do the girls' rooms this week. Then, we had a fantastic Valentine's Day dinner and dessert. Before we knew it, it was time for bed! And man, did we need it.

Being productive is hard work, yo!

now posting on a bi-weekly basis

Apparently, I can only muster up the energy to post every other week these days...just so you guys will lie through your teeth tell me how great I look in my belly shots. Truth of the matter is that I'm just so freaking tired of late. I swear, I feel like I've shot way past Advanced Maternal Age and am Advanced Geriatric Age at this point.

All in all, we're hanging in there. We had some snow storms in the last few weeks, which enabled me to enjoy The Commute from Hell. My normally 45 minute to an hour commute? Took me 6 hours. Awesome. E lost her third tooth on the bottom, but I'm convinced that she will be in braces before the year is out because the two adult teeth that are growing in the space where these 3 baby teeth were? Occupy about 90% of it. But, seeing as John had braces, and I single handedly funded at least one of my othodontist's Mercedes back in the day, I'm really not suprised.

Anyway, here is the growth progression of the belly. In a nutshell, I'm huge. I'm pretty sure I waddle now. Small objects, such as crumbs, cannot escape it's gravitational pull. And, for the first time ever, the OB told me I was measuring ahead. Which is a little off-putting, since I measured normal for both E and A...and they were 8 lb 12 oz and 9 lb 6 oz. If this one breaks the 10 lb mark, I'm going to be pissed.

 

 

On the bright side, I go on Tuesday for an ultrasound to determine size. I'm also hoping for one more confirmation of gender before we select paint colors and buy crib sheets. Because, yeah, we have 8 weeks to go and still haven't done anything! Ack!

the party's over...back to reality

We had a great Winter Break 'round these parts. We slept in, hung out in our jammies, caught up with friends, watched some movies, and generally had a great time. This week we are all back to work and school (BOO!)...I hope to update with my annual Christmas and 2010 in pictures recaps sometime before 2012. But, here's a teaser of my girls (and their friend Maggie in the middle) up on stage at a New Year's party singing "Single Ladies."

 

I know that those of you who know me IRL are totally amazed that such a shy, reserved wallflower like myself could produce such outgoing, limelight-seeking offspring. Crazy, isn't it?

happy holidays from our house to yours!

 

what we've been up to...

...also known as "Hey, look! I downloaded pictures from my camera!"

The past few weeks have been action-packed 'round these parts. Last weekend, we had A's Holiday Concert. And, the battery did not die this time around! Here she is singing with all of her classmates!

After the concert, we went and picked out a Christmas tree. And then, that night, we took the girls to a local performance of The Nutcracker. E was entranced the whole time; A was good for the first Act, but got antsy during the second act.

We also got together with some good friends for brunch! We had a table for 14...7 of those were kids. Mayhem, but fun.

On Thursday, we got our first snow. Nothing like last year, but school was cancelled on Friday for E. They had fun playing in the snow...except for when I had to get on a conference call, then they were hungry/thirsty/bored all at once! Ah, the joys of working from home!

This weekend, E had her first basketball game! It's a school league, and John is the coach. Don't they both look so cute?

They ended up tying 10-10...which is the best outcome for a game when all the kids played hard. E didn't score any baskets...but she was a defensive powerhouse.

The league is made up of 1st and 2nd graders. I think the other team was all 2nd graders because they were HUGE...especially the amazons girls. Seriously...my kid (red #15) is off-the-charts in height for her age, and look at how much taller the other #15 is!

John's parents were in also in town this weekend to celebrate Christmas. We had fun, including making gingerbread trees...

and opening presents!

This week should be fun and busy! We've got a half-week of school/work around here, so yay for that! And, the girls are super excited for Christmas!

20 weeks

So, I'm halfway there! It's hard to believe.

I'm also in that phase with how pregnant I am is directly dependant on what I'm wearing. For example, the picture in the yellow sweater was taken yesterday; the picture in the gray sweater was taken today. I seriously hope I didn't get *that* much bigger overnight, or else I'll be enormous by March!

