Six Weeks Old!

Its hard to believe he's been in our lives for a month and a half now.  Honestly, I already can't imagine life without him.  Sweet smiling Jack!

Amidst the chaos...

My life has been controlled chaos for the last 5 weeks.  Incorporating a new little person into a family of four is not an easy task.  Especially when two of those family members are three years old and still require A LOT of Mommy's UNDIVIDED attention. 

George and Clara are learning that the world doesn't revolve around them.  That in itself is a good life lesson, but it still breaks my heart to see their sad faces when I can't meet their needs all the time.  As a stay at home Mommy, before Jack arrived, my life was all about the two of them.  While I also had my household duties to take care of, my days were structured around what George and Clara wanted, needed, would think was fun.  Now it's all about the three of them, but with Jack's needs at the forefront.  I can see that the twins miss our fun adventures, play dates, art projects, cuddle movie time, zoo/museum trips, lunch dates, etc.  I know that this is a temporary change.  When Jack is bigger we will be back to our adventuring selves, but that is hard to explain to a three year old. 

My life has also become a very fragile balancing act.  Trying to keep the house of cards in perfect balance is tough.  If one card falls the whole house seems to come tumbling down.  Just meeting the needs of a newborn alone can be daunting.  Honestly, I view the first few months of a child's life as a Mommy Marathon.  You never get a moment to yourself.  The days run together because you are up all night.  Much like running a marathon, it is a test of endurance and mental strength.  Even though the marathon is exhausting, there is so much to enjoy, to soak in, and to be proud of.  I am really breathing in Jack's newborn-ness.  How I love my littlest monkey. 

Now when you add two other kids into the mix, it might honestly be a Mommy Triathalon.  Meeting the needs of three kids and a husband and a dog is serious business.  I see the division of myself as an exercise in extreme multitasking.  I won't even go into details about the things I can do one handed, while nursing a baby, while answering the phone, while cooking dinner, while bandaging a cut, while playing catch, while feeding the dog, while [insert any Mommy duty here].  All while sleep deprived.  I've become pretty talented in that way.

And you know what goes hand in hand with all of this chaos, with the division of myself, and with the changes in our household?

NOISE.  Lots and lots of noise.  A crying baby.  An impromptu band that of course includes George on the drums.  A toddler TV show.  The dog barking.  A crying baby.  A screaming toddler.  Laughter.  The baby's noise machine.  Dinner sizzling.  Phones ringing.  Roaring three year old dinosaurs.  A cooing baby.  Singing.  A game of tag upstairs.  The vacuum cleaner.  Stomping feet.  Toys banging.  Two three year olds reading to each other.  More laughter.  Doors slamming.  Squealing.  My husband trying to talk over all of this so we can try to catch up with each other. Whew.

I get overwhelmed by the noise.  By the division of my attention.  By the Mommy guilt that all needs aren't being met all the time.  By the thought that I am not doing any of it well but I'm just doing it.  But sometimes when I actually stop and look around at my house, that honestly resembles a war zone, I really pay attention to the noise that is constantly ringing in my ears.

That's when I SEE it.  There is beautiful Clara with her unruly curls, infectious smile, and fiesty personality.  There is sweet George with his constantly dirty face, boisterous laugh, and insatiable curiosity.  There is little Jack, who we are just getting to know but love so so much already.  There is my unbelievable husband who works hard, cooks dinner, rocks babies, entertains three year olds, and still tells me how amazing I am almost daily.  And suddenly the noise seems beautiful.

The noise and chaos amount to so many answered prayers.  This is exactly what I wanted.  This is exactly what I've dreamed of for as long as I can remember.  I have a family.  My very own family.  My amazing husband.  My three little loves that will have each other forever.  Amid the chaos there is such beauty to this family.  Such beauty in these answered prayers. So today I am thankful for all of this change and the hard things that come with growing my wonderful loving fantastic family

Bluebonnets 2013

Water Gun Fun!

We are enjoying our first days of warm weather.  George and Clara got their first water guns and had a`blast getting each other soaking wet.

