Monday, May 12, 2014
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
The name of the game
is keep the hair out of her face. When I was a kid, I always thought babies with "fountain ponytail" hairdos looked silly, and I never really understood why moms would do that to their little girls. Ha ha, the laugh is on me now. Claire's hair always seems to be in her face these days, and now she gets baby food in it, so the fountain ponytail(s) is the only choice, at least until her hair is long enough for real ponytails or braids. She really doesn't like me putting hair ties in, and she is tricksy enough to try to snack on them if she can pull them out, and I now feel officially inaugurated into the world of little girl hairdos ... even to the point of reserving a few minutes before going to Mass or a nice outing to "do" her hair. I have been spoiled too long by the boys' no-comb-necessary hairstyles!
Friday, April 4, 2014
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Sunday, March 16, 2014
What've we've been up to, part 2
David said that Davy is cute + chaos, and that pretty much sums it up. He loves to help with anything happening in the kitchen. So he finds the step stool (which sometimes I admittedly tuck away), opens it up, and drags it all around the kitchen to whatever looks most interesting. He loves being in charge of the rinsing when I wash dishes, and he loves to help cook. I love his company and try to encourage him to help and be involved, but sometimes it is tricky to walk the lines between my sanity, his safety, and his desire to help. He is fairly fearless and very curious, so I have to really watch him around hot things and dangerous or disgusting things. Just today he was helping to make lunch and he picked up a vacu-sealed frozen chicken breast that I was going to defrost for dinner. He picked it up and looked at it for a few minutes, which seemed harmless enough, but then I turned my back for a second and he was licking the outside of the package as if it were a popsicle. Thankfully, it was still all sealed up and I'm pretty sure no salmonella bacteria were crawling around on the outside of the package, but it was just ... wrong!
Claire is 6 months old next Saturday!! She is getting so big and aware of everything going on around her. She has mastered rolling over onto her stomach, but unfortunately has forgotten how to get back to her back, so she gets stuck and we have to roll her back over ... again and again. She blows raspberries and is always trying to get into things that get into her general radius of reach. Her current favorite "forbidden" toy is the baby wipes package which makes that irresistible crinkling sound. She has also tried some solid foods recently and seems pretty happy about being able to eat with us at the table. I put away all of her newborn, 0-3 month, and 3-6 month clothes recently and it was (as it always is with babies) a little bittersweet to realize how not tiny she is! We are going to try moving her into Davy's room tonight since she has not been sleeping well in our room anymore. I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but it's worth a try. I could really use more sleep!
I am having a good Lent so far (and by that I mean it's been difficult, but in a good way). I find myself becoming increasingly anxious about things and I am trying hard this Lent to be less anxious and worried. We have plenty of crazy work/life events coming up this year so I'm sure I'll get plenty of practice at it.
Claire is 6 months old next Saturday!! She is getting so big and aware of everything going on around her. She has mastered rolling over onto her stomach, but unfortunately has forgotten how to get back to her back, so she gets stuck and we have to roll her back over ... again and again. She blows raspberries and is always trying to get into things that get into her general radius of reach. Her current favorite "forbidden" toy is the baby wipes package which makes that irresistible crinkling sound. She has also tried some solid foods recently and seems pretty happy about being able to eat with us at the table. I put away all of her newborn, 0-3 month, and 3-6 month clothes recently and it was (as it always is with babies) a little bittersweet to realize how not tiny she is! We are going to try moving her into Davy's room tonight since she has not been sleeping well in our room anymore. I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but it's worth a try. I could really use more sleep!
I am having a good Lent so far (and by that I mean it's been difficult, but in a good way). I find myself becoming increasingly anxious about things and I am trying hard this Lent to be less anxious and worried. We have plenty of crazy work/life events coming up this year so I'm sure I'll get plenty of practice at it.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
What we've all been up to, part 1
I've been wanting to write a catch-up post on what we've all been up to lately. I have a few minutes now, so I'll try and write a little.
Jack, at the moment, is at an early Saturday morning baseball practice with David. He's in a 10-11 year old league this year, and let me tell you, some of those 11 year olds look so big! It's hard to believe he's what everyone seems to be calling a "tween" now. He'll have 2 games and 1 practice each week, and he's excited, although a little rusty since it's been a while since the weather has been nice enough to play catch or practice batting.
He in in Lego club once a week after school, and Lego and reading books are still his favorite pasttimes. At times I struggle to find reading material that is appropriate for his reading ability, because he devours books much faster than I can preview them.
