You have to have those days at some point

There's no question that I love being home with my kids, but quite honestly today they drove me to a maddening level of insanity. Most days they are each other's best companions, not today.

I'm wearing Noah in the Bjorn because he's a bit fussy and I can't leave him in the Boppy or on a blanket like I did with the twins, because he'll be attacked by my two foot midgets. They sit on him, give him all sorts of toys and stick their fingers in his eyes and up his nose. They're quite adorable when they love on him, but today it was just impossibly difficult to keep them from torturing their poor brother.

So back to my complaining...

I'm wearing Noah around the house as we play and do household chores. Although everything is harder when you're tired, early in the day I've managed to get the kitchen cleaned and dishwasher loaded and running-which is a huge accomplishment for it being only 9:30 in the morning. All kids are fed, dressed, washed down, we've worked on two of our puzzles and we're off to a good start.

At 10 the chaos began. I swear that if I didn't have some quazi-ninja sixth sense I would've broken my neck weeks ago on the toys, clothes and other random objects they scatter on the floor. Because I'm wearing Noah, it becomes even more difficult to navigate through our tiny house because I can't see my feet or see the twins when they're clinging to my ankles.

I'm tempted to leave them in their dirty clothes for the remainder of the week since I couldn't get any of their laundry done. And why is that you ask? Because they dumped the hamper and scattered the clothes throughout the downstairs AND upstairs rooms. There was a huge pile in the laundry room on top of the cat litter stuff. It was the only load I managed to do. It still sits in the dryer.

So then I thought, well we'll just hang out in our bedroom. That'll be different and fun. Maybe we'll jump on our bed or something.

NO.

It wasn't.

They tipped over the bassinet, pulled Noah's clothes from his drawers, started swinging the plunger in the bathroom, and ransacked my bedside nightstand.

I try hard to be in good humor about their curiosity and general "impishness", but when they start hysterically screaming and throwing their bodies on the ground because you don't want them to squeeze out your lotion all over the bed, you begin to realize that this whole situation is a bit ridiculous.

I wish they could understand so many things.

Why does Josiah repeatedly slam his bedroom door-which he has broken by the way.

Why does Lilly want every toy Josiah has and screams hysterically when he takes it back from her?

Does this make any sense? I feel like there are so many important conversations to have with your kids. Explaining that whacking someone on the head with a mixing spoon is a bad idea shouldn't have to be one of them!

I hate days like these. It takes everything out of me. There were several times I had to walk away from all three of them and just breathe.

Managed to capture these moments over the last couple days despite the frustrations...

Happy big sister

Look at those cheeks!

Staring at the light

They love seeing pictures of themselves

Lilly "put on" the Bjorn and then tried to pick Noah up to put him in. Glad I caught her in time...

Sending silly pictures to daddy at work

Snuggling with my little man while the big kids took a nap

Also, I'd love to spend time here in this itty-bitt cabin in Italy. I'd spend days reading, cooking, sleeping and in general recover from the last two years :)

(San Cassiano, Bolzano-Bozen, Italy. Photo by Tim Maides.)

My favorite things about 2

We've feared the "terrible twos" for some time now. Although there are certainly days that are terrible, we've found many things that are unique and wonderful about this age.

• Affection for others
• Concern when someone (especially Noah) is sad or hurt
• Inclusive of everyone 
• Reading books
• Doing chores like putting plates away after dinner, picking up toys, putting dirty clothes in the hamper and helping to empty/load dishwasher 
• Hearing stories about their day 
• Preferences about food, clothes, where'd they'd like to go, etc.
• Entertaining games like "mom or dad put all the hangers on the staircase and you take them all down"
• Interested in everything you do

We spent the day at our friend's house on Saturday. Josiah and Lilly had such a fun time playing with their son, Hudson. This was about 3 minutes after being in the car.

We're so glad the kids play nicely together! It's fun watching them interact. We're sure they'll be best friends some day ;)

Clearly Steve and Noah had the most fun out of all of us. Hudson was trying to give Steve toys, but....

The boys!

Noah amidst the fun

Love these cots we bought to use when we travel for nap or overnight. The kids dragged one out to watch a movie on.

Belated Thanks

You know who you are.

Sometime in the last several weeks you've sent cards, notes, emails, messages, meals, gift cards, outfits, and the like to say that you're thinking of us.

Thank you.

With every word we've smiled and thought, "How kind of them! How thoughtful! How unexpected!"

We are so excited to have Noah in our lives and it makes us step back (several times a day) and reflect how terribly blessed we are to have friends, family, acquaintances, and even strangers like you.

Thank you. Thank you.

With love,

Steve, Bethany
Josiah, Lilly & Noah

For the new mom

Fabulous post about encouraging new mothers by The Gypsy Mama. I will definitely be keeping these suggestions in mind for new moms I know!