Jack's First Month

Our first night home with little Jack was a bit of a doozy, but as I got to know him and his cries things quickly got easier.  If Jack is fussy or trying to go to sleep, he loves to be walked, rocked, patted, and shushed.  He is nursing every two hours during the day and gaining weight.  He left the hospital at 19 inches long and 6 pounds 14 ounces.  At his doctor's appointment two days after being home Jack was 19.25 inches long and weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce.  At his two week doctor's appointment Jack was 20.25 inches long and weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces.  At one month he weighs 9 lbs and 15 ounces!  I am so happy to see how much he is growing! At night, Jack gives us one four hour stretch between feedings but is up every two to three hours otherwise.  Even though our sleep is broken up, John and I both feel that this time around with one baby it is way easier to handle.

 

Jack loves to be held and cuddled.  Jack loves to gaze at the ceiling fan just like his big brother did.  He also enjoys being outside.  Jack is very interested in George and Clara.  He watches them intently while they kiss him, talk to him, and play with him.  Jack also loves his Daddy.  When he was two weeks old, Jack was fussy when John walked in from work.  John took Jack from me and said, "Hey Buddy.  Hi Jack."  Jack immediately stopped crying and looked intently up at his Daddy.  He definitely recognizes John's voice and is easily soothed by his Daddy.  We call him the "Jack whisperer."

George and Clara have adjusted to the new little person in our house.  George didn't bat an eyelash about the whole thing.  He adores his little brother.  When George wakes up in the morning he often runs into our room asking for Jack.  He frequently tells him how much he loves him.  George also talks about things they will do together when Jack is bigger like "play rough."  George has given him the nickname Jacky Jack.  George told me the other day that he was "glad Jack was out of my belly."  He was so "happy that he got a boy."  George also said that Jack was his favorite friend and he misses him while he is at school.  I enjoy every minute watching them together.  It is so sweet.

Clara had some issues adjusting to the changes in the house.  She struggled sharing Mommy.  That first week home Clara was often teary.  She had trouble going to bed at night and overall was sad.  She moved on pretty quickly and by the second week her mood had adjusted.  She also adores her little brother and wants to love on him all the time.  Clara likes to sing to Jack and cuddle with him.  She is a good little helper too.

One thing that has come out of the last month that I didn't anticipate is George and Clara's bond is even stronger.  I think they figured out that even when everyone else is busy they have each other. They are playing so well together.  Sharing toys.  Playing elaborate games of pretend.  Laughing a lot.  These are some of my favorite moments in the past month.  Watching their relationship grow has been amazing.  I am so happy they can lean on each other during these first few hectic months where Jack requires a lot of attention.  I'm pretty proud of my two monkeys!

We've had lots of firsts this month too.  Jack celebrated his first Easter.

 

He had his first bath.  There were lots of tears at first but he seems to enjoy the warm water now.

We've even seen glimpses of first smiles.  Jack's first smiles were during sleep just like most babies.  His first real smile was in reaction to the ceiling fan and then he smiled big when Pop-pop Beard was over for a visit.

 

 Jack went on his first greenbelt adventure with his brother and sister to the park.

Jack didn't really enjoy his first time on the activity mat because he wants to be held a lot.  I know he will soon enjoy it just like his big brother and sister did.

Happy One Month Birthday Sweet Jack! As Clara says, "We love you to the moon and back!"

This past month is a bit of a blur with the sleep deprivation and figuring out how to juggle three kids.  At the same time it has been absolutely wonderful and I am soaking in all these moments with our teeny tiny Jack.  He will only be so small for a short time.  I am definitely one tired but happy Mommy!

Happy Hoppy Easter!

On Easter Eve, George and Clara set out their baskets for the bunny to fill with goodies.

The bunny spoiled Clara, George, and Jack this year!

 

They were excited to find all of their treats in the morning.  Happy Easter Kiddos!

 

Happy First Easter Sweet Jack!!

After we ate some of our Easter chocolate we dyed our Easter eggs for our family party that night.

We enjoyed an evening with good food and family at our house.

 

Jack's first game of Epper!

The Pop-pop show down!

Pop-pop Wanno was the champion again!!