B was a miracle baby. She slept through the night the day she came home from the hospital. I think she was fussy one night a few months ago that kept us up. There was a period where if she lost her pacifier, she would cry out and you would have to put it back in.
This was not so the last five night. She has been preparing us for what it will (hopefully not) be like when the newest baby comes along. She has been screaming in the middle of the night. She is inconsolable. When you pick her up, she wriggles to get out of your hands, but do not put her down! She cries for about a half hour then is so exhausted, she passes out when you put her back down in her crib.
Sean and I are rookies at this. We truly look at each other and have no idea what to do. Too funny. Last night was better, only up for a quick cry once. Let's hope this phase is over. I sure am not loving it.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The girl can eat.
Our B loves her some food! lots of it. M & M take food to survive or because someone is saying they have to eat it (or it is icing). B loves it. She starts eating before we sit down. We usually give her a serving of whatever we are having (last night: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn). By the time we sit down for prayers, she is done round one and fussing for more. We quickly begin to cut up more food for her, hoping she will last through prayers. She does stop for prayers; she loves holding hands and laughing. As Sean and I negotiate through dinner with M&M, doesn't this look delicious, oh, one more bite, what a big girl you would be to eat another bite, no dessert if you don't, etc, etc, B has finished her next serving and is ready for me. We literally laugh out loud every night at the amount she eats. She is so quiet, until it runs out, then she is mad...get her more fast. And don't be fooled, when she is done, she is done. She quickly starts throwing all the food that is left on her tray to the floor doing the sign for "all done". Thank goodness for Jameson (the dog, not the whiskey).
We have not yet met a food she doesn't like. I wonder how long this will keep up.
We have not yet met a food she doesn't like. I wonder how long this will keep up.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Maggie starts school
Maggie started school last week. We had been visiting her classroom the week before after we dropped Mo off. She liked her classroom and could tell me all about what she was going to do in it.
The first day of school she kind of woke up a bear. She was a bit moody all morning. Finally she broke out into tears and admitted "I don't want to go to school!!" After some breakfast bribing (a donut) and some snuggling, she was ready to go. She did pretty well on the first day. She would go off and play, then come over and tug my leg, just to make sure I knew she was still there. I snuck out after checking her in, and she did great. She loved having her friend Eva there to play.
Day two was not so good. Eva does not go on this day, so Mags had no friends in the class. She cried and screamed and held on and begged to please go to the gym with Mommy and B. Poor baby. The main teacher said she did stop crying and did better, but later the aide was talking to me and said "I love your daughter, She is so cute." When I looked at her a little perplexed, she said "I held her pretty much the whole class, and she just snuggled right up to me." I don't think being held by the teacher the whole class constitutes a "fine" day! Day three was better; Eva was back.
I did decide to drop her out of the day that her bff is not there. No need to push her. I don't do anything fancy anyway. I will just take her to the gym with me. Hopefully that will help. Today when I went in to let the teachers know she was going to drop Wednesday, they said she was great today. She just does her own thing. She is one of the ones they do not have to worry about. Hopefully that is true. Of course I did give all the teachers little back to school gifts so they would be nice to my babies. I am not above shameless bribery and butt kissing for my kids well being. Oh the sacrifices I make as a mother!
The first day of school she kind of woke up a bear. She was a bit moody all morning. Finally she broke out into tears and admitted "I don't want to go to school!!" After some breakfast bribing (a donut) and some snuggling, she was ready to go. She did pretty well on the first day. She would go off and play, then come over and tug my leg, just to make sure I knew she was still there. I snuck out after checking her in, and she did great. She loved having her friend Eva there to play.
Day two was not so good. Eva does not go on this day, so Mags had no friends in the class. She cried and screamed and held on and begged to please go to the gym with Mommy and B. Poor baby. The main teacher said she did stop crying and did better, but later the aide was talking to me and said "I love your daughter, She is so cute." When I looked at her a little perplexed, she said "I held her pretty much the whole class, and she just snuggled right up to me." I don't think being held by the teacher the whole class constitutes a "fine" day! Day three was better; Eva was back.
I did decide to drop her out of the day that her bff is not there. No need to push her. I don't do anything fancy anyway. I will just take her to the gym with me. Hopefully that will help. Today when I went in to let the teachers know she was going to drop Wednesday, they said she was great today. She just does her own thing. She is one of the ones they do not have to worry about. Hopefully that is true. Of course I did give all the teachers little back to school gifts so they would be nice to my babies. I am not above shameless bribery and butt kissing for my kids well being. Oh the sacrifices I make as a mother!
Happy Birthday Maura
I remember when I would hear about a friend that had a two year old.. boy that seemed old to me... a two year old! But then I had a two year old, and, well, it didn't seem that old. Same thing with three. But four... four just seems too old to me. Maura turned four on Sunday. Her birthday was a long time coming. She had a sleepover with friends a week beofre her birthday, then she had a playgroup party on Friday, then G-parents came over for a small party on Sunday, then Monday she celebrated in school! Now, we have a short break, and we start Maggie's celebration!
