Monday, June 8, 2009
Birch Bay
Over Memorial Day weekend, we went up to my sister's house in Bellingham for a day. My parents were up there, too. Steve and the other guys spent the day working on some remodeling my sister and bro-in-law are doing, so us ladies took the kids to Birch Bay. My parents took us to Birch Bay many times when we were kids, and I have many great memories of the place. It was fun to take the kids to a place where I used to play!
Jayna was at first unsure about walking through the wet sand and water, but then decided she was okay as long as someone was holding her hand.
Yes, that is my nephew Ethan in the background, laying in one of the pools of water! We laugh because he and Travis are sooo different in that way...Ethan couldn't wait to dive in and get as wet/dirty as possible, while Travis had to be convinced that it really was okay for his shoes to get dirty!
Checking out a clam shell.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Reading together
Things are almost always so crazy around here that I just have to document this rare moment of peace. Steve came home from work one day to the following scene...this is how you envision life with kids BEFORE you actually experience life with kids!
She's a character!
As I was going through recent pictures to post on the blog, I realized that there are many of Jayna that each represent a certain current quirk of hers. Here are a few...
Jayna is going through a phase where she always wants to be held. (This clearly presents a problem when I am out with all three kids). The mower kind of freaks her out, and yet she gets mad when I take her inside. So, Steve figured out a way to mow AND hold the girl at the same time...probably not the safest activity in the world, but it makes for a good picture!
She loves her new sunglasses, as evidenced by the many pictures I've posted with them on her face!
When trying to take pictures of Jayna, she'll sometimes cooperate, but often the first thing she does when I pull out the camera is yell "ot to tee, ot to tee" (want to see). What she's wanting is to see the pictures that I've already taken, so I usually have to let her see a couple, and then she'll cooperate. This is her reaching for the camera, asking to see. 
She's always trying on my shoes, Steve's hats, etc. Here, she was "helping" Steve do some yardwork, and she tried on the gardening gloves, then realizing that she can't do much with them on!
I put both the kids down for naps at 1:00. Jayna falls asleep pretty quickly, but Travis (if he falls asleep at all) takes awhile. This often means that Jayna is up earlier than him. Fortunately, she has grown to really love books (yay!), and often, when she first wakes up after her nap, I can settle her in front of the bookshelf, and she'll spend a good 30 minutes reading book after book. In the end, every book will be on the ground, but that's okay...I'll always encourage reading!
Again, the sunglasses...I love this picture of her!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Siblings
It's rare that I get a picture of all three, but I can do two! A few favorites...
Travis and his miniature.
Jayna insisting yet again on holding Evan, and Evan not enjoying it one bit:)
My new favorite picture...it's on our desktop! We're really starting to notice these two playing together more often...it makes my heart happy!
This one was taken on Easter, the day Evan was born. I may have been in the beginning stages of labor, but dang it, we would get an Easter picture of the kids in their outfits! And then the kids didn't even end up going to church.
Travis and his miniature.
Jayna insisting yet again on holding Evan, and Evan not enjoying it one bit:)
My new favorite picture...it's on our desktop! We're really starting to notice these two playing together more often...it makes my heart happy!Baby Jayna
As I explained in a previous post, both kids have done great welcoming Evan into the family. One thing that has been interesting, however, has been Jayna's new obsession with all things baby. At first I wondered if she was reacting to not being the baby anymore, and while there may be some of that, I think she's just really interested in all the new toys that she hasn't seen before(or at least doesn't remember since she was a baby when she last saw them). She has pretty much stopped caring about all of these baby things at this point, but she does still love to sit in the swing every once in a while. Silly girl!
Doesn't she look huge compared to him?!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Life with three
Wow, it's been a long time since I've blogged! It's not that I haven't wanted to or haven't had anything to blog about, it's just that in order to blog, it takes me both time and mental energy. And it's been a while since I've had both at the same time. But I'm starting to feel a bit more on top of things these days, so hopefully I'll quickly be able to get caught up on the blog.
