Catching Up

 

It has been so long since I blogged, and I’m feeling kind of rusty.   I don’t feel like my thoughts are flowing cohesively (ever) (could it be because I have to say everything at least 3 times in a row during the day?) (see?  Rambling!)

So, I’m just going to go for it, and see what comes out.

Caitlin, unedited and unprepared.

Late night edition.

Also, I’m extremely hungry because of my diet.

Wait, where were we?

Yes, catching up.

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Let’s start youngest to oldest- shall we?

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SAMUEL:

How did he get to be SIX MONTHS OLD??!   Oh, heavens!  How I love this baby!  I mean, I really, reaaally love this baby!  His smells, his squishyness, his feather-soft hair! 

 

 

I am pretty much his slave.

He whimpers, and I pick him up and snuggle/comfort/feed him.

Luckily, he hasn’t realized that this ALSO applies in the middle of the night (he sleeps through about 5 nights a week), but his naps have still been a bit of a bust. (20 minutes, once or twice a day).

And anyone who says that I shouldn’t complain about a non-napping baby- seeing as how he sleeps through the night- has never spent the day with a 20+ pound ball of exhaustion and whininess strapped to them while dealing with the shenanigans of two others!

 

But there’s hope!  This week his naps are getting better! (knock on wood!  knock on wood!) Mostly because I have been a hermit so that he can get on a schedule! Pros and cons, I suppose.

Anyway, besides his sleep habits, which can be a bit monotonous to people-who-are-not-his-mother (at least I’m not talking about his poop!) Samuel is now sitting up pretty well, and rolling over one direction!

In fact, he rolled over the DAY before his 6 month appointment- so that when the doctor said, “he IS rolling over- right?” I could proudly announce- “YES!”

Also, he is 22 lbs 8 oz, and 28 inches long.  Bigger than Joseph, but not as big as my 25 pounder, Isaac!

 

Lastly, and surprisingly given his weight, Samuel LOATHES solid foods!

 

 

 

ISAAC:

Is, as I’ve said before, extremely mischievous.  And physical.  And filled with 3-year-old angst.  (Terrible Twos?  Pshaw!  Terrible THREES in our family!)

 

He makes me laugh every day, and makes me CRAAAAAZY every day!

He LOVES his Mama, and is always up for a Mama snuggle, kiss, or book! (His current favorite is “Llama, llama, Mad at Mama” which he thinks is titled, “Naughty Sheep.”  Ha!)

 

He got into the fun this April Fool’s Day by trying to trick me (btw: the most common one I heard ‘round here was “Mama!  There’s poop on your face!”  Luckily, it was never true.) However, for whatever reason, he could not pronounce “fools” and instead called it “fourrrrs.”

I even tried telling him: “Say pool” 

“POOL!” 

“Say pools” 

“POOLS!” 

“Now say  April Fooools” 

“April FOURRRS!”

Did I mention that he makes me laugh?!

He has also taken to telling me, “Don’t worry, Mama, I not break my collarbone- I pwomise!”  Before he attempts something dangerous and generally against the rules!

 

 

 

JOSEPH:

Is super in love with his baby.

All day long he exclaims, “Isn’t Samuel so cute and chubby?!”  “Isn’t he the cutest baby in the whole WORLD?!” etc etc etc.

He is reading amazingly well!  I should take a video soon, because it is glorious for my Mother-ears to hear.

He is growing older right before my eyes- and it is painful!  Why does he have to grow up?!  And how soon can he be out of the house all day?!  I feel both things at once!!!

We are gearing up for Kindergarten in the fall, and we checked out a private local school last night

(Joseph waiting for our orientation- BEFORE he saw me watching him, when he had his natural nervous face on: )

(And after he saw me watching: )

The school was fabulous!  And right up Joseph’s alley! It would be WONDERFUL for him!  And so many great things!

But… $700 a month!

So- public school it is!

Brian and I laughed a bit about it last night. 

Sorry, little honey Joseph, that you have siblings and parents saving for a house, and all those things that are keeping you from some potentially great opportunities!

But, I will tell you one thing- He will be FINE!  I will help to instruct him at home to fill in any gaps he might have!  And some day, all of this angst and indecision about Kindergarten will seem so inconsequential!

 

 

BRIAN:

Working hard!

Still not looking much like our children!

 

 

And, last, but certainly not least:

 

 

CAITLIN:

I chopped my hair off.

Because it was making me hot, and getting covered in spit-up, and my plan of waiting until my cheeks got less round before I cut it didn’t seem to be panning out.