Thomas is also in baseball this year, and I am thinking about putting him in the children's choir at church. He loves to sing, and has a knack for picking up songs, but I'm trying to decide if I want to add another activity to our schedule just yet. He also loves Lego and dancing and being silly.
Peter is also in baseball (three kids on three separate teams!) and is a fierce little guy. He has a "never quit" attitude, especially when competition is involved. He's also the king of non sequitors in our house, and generally hilarious comments or observations that come out of nowhere. He is doing well in school, although some days he puts up a fight and declares he won't do any schoolwork, and then I have to try my best to be patient yet firm and get through the day.
Davy is pretty much the stereotypical 2-year old boy ... equal parts adorable, annoying, fearless, tough, whiny -- you name it (and it can change at a moment's notice).
Duty calls, so to be continued! ....
Jack, at the moment, is at an early Saturday morning baseball practice with David. He's in a 10-11 year old league this year, and let me tell you, some of those 11 year olds look so big! It's hard to believe he's what everyone seems to be calling a "tween" now. He'll have 2 games and 1 practice each week, and he's excited, although a little rusty since it's been a while since the weather has been nice enough to play catch or practice batting.
He in in Lego club once a week after school, and Lego and reading books are still his favorite pasttimes. At times I struggle to find reading material that is appropriate for his reading ability, because he devours books much faster than I can preview them.
Thomas is also in baseball this year, and I am thinking about putting him in the children's choir at church. He loves to sing, and has a knack for picking up songs, but I'm trying to decide if I want to add another activity to our schedule just yet. He also loves Lego and dancing and being silly.
Peter is also in baseball (three kids on three separate teams!) and is a fierce little guy. He has a "never quit" attitude, especially when competition is involved. He's also the king of non sequitors in our house, and generally hilarious comments or observations that come out of nowhere. He is doing well in school, although some days he puts up a fight and declares he won't do any schoolwork, and then I have to try my best to be patient yet firm and get through the day.
Davy is pretty much the stereotypical 2-year old boy ... equal parts adorable, annoying, fearless, tough, whiny -- you name it (and it can change at a moment's notice).
Duty calls, so to be continued! ....
Friday, March 14, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Claire
http://youtu.be/lpx-CQWW1UM
Claire rolling over (with Davy's voice in the background)
Thomas making a silly sound at Claire.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Treading
We are all doing well! Busy, as always, but everyone is healthy and thriving. We are treading slowly and surely through this long, cold winter. The promise of warmer, sunnier days is just around the corner, but it snowed today and yesterday ... and more times than I can count since winter began. Every partly sunny day and anything 40 degrees and above outside is cause for celebration around here :).
I am trying to encourage the boys to tread softly around our rental home lately. Maybe it's because we have spent more time indoors, or maybe it's because I am weary of living in rental homes for the past 4+ years, but I am tired of finding all the little (and not so little) dings and dents that 4 boys can visit upon a household. We haven't (yet) had crayons or markers on the walls, but we have had a 2 year old that bit some pieces out of the mini blinds in his room (who does that?!?), some doors that have been flung open and dented the wall behind, various carpet messes (I love Goo Gone!), lots of handprints along walls and stairs, nicks in hardwood flooring from dropped plastic toys, and my own contributions when I accidentally scratch the vinyl floor, etc. The list goes on! I know it's all within the realm of normal for life with 5 kids, but it just feels like our household is hard on furniture and walls and floors and everything! I would feel better if it were our own things that we're denting, but when it's someone else's home, I feel bad, try my best to repair what I can, and try not to be too anxious about it and about whether or not we'll see all of our security deposit again.
David is working a lot lately, and recently acquired a work laptop which lets him work from home, which is a mixed blessing. I am glad he can be home for dinner and then work late here rather than at the office working late, though. There may or may not be a location change in our future, so we are chugging along and waiting to hear more.
Lent starts next week and I am excited (and a little nervous!). We are planning to go vegetarian as a family, which will be a good sacrifice. I will have to steel myself against the stink eyes that the kids give me, and to remind them of their good manners, but it will be a good challenge for us all to eat better and to be grateful for what we have. We hope to save a little money in our food budget (although fruits and veggies aren't cheap, either) and maybe donate it. I am also planning to encourage the kids to live the Beatitudes during Lent, so I need to come up with a good way to highlight them (maybe focus on 1-2 per week?). I am also planning to do a couple of hobby type projects during Lent that will be good for me and my work-life balance, and might just yield some nice end products. I am also planning to simplify our belongings, and I think I will start with my maternity clothes and baby boy clothes. We may be blessed with more children in the future, but until/if that ever happens, I can share whatever maternity clothes I have that are still in good shape, and whatever baby clothes have survived 4 boys!