Evan is 7 weeks tomorrow...that's right, 7 weeks!! Even when the days and nights are long, time still flies! People have been asking me pretty much since he was born what life is like with three kids. I've been meaning to answer this question on the blog for a long time now, but it's probably good that I didn't right away because if I had answered it weeks ago, my answer would have been skewed by a lack of sleep and a somewhat frequent feeling that I was in over my head. :) Now, however, Evan is sleeping much more/better at night, and I've learned some things that have brought me to where I am now...feeling like it IS possible for me to be a good mom to three, but also really enjoying it! Not always, mind you, but hey - is there ANY mom out there who thoroughly enjoys her kids ALL of the time? If so, you're lying:) We all have our tough moments. Anyway...
The biggest way I've adapted is that I've had to become more disciplined. And really, this needed to happen. I don't let myself spend nearly as much time on the computer. I do laundry pretty much continually, rather than procrastinating and trying to do it all at once. I don't let myself stay up so late, and I also don't wait until the last possible second to get out of bed in the morning. I try really hard to spend time with God every day. Granted, I'm not talking in depth analyzation of the Bible...I'm talking literally a 5 minute devotion and quick prayer time. I've learned that my day/attitude will be infinitely better and I will have so much more patience and joy if I a)am rested, and b)had my devotion time. (I have one book of short devotions...if anyone has any recommendations in that department, let me know).
At the same time, I've also learned to lower my expectations in certain areas. Which generally is a tough thing for me to do, but it has been a necessity. As you know, I am a to-do list person. I still have these lists, but now I don't force myself to be superwoman and try to accomplish way more than I am actually able. My lists are much more realistic - and this way I don't feel like a failure by never being able to complete it. I'm quite proud of myself right now because "update the blog" is the last thing on my to-do list for this week! And feeling proud and competent is much better than dwelling on how much you have left to do. There will ALWAYS be more housework/chores. I've definitely learned to prioritize...I may have a list a mile long of projects/chores/etc. to complete, but it's all about pinpointing what is most important at any given time. And if I must let certain things wait so that I can address the most important tasks (beyond simply caring for the kids, which takes the most time by far!), so be it! And it certainly helps that I have a husband who is SO hands-on with the kids. I don't know how I'd be managing if Steve wasn't as helpful and involved as he is. I'd go crazy!!
One other thing I've noticed is that I am so CONSTANTLY busy addressing needs - seriously, I basically go from one kid to another all day taking care of needs - that I can see how it would be super easy to remain on autopilot until, years from now, I look back and realize that there was so much I missed or that I don't remember. So, I've begun a journal that I write in every night. I only allow myself 1-2 sentences, because if I did more then I wouldn't be able to keep it up. Every day, I pick a favorite mommy moment (a funny thing one of them said, a sweet thing one did, a milestone, etc.), and I write it down. It really helps me to pause, be thankful, and be aware of my kids as they are right now. I highly recommend this idea to any parent!
One thing I'm still working on is trying to figure out how to get my "me" time. I'm a person who is energized and refreshed by being alone, even if just for a bit. I'm thinking my best bet will be getting up before the kids, which I'm often doing these days, anyway, because of Evan. It is also nice to be able to get out with the girls or with Steve every once in a while, but that will get easier as Evan gets older. I don't like being away from him for very long at this point!
The kids are doing so well with Evan. If anything, I have to protect him from Jayna's coddling. She likes to hug him, but when she does, she puts her entire weight on him, which does not make him happy:) She frequently tries to shove binkies in his mouth and "bounce" him in his chair. She calls him "baby Ewan"...it's so stinkin' cute! Oh, and she likes to hold him, which I've always helped her do by holding up her arm. But now she tries to shove my hand away and hold him by herself...doesn't work so well! And Travis is much more aware of Evan than he was with Jayna (naturally, being older). If Evan's not in the same room, he asks where Evan is, and he lets me know when Evan is crying (like I can't hear it). He also likes to give Evan "kiss and a hug". At the same time, the kids have generally gone on with life as they did before Evan was around. So they've adjusted quite well, I think.
So that's where I'm/we're at right now. The first month or so with a newborn is awesome in so many ways, but it's also really tough in others, and I feel like we're past that tough point. The age Evan is entering now is one of my absolute favorites...he's sleeping better, on a somewhat predictable routine, and he's still so little but he's smiling and becoming more responsive. So fun!
I have lots of pictures I'll try to post soon....more to come!