 

The girls wanted to get in on the belly photo action. But, the shadow then made my belly look square-shaped.

 

They are cute...though I must say it freaks me out that I'm about to embark on newborn-dom again when my children are old enough to be at least half as tall as me.

e's amazing week

E has been having one heck of a week 'round these parts. On Tuesday, she received an award at the first quarter awards assembly. She's apparently spreading the talent around...because instead of being crowned Computation Queen, she was deemed Wildcat Writer. Not as fancy-sounding but just as impressive.

Then, on Wednesday, she had a field trip to hike in a local park. She had so much fun. But the real excitement happened at bedtime when E (*finally*) lost her tooth! I had to take matters into my own hands, but at least it was out.

E and I had a bit of debate on Tooth Fairy Protocol. I insisted that the Tooth Fairy would have a hard time finding such an itsy bitsy tooth underneath a pillow, so she should use her tooth pillow that Grandmom had gotten her. E insisted that the Tooth Fairy would not think to look in the pocket of a tooth shaped pillow for her tooth. She finally relented after we let her write a note to the Tooth Fairy. Apparently, she thought that she could name her price for her tooth, asking for 6 quarters and a dollar. Since she lowballed the Tooth Fairy at $2.50, she apparently could...because that's what she got.

Finally, today was a school holiday. So the girls and I headed to the mall where they got their ears pierced. After changing their minds a gazillion times on which earrings they would choose, they settled on flowers. E went first and didn't even flinch. A had to be strongly convinced to get the second ear pierced. Note the difference in expression between A's before and after.

I'm not sure how tomorrow can top things...but I guess we can find out.

san jose pics

I finally got my pictures uploaded from our San Jose trip. I'm a little bummed that I didn't get more of them, and that the ones I did get weren't all that great. Photographing all three kiddos was definitely a challenge. Guess I have that to look forward to on a regular basis in a few months.

Just Hanging Out

Monterrey Bay Aquarium

Halloween

dear fancy nancy

I cannot thank you enough for all that you do. Your books are some of our favorites. I can read them over and over over (and over) again without wanting to gouge my eyes out.

They were also some of the first books that E was able to read independently.

You've introduced very fancy vocabulary into our everyday conversations, such as dining al fresco.

But, most of all, for the second year in a row, you've come through in a pinch when A's needed a costume for her school's Halloween Parade. A trip down to the bin of dress-up clothes is all it takes, which especially nice when A's actual costume is waiting for her in California.

 

So, thank you, Fancy Nancy! Or, should I say Merci Beaucoup instead?

18 weeks

I'm 18 weeks today, which means that I'm 9/20ths of the way there! This week marked the first time when a total stranger asked me when I'm due. This always shocks me, since I'm a staunch follower of the Don't Mention Unless the Baby is Crowning rule. But then I look down and think, "I'm bigger than some chicks who are about to give birth." So it makes sense, I guess.

To add insult to injury, E hugged my belly last night and declared, "Your belly is so big! It's much bigger than your boobies now!" Thanks, kid, for the update.

 

Please pardon the Homeless Chic look I'm rocking in the picture. I'm doing laundry in anticipation of our trip to California tomorrow, and my entire maternity wardrobe is in the wash. I tried to make the picture more palatable with a snazzy setting on CameraBag...but there was no "Supermodel" setting.

rubbing off on each other

This weekend, as part of our jam-packed with stuff to do oh my god I just want to sit down and I'm a football widow to boot, the girls and I headed over to JerseyBaby's for a little Saturday morning waffle-fest. And, as she so astutely pointed out, my penchant for slack rubbed off on her as we neglected to create any photographic evidence of this all too rare get together.

But, don't think she's the only victim of undue influence this weekend. Oh no. In addition to seeing the gorgeous master bath redo in person, I also got to witness the greatest craft closet in the history of man. The shelves were filled with various crafting bins all neatly labeled with a label-maker. Y'all, she has a bin devoted solely to feathers and pom-poms people. Feathers! And! Pom-poms!