I am trying to encourage the boys to tread softly around our rental home lately. Maybe it's because we have spent more time indoors, or maybe it's because I am weary of living in rental homes for the past 4+ years, but I am tired of finding all the little (and not so little) dings and dents that 4 boys can visit upon a household. We haven't (yet) had crayons or markers on the walls, but we have had a 2 year old that bit some pieces out of the mini blinds in his room (who does that?!?), some doors that have been flung open and dented the wall behind, various carpet messes (I love Goo Gone!), lots of handprints along walls and stairs, nicks in hardwood flooring from dropped plastic toys, and my own contributions when I accidentally scratch the vinyl floor, etc. The list goes on! I know it's all within the realm of normal for life with 5 kids, but it just feels like our household is hard on furniture and walls and floors and everything! I would feel better if it were our own things that we're denting, but when it's someone else's home, I feel bad, try my best to repair what I can, and try not to be too anxious about it and about whether or not we'll see all of our security deposit again.
David is working a lot lately, and recently acquired a work laptop which lets him work from home, which is a mixed blessing. I am glad he can be home for dinner and then work late here rather than at the office working late, though. There may or may not be a location change in our future, so we are chugging along and waiting to hear more.
Lent starts next week and I am excited (and a little nervous!). We are planning to go vegetarian as a family, which will be a good sacrifice. I will have to steel myself against the stink eyes that the kids give me, and to remind them of their good manners, but it will be a good challenge for us all to eat better and to be grateful for what we have. We hope to save a little money in our food budget (although fruits and veggies aren't cheap, either) and maybe donate it. I am also planning to encourage the kids to live the Beatitudes during Lent, so I need to come up with a good way to highlight them (maybe focus on 1-2 per week?). I am also planning to do a couple of hobby type projects during Lent that will be good for me and my work-life balance, and might just yield some nice end products. I am also planning to simplify our belongings, and I think I will start with my maternity clothes and baby boy clothes. We may be blessed with more children in the future, but until/if that ever happens, I can share whatever maternity clothes I have that are still in good shape, and whatever baby clothes have survived 4 boys!
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
Post Christmas
I feel a little behind writing this post now, since Christmas was almost a month ago (!), but today I was driving around and I still saw lots of Christmas decorations up, so I don't feel quite so bad!
We had a lovely Christmas season. We were able to spend time with my mom and dad for nearly 2 weeks, and that was a treat. David was off of work for about 1.5 weeks, and that was wonderful. We went snowtubing, which everyone loved except for Davy. I think next year, if we go again, he will be thrilled with it, but this time he was too nervous to even attempt going down the kiddie hill. The big boys (including David and Poppi) went on a LaserTag adventure, and that was a big hit. We really tried to keep Christmas simple this year, with less focus on "stuff", and the kids did better with it than I expected. It was more relaxing and fun for David and I, too.
Now we're looking ahead to 2014 and what this year might bring. We may see some interesting job opportunities for David, and although we hope to move westward eventually, we understand that it might not happen just yet. We're trying hard to be patient and enjoy the time we have, wherever we are.
This is a hard lesson, especially for me, because I find it hard to sit still and just wait. I am rarely content with things as they are -- I'm always looking to improve or tweak or adjust things so they are better. But so many things are out of my control, and while I understand that rationally, it is a hard
(but necessary) truth for me to internalize. I hope to practice a sense of gratitude for whatever comes our way in 2014.
We had a lovely Christmas season. We were able to spend time with my mom and dad for nearly 2 weeks, and that was a treat. David was off of work for about 1.5 weeks, and that was wonderful. We went snowtubing, which everyone loved except for Davy. I think next year, if we go again, he will be thrilled with it, but this time he was too nervous to even attempt going down the kiddie hill. The big boys (including David and Poppi) went on a LaserTag adventure, and that was a big hit. We really tried to keep Christmas simple this year, with less focus on "stuff", and the kids did better with it than I expected. It was more relaxing and fun for David and I, too.
Now we're looking ahead to 2014 and what this year might bring. We may see some interesting job opportunities for David, and although we hope to move westward eventually, we understand that it might not happen just yet. We're trying hard to be patient and enjoy the time we have, wherever we are.
This is a hard lesson, especially for me, because I find it hard to sit still and just wait. I am rarely content with things as they are -- I'm always looking to improve or tweak or adjust things so they are better. But so many things are out of my control, and while I understand that rationally, it is a hard
(but necessary) truth for me to internalize. I hope to practice a sense of gratitude for whatever comes our way in 2014.
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