First Day of School!

For our latest installation of the "Caroline Quote of the Day" -
We were saying prayers tonight before going to bed and I asked Caroline if there was anything that she wanted to add. Very reverently (which is rare for her), she put her hands together and said, "God - tomorrow is my first day of school. If you could help me out that would be awesome. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."
Jim and I had to work really hard to stifle our giggles.
Caroline is very excited to go back to school. I, on the other hand, am still trying to figure out where the summer went. I remember thinking that it would never, ever be August when we found out that we were expecting in December. Heck, I remember thinking that in July, too.
But time passes.
So here we are and it's almost September.
It has been a wild and wonderful ride so far. =-)

I'm going through the pictures from this past week and realizing that I didn't take one picture of Nate. And I though to myself, "What kind of a mother am I?" And then I realized that there aren't pictures of him because I'm constantly holding him. The kid just doesn't like being put down. This is okay during the day, but can be a bit more, ahem, challenging at night.

Nate seems to be following in the footsteps of his siblings and has a sensitive stomach. Mylanta and Myelacon have been our friends. But even with these, Nate has been sleeping some nights in his seat. So off I go again on the no dairy, no soy, nothing spicy, nothing gaseous, nothing fun diet. You might think by the third baby that I might have this figured out. Not so much.

But even with stomach issues this boy is growing! Last week he had gained enough to put him back at his birth weight (10 oz in 5 days...not bad!) and he just seems to be getting longer and longer. I have him already in some six month clothes - and they're none too big. His hairline is receding in the front, which makes his baby mullet even more of a sight to behold. His hair is much more brown-ish and there looks to be a hint of blond under his mop. His eyes are still grey - I'm not sure if they will change or not - it's too early to tell, I think. The consensus is that he looks like a mix of Sam and Caroline. I giggled after lady in church told me quite confidently, "You finally got one that looks like you, eh?"
I know that chances are, when the baby phase is past, that I will still have old ladies come up to me in the market and say, "They must look like their father." Guess I just can't pull off people thinking I'm the hot looking, much younger Nanny...Sigh.

Ria got some old dance costumes to use for dressing up. Sam succumbed to the pressure from his sister and put on a dress. Looking at these, it's probably a good thing that Trippy is a boy. Sam needs some back up!

Sam really enjoys playing golf (even though he calls it softball). Look at that follow-though!

Aren't they cute?


Nate is being a fussbudget and we all will have to get up early to have a chance of getting to school for morning prayer.
Good night. =-)

Some Pictures...

We had the Worcester edition of Dance Party, USA the other day. Only instead of disco, we use the recorder. We know how to party here.


Sam came out of the tub the other night and put on my glasses. He yelled, "I look like Grampy-Mama!" Too funny. Then Caroline had to put them on and was practically walking into things because she couldn't see straight. Now at least I've figured out how my glasses get itty-bitty fingerprints on them all the time...


We signed Caroline up for dance class the other night. She was very disappointed that class didn't start right then and there. But she loves the costumes.

The kids are wanting to interact more and more with Trippy, ummmm....Nate. Sam has dropped his insistence that there are "Two Baby Trippys - one in your belly and one right here." But Caroline told me the other day that, "I know you're not pregnant now, but I want you to be tomorrow and you're going to have a baby girl that we can name Alice this time." I told her to talk to her father. =-)

Nate is proving (despite his pictures) to be an exceptionally wide-awake baby. We've been playing games where we make faces at him (sticking out our tongues or making "boo face") and Nate (with a bit of a processing delay) will return the face to us on most occasions. Okay - if this isn't so or if it's too soon...just let us live in our fantasy word because we're having a great time and it keeps ALL the kids entertained at the same time. =-) He was only up twice last night - which was downright luxurious.
And it's so nice to have Jim home. This time has been really special. I'm getting a bit nervous about our transition to "reality" in a few weeks, but trying to focus on the now.