So, after waffles, the kiddos spent time creating Fun Fusion masterpieces. Haven taught E how to make a scarf using crafting loops. My kiddos were hooked. So, after we left, we went straight to Michael's to pick up our own crafts. (If by straight you mean after going to the mall, E's school's Fall Festival, and home to pack for a slumber party at Nonna and Pop-pop's house.)

The results were craftastic! E wove a pot holder and they both created masterpieces with Fun Fusion beads. And, on Sunday, the good times continued, when the girls successfully created the piece de resistance for their Halloween costumes -- butterfly antennae!

 

All in all, what a great weekend!

other big news!

The March 2011 arrival of SlackerBaby isn't the only big news round these parts. Oh no! We Slackers are full of excitement!

• E has a new favorite color! She has abandoned pink for...BLUE! Can you believe it? We certainly can't. It's somewhat difficult for her to incoporate blue into her outfits every day, because, well, she has a pink-centric wardrobe. But she's somehow managing.


• E also chose to wear her UVA track suit to the game last weekend instead of her cheerleader uniform. I know! Blue AND pants...it's almost like she's a tomboy!


• The Slacker gals all went to the dentist this week! Which, I didn't find all that thrilling, but the girls thought it was Christmas in October. New sparkly toothbrushes! Crappy prizes for opening their mouths! They are already talking about their appointmens next April.


• Speaking of teeth, and despite my prediction that a tooth loss was imminent last September, E has yet to lose a tooth. But her bottom two teeth are super, super wiggly. So maybe 2010 is her year?


• And, finally, here's a picture I shot of A at the GAP on Columbus Day. It was just the two of us all day (E had school), and we went to get 40% kids and maternity clothes. (Actually, we went twice, because I got to the mall and realized I left my wallet at home. Awesome.) While I tried on clothes, A had fun with the fake belly.
  Apparently, wrapping your arms around your belly is instinct.


• And, we are getting pumped up for our trip to California to visit AJ and her parents. All three girls are going as butterflies. The outfits and wings are store-bought, but this weekend, E, A and I will get our craft on to make anntennae. I'm hoping that it goes marginally better than the Cat Ear Debacle of 2010. But, even though it seems like it'd be hard to screw up a headband, some pipecleaners, and pompoms...I'm sure we'll figure out a way.


• Last weekend, I had the opportunity to hang out with Jenn and Sweet Pea Chef at the UVA game. This weekend, the girls and I are brunching with the JerseyBaby clan. And, of course, we're seeing AJ and fam next week. I love getting together with everyone! Yay!

bullet points

It's been crazy round these parts the week or so with the beginning of school and football season. Here's what's rattling around in my head, in my [NERD ALERT} favorite format...the bulleted list.

• First grade seems to be going well. E hasn't been bitching about SAC, either! Yay! And, if you need healthy ideas to pack for your kids' lunches...I highly recommend you hop on over to Sweet Pea Chef, where she has compiled a kick-ass list of things that DON'T include Lunchables!


• Yesterday was John's birthday. We have celebrate 13 of those together. The first one I took him to a really fancy French restaurant. Last night the girls and I took him to a pizza joint. My, how the mighty have fallen. We did, however, bake from scratch buy him a cake with "Happy Birthday, John!" in orange.
  


• On a related note, every member of my immediate family would prefer vanilla cake with vanilla frosting over chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. What kind of freakshows are they?!?!?!?


• We are catsitting my parents' cat, Frank, again. Hopefully, he won't run away this time. Now that the girls are older, he's actually letting them pet him. Either that, or he has early onset Stockholm Syndrome.
  


• The Slackers are California Dreaming. Well, actually, we aren't just dreaming...we are doing! All four of us are headed out to visit Baby AJ and her family before her little sister arrives! We are so excited!