stoked

guess who's coming to birmingham?  ME and the three little pigs.  :)

lame, i know, but i couldn't help it.  i'm trying to find something to call my kiddos when i reference them.  i'm so used to saying "me and the girls" that i now find myself saying "me and the girls and anderson" which takes entirely too long.  but he needs to fit in too.  that might prove to be a good blog post when he's a little older and i can further tell who will be running to the one who built their house of brick.  hopefully all of them. funny the prayers you pray for your kids based on a storybook.

see you in one sleep!

life with three

many of you have asked about life with three...is it harder?  more than i expected?  better?  worse?  am i sleeping?  some of you have asked me to tell about what life with three is really like, as if i would tell it some other way, or because you know i tell it like it is :)

so you wanna know?  sure you do.  to all my mommy friends with 2...you want to know.  trust me.

it's been easier than i thought.  there, i said it.  that doesn't mean i'm supermom, in any way.  that doesn't mean certain things haven't been more difficult.  you need examples?  sure...

- going to the grocery store.
- going to the grocery store in between feedings/school/nap.
- during the first two weeks, being awake enough to function for the girls when they wake up.
- getting three kids up, fed, dressed, in the car and to avery's school by 9am.
- the above, after having not slept.
- when you're done doing something for one of them, the other one needs something done.  it's a never ending cycle.  in fact, it's taken me 3 days to write this post.  :)
- learning to use a sling.  i have two.  one is small and petite and fitted.  the other one "looks like a curtain" allen said.  i have been successful at neither. 

so basically my issues have been learning to manage my time.  he's following in the footsteps of his sisters and he's a great sleeper.  midway through week 2 he started stretching his nighttime feedings out to 4-5 hours.  he goes to bed at 9:30ish, gets up at 2:45 then again at 6, then 9.  that, friends, is manageable.  i'm ready for that 9-9 schedule though.  i heart sleep.

i've also forgotten a few things about babies.
- they sound like cats when they cry.
- every three hours comes every three hours.  clockwork. 
- their fingernails are near impossible to cut and no, i haven't tried to file them.
- they go through diapers like crazy.  almost makes me want to go green.  almost. 
- how much they love to hear you talk to them.  his eyes just lock in and he tries so hard to talk back. 
- how snuggly they are.  he snuggles right in when i hold him. 
- how much i love nursing.  for all you soon-to-be-moms...it's worth it.  give it two weeks (really just one) and it does get easier. 
- how thirsty you are.   allen laughs at me because i fill up my cup, stand there and drink it all so i can fill it up again. 
- how easily they learn.  you hold them, they're fine.  as soon as their shoulder blades touch their bed, screaming.  pick them up, fine.  lay them down, screams.  it wasn't funny with avery.  we were exhausted and wondered what in the world was going on.  now, it's funny, because we know we're being played like a fiddle.  he's still too young for me to fully let him 'cry it out' but the day is soon coming.  i will say, as long as he's swaddled, he drifts off much more quickly.

so far, by myself, i have done the pool, the grocery store and a birthday party with all three in tow.  i did have help at the pool (we went with friends). 

to answer your questions...yes it's easier than i thought.  yes some things are more difficult.  it's better than i expected.  i am sleeping enough to not take a nap during the day.  no my girls aren't jealous.  in fact, they've been quite helpful and they love to love him.  no, so far, there are no difference in baby boys and baby girls beyond diaper changes. 

 to answer your question...yes, i love being a mommy to three!