Healthy and quick breakfast search has come to an end! Thanks to my friend Jen for the inspiration:

Jen's Breakfast Shake

In a blender combine:

4 ice cubes
4 small frozen strawberries
4 frozen banana pieces
1 6 oz container Chobani yogurt (our favorites are peach or strawberry)
1 8oz cup Vanilla Almond Milk
1 scoop of Slim Fast chocolate powder

The kids and I loooove these. They are incredibly filling, delicious and easy to make.

Days at Home

I know it'll happen -snap- just like that. They'll be grown and independent. They won't need me the way they do now. They won't reach for my hand in the dark at bedtime. Ask me to sit with them while they eat lunch. Read them the same stories over and over. Repeat "help peeze" until I stop what I'm doing to assist. Climb in my lab just to give me a hug. 

It it utterly depressing to realize that I am raising my children to leave. I carried them; I loved them; I nurtured them, but one day they'll have families and lives of their own. Will they ever know how much Steve and I love them? Will they ever feel our sadness at their disappointments and rejections? Steve and I used to sit at the NICU with the twins for hours, just hoping that although there wasn't anything we could do to help them, that they would feel our love and grow strong. 

How beautiful and sad life is. 

But for now, I push away these thoughts and cherish....truly cherish our time with them. 

These days at home are golden for us.

The nicest guy I know

I tell my students at school not to begin their writing with a rhetorical question. 

Mostly, this is because the questions they ask to "grab the reader's attention" are vague and not very creative. 

But here's to breaking my own rule:

Have you ever met someone that was just nice?

I often find myself completely irritated and flustered when I come across people who seem to lack the basic niceties of life. Take for instance the lady who swooped in to steal my parking space at Target though there was only one of her and me plus kids. Like, come on, now. 

In an effort to not focus on these things and truly adopt a more positive outlook from the inside out, I've been consciously looking for encounters with my fellow man that reflect the good in people. 

Steve's always looking for ways to make life easier for those around him. He shovels the sidewalks in the winter and clears the ice from parking spots so no one slips. He likes to go on errands as a family so we can all be together. He remembers to do things like change the batteries in the remotes so I won't get frustrated when they stop working. He makes me a hot beverage every day for work to take the chill out of the commute. 

The more I started focusing on these things, the more realistic and healthy my expectations of him became. Interestingly enough, the same began to apply for others around me. The pressure of my negative reactions to others' nosy comments or idiosyncrasies is starting to dissipate. 

We had a spectacular day at my parents on Friday. The weather was beautiful and the kids spent much of the day being chased around outside by my parents. We love when they're so happy and carefree. We purchased two new carseats that are narrower and for the next weight class. This meant that with some creative adjusting, we were able to fit all three kids in our Camry! It was a fun ride up to their house.

While my parents napped upstairs with the kids, Steve and I passed out downstairs. There may or may not be a huge drool stain on their couch pillow. I'll never tell. 

Also, found THIS very cool blog. 

Loved this excerpt from the Carefree Timelessness blog:

"What is it for you?  Is it not letting your kids mow the lawn because the lines need to be perfect?  Is it not letting them do the dishes because you want them scrubbed right before they go in the dishwasher?  Is it not letting the children help clean the house because it is just easier to do it yourself?  Is it not helping your child through a tough homework question because it is easier to just give them the answer?  It also could be disguised in a different way.  Do we not ask our children's opinion on things because they are "too young?"  Do we involve the children in family decisions so they learn how to weigh out circumstances?  Do we let them make their own choices or do we make them for them so they will not mess up?  Anyway, some questions to think about..."

Midweek

Although the day was really long and exhausting, I had such a fun time with the kids. It's amazing how grown up the Josiah and Lilly seem now that we have Noah. I find myself completely astonished by their independence and understanding. 

Yesterday we took the kids on a date to Chick-fil-et and to get their hair cut. They were amazing!  They sat very still and were very interested in the scissors, the comb, the water bottle and (gasp!!!) the hairdryer. They thought it was so cool that the hairdresser blew their hair at the end. 

We tried to get before and after pictures, but they had used up all their cooperation and wouldn't look at the camera!

After!

Steve's valentines from the Josiah, Lilly & Noah

Evening snuggles

A Few Things

It's a good thing that pictures are worth more than a thousand words. It erases the difficult moments; the irritable ones, the times when you're sure if you stop moving you'll just collapse into sleep.

Having fun...they like to have their picture taken :)

From my phone:

I love this song from my childhood. 

In my head I sound like this when I sing:

His Eye is On the Sparrow 


Interesting blog about a family who has dropped conventional responsibilities in order to travel around the world helping those in need:

CareFree Timelessness


Parenting Inspiration:

• How to Raise Children Like French Women

• Awesome quote:

"The greatest need of any country, and especially of our own, is better men and better woman.  The greatness of future generations depends upon the character of the boys and girls of the present.  

It is the duty of the home to properly train children.  

This is important, not only for the sake of the children and the home, but for the sake of the church and the government as well.  Without proper training at home it is almost impossible for the children to be what the parents would wish them."

The Management and Training for Children, William J Shearer, 1904