Saturday, March 30, 2013

Few things faze me anymore in the bodily functions department. But fishing out a human turd from the bath tub still makes me gag involuntarily.

How's that for TMI?

Friday, March 29, 2013

Egg hunts

It's the season for Easter egg hunts. We've done 3 already, and will do one at home on Easter morning, too. Fun stuff but the girls' teeth are probably rotting from all the corn syrup. They have quickly learned that the little plastic eggs hold candy which must be eaten quickly before I try to ration it out...

And isn't that the creepiest Easter bunny you've ever seen? Audrey wouldn't get within 20 feet of him. She insisted on watching him leave, and while he walked through the parking lot, she kept repeating to me, "Rabbit, go home!".



Monday, March 25, 2013

Holy smokes, I am TIRED. "Tired down to the bone and behind my eyes," that kind of tired.

But Finn smiled at me today! 5 weeks 6 days.

Friday, March 22, 2013

The counter

One of my most familiar memories from my time with my mom is countless hours spent sitting at the kitchen counter.

I watched over the counter as she cooked dinner, hundreds of nights. And as she welcomed my dad home from work with a smile.

I did my homework at that counter. I fought with my sisters there, too.

As I got older, that kitchen counter was the scene for virtually every important life conversation that I had with my mom.

And now- I have my own counter. And my own girls to sit here while I cook dinner. I pray that these moments together will teach them as much as they did for me, and the memories will be just as sweet.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

5 weeks

Crappy iPhone pic! I need to step up my game so my third child doesn't wonder why there are fewer than a zillion photos of his childhood ;)

Happy 5 weeks to my handsome little guy! I love you! - mama

Little mama

Audrey and her babies

Monday, March 18, 2013

Grief

I think sometimes I'm still operating under a survival mechanism where I imagine that my mom is on a long trip somewhere, far away, and that I just need to hang on a little while longer until she returns. But it's been almost 2 years. I guess these things take time. Man, do I miss her. She would have had 5 grandchildren now and enjoyed it so much. I hate that she is missing it all.
I've entered a new and somewhat dreaded role in parenting the girls:

Referee.

If this is any sign of things to come in the teen years, their fights over clothes, boys, and cars are going to be epic.

Love and Logic

I'm reading this book and trying to apply its principles to parenting and disciplining the kids. Wish it were as easy in real life as the examples they give!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

My little leprechaun!

Well, he's got an Irish name, at least!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Edit: adding in little leprechaun #2, who does not have an Irish name but is cute nonetheless! And a photo of the girls putting their feet in the pool with auntie Susan (aka "SueSue") giving a helping hand.

We went to aunt Laura's for a traditional Irish feast yesterday. I am blessed beyond measure to have an extended family who loves each other and wants to spend time together. And the girls benefit so much from their time with everyone. It's a real joy to watch.





Thursday, March 14, 2013

"My baby"

I'm fairly sure that in Audrey's mind, Finn is *her* baby.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Pardon my whine

Being a mother to 3 under 3 takes such a physical toll. The demands are just so constant. No matter how much I try to fake it and pretend otherwise, I apparently cannot fool my body. I have my first cold sore on my lip in over 5 years. I'm certain it's because my body is so lacking in rest. I am happy and content and in love with my family, but my body is feeling worn out.



Tuesday, March 12, 2013

1 month!

My little Finn is 1 month today! My how time flies. I'm trying to bounce him to sleep for a nap so that's all I got for now! I live this little guy to pieces. It feels like he's been a part of our family, all along.





Sunday, March 10, 2013

Big girl bike

There are certain milestones that make a mom realize, "wow, my baby's growing up." When they start walking, for instance, or the first day of preschool.

This weekend we hit a milestone for Juliet that makes me so proud and yet so bittersweet that my baby is growing up so fast:

The big girl bike! Gary took her on a special shopping trip for it yesterday and she loved it so much that she insisted on riding it out of the store!

We spent a sunny afternoon riding bikes on the driveway (Audrey is now learning on the tricycle). Happy to make these memories with my kids but in but of disbelief at how quickly it all goes.

Finn's birth story

37 weeks + 1 day: I felt normal and went to my MOPS group with the girls in tow. I told the other moms I was getting uncomfortable but nothing imminent. We got home at 12:30 and I put girls to nap. Juliet wouldn't nap so we lay in my bed together. At 1:50 I began having strong painful contrax about 3 mins apart. I knew it was the real thing by the 3rd one. Juliet went to get Gary and told him, "daddy, mommy's crying!"

We left for the hospital by 2:15. Gary ran 3 red lights bc I was feeling the need to push! At triage they wanted me in a bed to check my cervix and I couldn't even get in the bed due to the pain. I was 8 cm, already vocalizing (moaning) loudly. They immediately brought me to L&D where I begged for an epidural.

The contractions were very painful, with very little break in between (2 minutes?). They told me it would be at least 1/2 hour for the epidural and my labor was progressing so quickly that I probably didn't have time. I lost it. I was definitely in "transition" and emotional and not serene at all. ("Please, I can't do this! Don't make me do this!!" Etc).

I labored off the bed with hands on all 4s. They humored me by placing an IV with fluids even though I overheard the nurse cancel the epidural due to lack of time. I was not a compliant patient, lots of noise and refusal to get in bed to put the contraction monitor on. I got in bed and lay on my left side once the pelvic pressure started getting too intense.

I focused on a small star pattern on the side rail during contractions. I did not want Gary touching me at all but he was very supportive verbally. It really, really hurt.

I was 10 cm at next check and the ability to push was huge relief. I kept apologizing for pooping and they insisted it was the baby's head, not poop. (Not so certain of that!!) I pushed on my back in stirrups bc I tried to push on all 4s in bed and it hurt worse. The ring of fire wasn't as bad as I expected. Pushed for approx 5 minutes. His bag of water was intact until my midwife manually burst it at last second as he was coming out. Gary got a pretty great video of that! He let out a big loud cry immediately.

It was approx 90 minutes from start to finish. He was 6 lbs 3 oz, lots of vernix (3 weeks early). No tearing or stitches and my recovery has been much easier than last 2 births. I'm glad I got to experience an unmedicated birth even though it wasn't necessarily by choice! It was intense. He's nursing like a champ and perfect.