Dinner Hour

Sometimes, while I'm making dinner in the evening, everyone is contentedly doing their own thing. I might even have a chance to sit down at the kitchen table with a magazine and a cup of tea. On those nights the house looks something like this:



Other times, however, things get a little more chaotic. They usually start off well enough. Samuel's upstairs sleeping, Jeff's on his way home from work, the big kids are coloring at the kitchen table. Then, things begin to go downhill. Sam wakes up. I go up to change him and put him in a carrier (I've been practicing my back carry just for this purpose!). By the time I get back to the kitchen the food is usually burning and the big kids have managed to get into some sort of trouble. On those nights, it looks something like this:

Fall

I finally cleared out my Picasa album, so I have room to publish these from my phone. They are from mid-October.

Samuel's First Bath

He was about a week old here. Since then, he's joined us in the shower a couple times a week. He finds both scenarios pretty enjoyable:)

One Month, Part III

Sam turned one month old this week. He is growing like a weed. As evidenced by this:

11 lbs 12 oz

Click here to remember back to parts I and II.

Sick

Just when we were starting to feel human again, illness hit. At first, it seemed like it was only going to be a minor cold. But, then the coughing started. Horrible, hacking, body-wracking coughs. Jeff, Amelia, and I all got hit hard. Samuel got sick in his little baby way: goopy eyes and extra crankiness (or maybe he was just being a baby). Marley has, so far, been fine.

I'm reminded of one of my favorite blog entries about being sick with kids. If you haven't read Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures, you should.

We're starting to get better, though I think my body is refusing to make a full recovery until I give it more than two consecutive hours of sleep. I'm hoping to do that this weekend. Unless Jeff gets a stronger mutated version of the virus, that is.

Two weeks

Editor's note: I've been writing this post on my phone in 5 minute intervals over the last four days. Excuse me if it sounds a bit rambling.

"You look so well-rested!" I've heard that comment a lot over the last week as I've gotten out more. I'm not sure what mom's of two-week-olds are expected to look like, but apparently, I look better than that, so yay!

I certainly don't feel well-rested. I feel like I've only slept in 2-3 hour chunks of time for the last two weeks. But, I try to have a mind-over-matter approach to it, which sometimes works to actually make me feel better. I guess it's still worth it if it only makes me look better.

I survived Jeff's first week back at work (only three days, really). And to be fair, I had LOTS of help for two of those days (big shouts out to Nai Nai, Katie J, Nancy, and Katie H!). People shuttling kids back and forth to preschool, bringing me lunch and coffee, and entertaining my big kids while I put my feet up and snuggled my baby.

But, on Thursday, I decided to call off my helpers and try it alone. Thursday is both the easiest and hardest day for us (big shout out to Kristie W for agreeing to come help out next, by the way). Both kids have preschool = Easy. I have to get both kids ready, and to and from preschool = Hard.

Thursday morning went mostly well. I got myself, Marley, and Amelia ready while Samuel slept. Then, I scooped him up at the last second, and put him directly into his car seat, hoping he would stay asleep. No such luck. He cried pretty much the whole time until we got back home.

I nursed Sam and played with Marley until it was time to get Amelia. This time everyone was happy in the car.

All year I'd had the idea that rather than go home for an hour (in and out of the car twice) we could just stay down there for lunch. I briefly considered packing a picnic lunch, but Thursday was really cold. So, I went for the next best option: walking four blocks to the beach. Still really cold, but at least we were moving. And there was hot cocoa/coffee at the end.

We made it to Beachside Cafe with just enough time to eat a couple scones and finish our drinks before we had to walk Marley back to school. I wasn't sure at first, as there were SO many interesting things to see along the way. Like two construction sites, a hammock, a friendly cat, and countless leaves, rocks, and flowers. It felt a little rushed, but so does going home in between. And, I have to say, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment going out by myself with all three of them!

Side note: I do have lots of carpool offers from preschool friends. I just need to figure out who's coming on which days.

What else do you need to know? Sam was 9lb 3oz (80th percentile) at his two-week check up. Breastfeeding's going better. Not perfect yet, but better. If I had to rank everyone from easiest to most difficult, it would go: newborn, 4-year-old, 2-year-old.

So, in conclusion, uh...we survived the first two weeks. Hooray!

Where's Sam?

Can you find the baby in this picture? 

I'm pretty sure we never lost Marley or Amelia in a room full of laundry, toys, books, and games.  And I thought the second child had it bad.