So, I just went ahead and did it!

Let’s see, what else?

I may have said this before, but I am realllly in the thick of motherhood right now.

THANKFULLY, I am able to realize this, and to also realize that it won’t be this way forever, and to stay relatively calm about the whole thing.

(Except on Tuesday night when- at 2am- I told Brian, “I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE!” to which he replied, calmly, “Okay, what does that mean?” to which I whisper-yelled, “NOTHING!  Of course I have to do it more!” and went back out to nurse my gigantic baby AGAIN.)

 

I also had an embarrassing experience recently when I ran into a deaf woman with my shopping cart.

I (obviously) didn’t know that she was deaf at the time and said, “Excuse me, I’m going to squeeze behind you!”, but of course she didn’t hear me and a collision ensued.

When she started making hand gestures towards me, I cringed and looked away New Jersey-style (I have been “gestured to” enough to be traumatized) only to realize that she was speaking and signing “I’m sorry!” to me!

I apologized profusely as well, and tried not to over-pronounce my words since I knew she was lip reading (but –guys- I TOTALLY DID ala fake-accenting when I was in England!!) and I used the three signs I know, “milk” “more” and “thank you” in relation to a conversation about my baby.  haha!  Why, Caitlin, why do you do these things???

I am also still struggling with the whole eye-contact thing, specifically with regards to a gas station attendant who ALWAYS seems to be on duty when I pump my gas.

He is really friendly, and just a nice guy who has never said anything remotely flirty or inappropriate.  But, he is

1) male

and

2) a stranger

which makes me all rambly and how-much-is-too-much-looking in the eyes?!….y.

All compounded by the fact that I have not been wearing a wedding ring lately (Because it was a 4 1/4 size and apparently now I’m a 5 1/2??!  Whaaaaat?!) and the other day when I was talking to him I REALIZED that I wasn’t wearing it, and then the conversation faltered and, do I hide my left hand?  Or just go with it?  Waaaaah!  Please tell me that I’m not the only one with this social awkwardness?!

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So, basically we are all about the same!

And, now you’re caught up!

Happy First Day of Spring!!

 

From my little freshly-hatched chick!

Just because.

 

Alternatively titled: We are sorry if our kids try to jump on YOUR couch, but YOU try being cooped up with them inside all day and see what happens!

 

 

 

Green

 

Please tell me that you wore green on Sunday for St. Patrick’s Day?

I was shocked and appalled- shocked and appalled I tell you!- at how many people didn’t!

And here I was feeling bad for not making a breakfast that was green-colored!

Joseph was initially…concerned…about the whole pinching-thing. (“Who pinches you if you don’t where green?” “EVERYBODY can pinch you?” “How hard are the pinches??!!”) 

He reported to me after church that, although many people were not wearing green, he thought that he probably SHOULDN’T pinch people in church.

Sadly, I had to stay home and skip church.

I have actually been home much of the past several weeks,

because I am STILL SICK!! (or sick again?  Who’s to say?)

But I did manage to whip up the ol’ corned beef number, along with some Irish soda bread, and high tail it to a party at some friends house!

And I actually made the soda bread again tonight, because yummmmmm…

 

and also because diets are off when you’re sick.

I’m off to find someone to feel sorry for me!

because I am pretty sure Brian stopped looooong ago.

(right sweetsie?  cough! cough!  Aren’t I still pitiful?)

Well, that was unexpected.

 

Here we are- Friday again!- and a week after I posted last.

A week of sicknesses and great gnashing of teeth.

I will spare everyone the details, but let’s just sum it up by saying that my house and I have now fallen into that black-hole-of-chaos  I mentioned being on the brink of.

 

 

Buuuut, I think we are all on the upswing!  And some pretty sweet things happened this week too.

Like everyone napping, and Joseph climbing into my bed after he woke up and falling BACK to sleep, and then Samuel coming into my bed and the three of us falling back to sleep all over again.! A mama sandwiched by needy, loving little boys.

Or Joseph waiting anxiously while the Target cashier counted out all of his hard-earned quarters/nickels/dimes to see if he had $10.99 for a Star Wars mask.  Oh, his expression!  And the relief when she said, “You have the perfect amount!”  It hurts my heart.

 

And when the boys were playing in the backyard, and Joseph said, “Isaac!  Lets learn about shapes!” holding a piece of sidewalk chalk, and Isaac responded, “No thanks!  I riding my bike with this worm on the back!”  (he did, indeed, have a worm on the back of his seat).  Doesn’t that (and the picture at the top of this post) just sum up the two of them so perfectly?!