Maura has always been a pretty easy child. When she was a baby, she did what she was supposed to do. She would nurse, fine, and take milk from a bottle, fine. She slept well from the beginning, starting to sleep through the night at 3 1/2 weeks. You could put her down on her playmat. She would play until she fell asleep. You could come back in an hour later and she would be awake again playing with her toys. When it was time to eat, she did. When it was time to put her on a nap schedule, she went. Her first birthday was her last day taking a bottle... She just always did whatever the baby books and doctors and internet, and whatever else, said she was supposed to do. Boy, was I spoiled! Maybe that is why just four months after she was born I was already pregnant again.
To this day, Maura is still pretty easy. She basically does what she is supposed to do. She is also very independent in most ways. She does not really care what the "crowd" (if there is a crowd at age 4) is doing. She plays well with others or by herself. She is self motivated to learn. I would think this was a weird thing to say of a four year old, but, from experience, I know that not all children are like her. She loves puzzles! She loves workbooks. She loves, loves to read (memorize) books. She sings all the time. It is so easy for her to pick up a tune. She then makes up all kinds of songs with that same tune. She has a great imagination. She is very athletic and strong. She makes funny faces and funny noises and cracks herself up. She will listen to you tell a story, then adapt the story to her own life and retell it. She is basically kind and good to her sisters. She tells me, she will always be my little girl, but she has to grow and get older and bigger.
One of the things I really admire (yes, I admire my 4 year old) is her ability to do her own thing. I tried to nuture this as a baby/toddler by never saying "all your friends are... sitting down, playing dress up, eating lunch, etc." Just saying she either did or did not have to do it. I thought I was the one shaping her. Turns out I was wrong. They shape themselves. Each of my gals is so different. It is amazing they were raised by the same mom! I do hope she keeps that independent personality trait, as that will help alot down the road when peer pressure becomes more dangerous.
So, Mo, happy birthday to you. I love you, and I want you to stay 4 forever!!
Maura has always been a pretty easy child. When she was a baby, she did what she was supposed to do. She would nurse, fine, and take milk from a bottle, fine. She slept well from the beginning, starting to sleep through the night at 3 1/2 weeks. You could put her down on her playmat. She would play until she fell asleep. You could come back in an hour later and she would be awake again playing with her toys. When it was time to eat, she did. When it was time to put her on a nap schedule, she went. Her first birthday was her last day taking a bottle... She just always did whatever the baby books and doctors and internet, and whatever else, said she was supposed to do. Boy, was I spoiled! Maybe that is why just four months after she was born I was already pregnant again.
To this day, Maura is still pretty easy. She basically does what she is supposed to do. She is also very independent in most ways. She does not really care what the "crowd" (if there is a crowd at age 4) is doing. She plays well with others or by herself. She is self motivated to learn. I would think this was a weird thing to say of a four year old, but, from experience, I know that not all children are like her. She loves puzzles! She loves workbooks. She loves, loves to read (memorize) books. She sings all the time. It is so easy for her to pick up a tune. She then makes up all kinds of songs with that same tune. She has a great imagination. She is very athletic and strong. She makes funny faces and funny noises and cracks herself up. She will listen to you tell a story, then adapt the story to her own life and retell it. She is basically kind and good to her sisters. She tells me, she will always be my little girl, but she has to grow and get older and bigger.
One of the things I really admire (yes, I admire my 4 year old) is her ability to do her own thing. I tried to nuture this as a baby/toddler by never saying "all your friends are... sitting down, playing dress up, eating lunch, etc." Just saying she either did or did not have to do it. I thought I was the one shaping her. Turns out I was wrong. They shape themselves. Each of my gals is so different. It is amazing they were raised by the same mom! I do hope she keeps that independent personality trait, as that will help alot down the road when peer pressure becomes more dangerous.
So, Mo, happy birthday to you. I love you, and I want you to stay 4 forever!!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Thank You Sean
I know Sean does not really read this, but if you ever do, let me say thank you. Sean and I have been married for 6 years. I have been pregnant a good amount of them. In fact, I figured out that in January, I will have been pregnant 40 of the last 60 months (or something like that). I like to think that I am not too high maintenance, but I am sure I am higher than I give myself credit for. I also am pretty moody and tired those last few months (not to mention first few months) of pregnancy. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror, and I seriously do not recognize myself. I look nothing (or little) like I did when we first got married. As I waddle out of the bathroom in one of Sean's XL tee shirts and some oh-so-flattering maternity shorts, I will think, what is Sean thinking when he looks at me? Is this really what he signed up for? Not sure I did. He never complains (about the looks, the moodiness, every once in a while).
He also does such an amazing job providing for our family. He works really hard and does well at what he does, and he never complains about it. In fact, he really loves it. How many people can say that? He thrives on his work. And he is really good at it. I feel so lucky that I get to stay home and be with the girls all the time. I know that that is such a blessing these days. As much as I may complain about needing a break (which I do every once in a while) I can't imagine missing all the things I get to do with them because I am home. I was thinking of that the other day when Mo started school and gymnastics the same day. I decorated the house the night before and set up our little back-to-school breakfast party. I would have been sad to miss any part of that day. I was definitely more worked up about it than Mo was. I had told Sean that he could go to back-to-school night and I would watch the girls if he wanted. Luckily for me, he doesn't love all the same things I do, so he stayed and finished dinner and baths and bed with the girls. I would have been devastated to have missed it. Not sure why, it was pretty much the same as last year. But that is just my nutsy personality. Even when someone offers to take the girls somewhere for me, I think "what if I miss somehting fun, or cute, or a first?" I should just say yes, take them. But I don't want to miss anything.