Due Date

Today was my official due date.
Needless to say, I'm glad that Nate was evicted a bit early. I can't imagine how big he could have been (or how long he could have hung on).
Can you imagine being this huge?
And now that I'm (at least a little) smaller, I can't imagine being as large as that picture either. =-)
Because Nate's delivery was planned, it was very different than Sam and Caroline's births. The actual delivery part was tougher (I have bruises over my belly to prove it) and things were made a bit more interesting by me developing some sort of morphine allergy (If I could have ripped the skin off my body I think I would have). But, so far, the recovery seems to be easier. Because Nate weighed so much, he had to have heel sticks multiple times a day to test his blood sugar, but they were fine. Nate lost so much weight initially that we were told he may not be able to go home with us if he didn't stabilize and suggested we supplement his diet with formula. Knowing both the other kid's histories with sensitive stomachs, we balked at that. We were so fortunate that the maternity unit was relatively quiet and we got oodles of time with the lactation consultant. She was awesome (spent two hours with us on one day!!) and we were able to implement strategies that got us on a better track. Nate has gained some of his weight back and we only have to go to the pediatrician for a weight check. Hooray!!!
Now we're working to get into a better day/night routine. Today was our first full day together as a family of five. While everyone had their moments, things went better than we could have expected. Caroline's mother hen instincts appear to be kicking in and Sam has been strangely protective of Nate. I hope it lasts. The name Trippy has so far stuck with the kids for Nate. There are worse things...at least it's cute. And yet again, even though life is crazy and he has only been around for a few days (I don't even have my staples out yet), I just can't imagine life without this little (8lbs 14oz little?!?!) grey eyed, brown haired, mullet sporting man. We are so blessed that I'm overwhelmed. =-)
Here are some pictures from the past few days...





Sorry no pics of Nate and Pops...we'll do better.


Pictures courtesy of Grampy & Grampa and Nina & Pops. Who (along with Ria and Auntie Dr Chrissy) did a lot of extra work this week so Jim and I could have some alone time getting to know Nathanael. Thank you just can't cover it. It was huge to know that the kids were having a wonderful time (before they realized that their lives would be turned upside down)!!!

Here are some pictures that we were able to take. There weren't many of them, but since I'm not sure the next time I'll be able to post, I figured I would put them up. We're trying to get back in a routine in preparation for school to start and just to make the transition to Nate being around (maybe) a bit easier for everyone involved. I can hope, right?!?!

Antoher New Blog Name, Another New Boy

Nathanael Joseph is here!
Weighing in at 8lbs 14 oz and measuring 22".
All I can say is that (even though I know I'm not) - I feel really, really skinny now!

Pics will be forthcoming. Jim and I are enjoying hanging out with out new boy. He seems pretty cool, even if he was born sporting a mullet. =-)

Sunday NIght

We had a wonderful day today at Old Sturbridge Village. Between that and our Ecotarium membership, we're never bored (and never have to pay to get in) - which is a wonderful thing.
We got home a little while ago, after a stop at the Pic. After a bout of pregnancy-induced craziness where I ordered (and really enjoyed) some fried clams (something I'm convinced a non-New England Yankee should never eat - I still feel like I"m going to puke), we're settling down for the night.
Sleep has been very difficult for me to come by lately. I'm always hot - even when it's only 60 degrees and rolling over is such a huge effort. Not to mention that I'm up every hour going to the bathroom. Sigh.
But the good thing is that I've been able to listen to lots of baseball games on the West Coast (I love it when my friend Vin keeps me company) and also been able to listen to a lot of the BBC. I've learned some fascinating things about the Battle of Britain and the end of World War II, . So it hasn't been a total loss. =-) One morning I even got up at 3:30 and washed the windows on the first floor and today before everyone was up I was able to sweep, groom the cat, get laundry done and do some extra cleaning.
I know I need to rest. But my energy comes in about twenty minute bouts. By the time I get pooped out from one burst, I have my next "to-do" list planned - so it's been a never-ending thing. I still haven't gotten to weeding the garden. But I'm at peace with that.
I think we'll watch some Firefly or some Bond or some Justin Timberlake on SNL (JT may be a scuzz-ball, but he's absolutely brilliant on SNL) tonight and just relax.
I think it will be an interesting week ahead.

Nesting

Not that there aren't a million other things that I should be doing. Dusting. Washing windows. Mopping floors. Organizing in general.
I'm not nesting. And it's not denial. I think this stuff just really needs to get done and I've just come to conclusion that it's easier to leave a semi-organized and clean house that it is a house that, well, looks like a family lives there with a full time working Dada, a part time working Mama, a 2 year old, a 4 year old and one more coming (sooner rather that later. Please? Please? PLEASE?????)
But instead of doing all this, we're relaxing.
The kids have been begging for goggles all summer. And I couldn't resist once I saw them marked down to $1.25.
How can I not be entertained?


AND...courtesy of Caroline...

Old Pictures...

We're still waiting (and waiting and waiting) for Trippy to arrive. Probably another couple of weeks. At least we're gearing up for that. Who knew it would be the hottest summer in recent memory? Yikes! Thank goodness for air conditioning...

Does that mean we're ready for our newest urchin's impending arrival?
HECK NO!!! Who really is, anyway?!?!
I don't have clothes out or the pack-n-play up. But we DO have a car seat (can you believe we can get three seats across the back of the Corolla?) - so at least they'll let us go home from the hospital.
Other than that - it's all good!
And these prove it:

Ain't they the best?