Also, today, they were in the backyard again (I shut them out there sometimes) and I saw them pass by the sliding door, Joseph muttering, “We just need to find something SHARP…”

 

Couple that with a box of Samoas that Brian brought me (he was also sick and was feeling bad for being..well…useless.), and the week doesn’t look so bad on this end of it!

 

While I shovel my way out of the mess this weekend, here are some videos to keep you company!

 

They aren’t that thrilling, but- frankly- they are all I’ve got!

 

 

This first one is a bit long.  Okay, reaaaally long.  But, a pretty accurate example of an evening around here- and some peeks around my playroom. 

You might want to jump to 5 minutes in, where things pick up. 

As a bonus you will get to see Isaac throw a quick temper tantrum- something I don’t usually video tape or take pictures of (why would I want to remember it?!)- but it happened spontaneously, so here you go!

And, lastly, poor little sick Samuel.  It is really quite pitiful, but be comforted to hear that he is mostly better and has been held/kissed/coddled all.week.long.

Happy Friday!!

 

Just in case you aren’t my facebook friend, I didn’t want you to miss out on the awesomeness that is this picture!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! I have a sister coming into town, a lunch out with my parents/siblings, and TWO dates!! Woot!  Woot!

Now if Isaac would just feel a bit better so that he doesn’t ruin our plans!…I mean so that he doesn’t have to feel sick of course!

xoxo

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Three or Four?

 

Note:  Before reading this post, I would like to state that no, I am not pregnant!  Carry on.

This is probably the most frequent question I have gotten since Samuel’s birth:

“Are you going to have any more?”,

sometimes partnered with its more personal cousin “Going to try for that girl?”

Which, of course we wouldn’t hope for a one gender over another!

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JUST KIDDING!  I have three boys and don’t find poop-humor amusing so…yes, I’d like a girl!

(Do I need to add that of course we would love another boy?  And be thrilled?  Please tell me we’re past that!)

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Ever since I can remember, I have been saying that I wanted three or four children.

Brian and agreed early on; three or four.

So, for me, Samuel was a given.  There was a third one coming down the pike. (pipe?  anyone know?)

I just always felt like someone was missing.

And here he is!  Samuel!!

We have three!

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And ooooooh, my honeys, let me tell you about three!

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I know several people who are pregnant with their third child so, for them, I would like to say: It’s…nice!  Skip to the end!

 

 

 

For all the rest of you, (who have one or two and like to laugh at peoples’ stupidity at having more, or those of you who have 4+ and think I am a big whiny baby) lean in closer….

 

 

THREE CHILDREN IS CRAZY!

GAAAAAAAH!!!! SAAAAAVE MEEE!!!

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Okay, it’s not that bad, in fact, I would have to say that it has been my easiest transition so far!

(with my 0-1 kid transition being the hardest…akin with getting hit by a logging truck after being awake for an entire week…I imagine)

Also, this is a particularly hard stage: having all three at home, and all three aged 5 and under.

 

But this.is. intense!

My brain is constantly buzzing!

 

I have THREE heinies that I am responsible for wiping!!! Oops!  I mean FOUR heinies!  See, I even forgot to count my own heiny!!

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Samuel: I have to keep alive,

Isaac: I have to keep from killing Samuel or himself, or breaking everything breakable in our house.

and Joseph: I have to encourage, and comfort, challenge, and listen to endless star wars/superhero/the meaning of life/math equation trivia!

(Seriously, yesterday I was in the middle of doing lunch dishes, Isaac was screaming about something, the baby was crying because he was tired, and Joseph casually walks in and asks, “Mama?  Whats 20+20+10+5?”)

 

I feel as though I am a pie being sliced into smaller and smaller slices while I turn around in circles wiping things!!

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Three is…full.

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So, I take a deep breath and hustle my brood out the door to go on adventures… like Costco on a Tuesday!

I say, “Get your shoes on please!  Shoes on!  SHOES ON!!!” a million times and zip up two big boy coats.

Off go Joseph and Isaac to the mini van, Joseph shouting “I WIN!”  and Isaac screaming at the unfairness of it all.

I wrap the baby in a blanket (I’m already holding him, since I hold him all day) and pull on his hat.

 

I flip off the lights,

grab my purse,

and

inadvertently turn back

 

trying to find…

 

the one who is still missing.

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(four.)

 

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(Heaven help me.)