So Sean, thanks for all you do for our family. Thanks mostly for putting up with my nutsy personality. Thanks for providing for us and leaving us truly wanting for nothing. How lucky I am to live this life that is crazy and stress-filled in all the good crazy and stress-filled ways, noe of the bad. I know I appreciate it now and one day, these girls of yours will really appreciate it too!
He also does such an amazing job providing for our family. He works really hard and does well at what he does, and he never complains about it. In fact, he really loves it. How many people can say that? He thrives on his work. And he is really good at it. I feel so lucky that I get to stay home and be with the girls all the time. I know that that is such a blessing these days. As much as I may complain about needing a break (which I do every once in a while) I can't imagine missing all the things I get to do with them because I am home. I was thinking of that the other day when Mo started school and gymnastics the same day. I decorated the house the night before and set up our little back-to-school breakfast party. I would have been sad to miss any part of that day. I was definitely more worked up about it than Mo was. I had told Sean that he could go to back-to-school night and I would watch the girls if he wanted. Luckily for me, he doesn't love all the same things I do, so he stayed and finished dinner and baths and bed with the girls. I would have been devastated to have missed it. Not sure why, it was pretty much the same as last year. But that is just my nutsy personality. Even when someone offers to take the girls somewhere for me, I think "what if I miss somehting fun, or cute, or a first?" I should just say yes, take them. But I don't want to miss anything.
So Sean, thanks for all you do for our family. Thanks mostly for putting up with my nutsy personality. Thanks for providing for us and leaving us truly wanting for nothing. How lucky I am to live this life that is crazy and stress-filled in all the good crazy and stress-filled ways, noe of the bad. I know I appreciate it now and one day, these girls of yours will really appreciate it too!
School Update
Mo has been in pre-k for three days now, and she loves it. well, I guess she loves it. She goes willingly and seems excited in the AM. She will say she likes it, and when push comes to shove, tell you a thing or two about what she did in school, but most of the time when I ask what she did in school, she says, "nothing." Sometimes she will say "I just played." Now I know that is not true. She comes home with crafts and papers, and her teacher told us what her schedule is everyday. They sing; they snack; they do the calendar, etc. But according to Mo, they do nothing. I guess I am just happy she is happy. I can't imagine what she is going to say to me as a teenager when I ask about something; maybe I will get a head nod.
Mags has been visiting her classroom (it is empty) each day. She is genuinely excited and curios for it to start. She practices sitting in the chair where she will have snack. She plays with a few puzzles. She even points out the bathroom where she will go potty. However, last week when I took Mo to class the first day, Mo walked right away and did her thing; Maggie on the other hand, has holding so tightly onto my skirt, I had to remind her that she was coming with me. Maura was staying. So I have my doubts about nest week. We'll see.
B is also warming up quite nicely to the school. Whenever I turn my back, she jets for the next available toy or open doorway to play in. She will climb right up on the chairs and sit with the big kids. She is ready to go. Just a few more months B and you are on your way!!!
Mags has been visiting her classroom (it is empty) each day. She is genuinely excited and curios for it to start. She practices sitting in the chair where she will have snack. She plays with a few puzzles. She even points out the bathroom where she will go potty. However, last week when I took Mo to class the first day, Mo walked right away and did her thing; Maggie on the other hand, has holding so tightly onto my skirt, I had to remind her that she was coming with me. Maura was staying. So I have my doubts about nest week. We'll see.
B is also warming up quite nicely to the school. Whenever I turn my back, she jets for the next available toy or open doorway to play in. She will climb right up on the chairs and sit with the big kids. She is ready to go. Just a few more months B and you are on your way!!!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Hee-haw
One of the first "words" all of our kids said was "Hee-Haw" My Aunt Mary and Grammom did a mural on the nursery wall of Ireland landscape, which is absolutely beautiful. In the mural is a farm scene with a donkey in it. Whenever Sean sees it, he points it out to the kids and in his best donkey voice, does a very loud hee-haw. For some reason when the girls learn this sound, it is in the form a ee-then a sucked in with all their might-haw. It really was funny when Maura did it, but it is even funnier how they all do it.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Pre-K
So, this week Mo will be starting back to school. I have a Back to School night tonight (happy b-day to me!) and then she starts on Thursday. Since she only goes M-TH, she will only have one day this week. It is crazy how much "school" kids go to before they even go to school. I remember that Kindergarten was my first experience, and that of everyone in my neighborhood, with school. Maura will have been in some type of school for four years before Kindergarten even starts.
Good Luck tomorrow Maura. I hope you love your teacher, make great friends, and feel really confident in all you attempt!
Good Luck tomorrow Maura. I hope you love your teacher, make great friends, and feel really confident in all you attempt!
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