Evan is 7 weeks tomorrow...that's right, 7 weeks!! Even when the days and nights are long, time still flies! People have been asking me pretty much since he was born what life is like with three kids. I've been meaning to answer this question on the blog for a long time now, but it's probably good that I didn't right away because if I had answered it weeks ago, my answer would have been skewed by a lack of sleep and a somewhat frequent feeling that I was in over my head. :) Now, however, Evan is sleeping much more/better at night, and I've learned some things that have brought me to where I am now...feeling like it IS possible for me to be a good mom to three, but also really enjoying it! Not always, mind you, but hey - is there ANY mom out there who thoroughly enjoys her kids ALL of the time? If so, you're lying:) We all have our tough moments. Anyway...
The biggest way I've adapted is that I've had to become more disciplined. And really, this needed to happen. I don't let myself spend nearly as much time on the computer. I do laundry pretty much continually, rather than procrastinating and trying to do it all at once. I don't let myself stay up so late, and I also don't wait until the last possible second to get out of bed in the morning. I try really hard to spend time with God every day. Granted, I'm not talking in depth analyzation of the Bible...I'm talking literally a 5 minute devotion and quick prayer time. I've learned that my day/attitude will be infinitely better and I will have so much more patience and joy if I a)am rested, and b)had my devotion time. (I have one book of short devotions...if anyone has any recommendations in that department, let me know).
At the same time, I've also learned to lower my expectations in certain areas. Which generally is a tough thing for me to do, but it has been a necessity. As you know, I am a to-do list person. I still have these lists, but now I don't force myself to be superwoman and try to accomplish way more than I am actually able. My lists are much more realistic - and this way I don't feel like a failure by never being able to complete it. I'm quite proud of myself right now because "update the blog" is the last thing on my to-do list for this week! And feeling proud and competent is much better than dwelling on how much you have left to do. There will ALWAYS be more housework/chores. I've definitely learned to prioritize...I may have a list a mile long of projects/chores/etc. to complete, but it's all about pinpointing what is most important at any given time. And if I must let certain things wait so that I can address the most important tasks (beyond simply caring for the kids, which takes the most time by far!), so be it! And it certainly helps that I have a husband who is SO hands-on with the kids. I don't know how I'd be managing if Steve wasn't as helpful and involved as he is. I'd go crazy!!
One other thing I've noticed is that I am so CONSTANTLY busy addressing needs - seriously, I basically go from one kid to another all day taking care of needs - that I can see how it would be super easy to remain on autopilot until, years from now, I look back and realize that there was so much I missed or that I don't remember. So, I've begun a journal that I write in every night. I only allow myself 1-2 sentences, because if I did more then I wouldn't be able to keep it up. Every day, I pick a favorite mommy moment (a funny thing one of them said, a sweet thing one did, a milestone, etc.), and I write it down. It really helps me to pause, be thankful, and be aware of my kids as they are right now. I highly recommend this idea to any parent!
One thing I'm still working on is trying to figure out how to get my "me" time. I'm a person who is energized and refreshed by being alone, even if just for a bit. I'm thinking my best bet will be getting up before the kids, which I'm often doing these days, anyway, because of Evan. It is also nice to be able to get out with the girls or with Steve every once in a while, but that will get easier as Evan gets older. I don't like being away from him for very long at this point!
The kids are doing so well with Evan. If anything, I have to protect him from Jayna's coddling. She likes to hug him, but when she does, she puts her entire weight on him, which does not make him happy:) She frequently tries to shove binkies in his mouth and "bounce" him in his chair. She calls him "baby Ewan"...it's so stinkin' cute! Oh, and she likes to hold him, which I've always helped her do by holding up her arm. But now she tries to shove my hand away and hold him by herself...doesn't work so well! And Travis is much more aware of Evan than he was with Jayna (naturally, being older). If Evan's not in the same room, he asks where Evan is, and he lets me know when Evan is crying (like I can't hear it). He also likes to give Evan "kiss and a hug". At the same time, the kids have generally gone on with life as they did before Evan was around. So they've adjusted quite well, I think.
So that's where I'm/we're at right now. The first month or so with a newborn is awesome in so many ways, but it's also really tough in others, and I feel like we're past that tough point. The age Evan is entering now is one of my absolute favorites...he's sleeping better, on a somewhat predictable routine, and he's still so little but he's smiling and becoming more responsive. So fun!
I have lots of pictures I'll try to post soon....more to come!
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