2 Tikes Under 2 & the Caboose!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T12:34:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

The land of the mouse

2011-12-15T15:14:00.002-06:00

So maybe you heard...we visited the Land of the Mouse again. I know, the kids expectations on Disney is high now.

Meredith and Noah have both been three times and Margot just experienced it for the first time. It's honestly not the kids, it's me. I love it. I'd rather go to Disney, then some exotic island. I guess I'm weird.

But I'm going to be honest now, the mouse land, it did me in. I promise we are not going back until Margot is about 4. Even with an extra set of hands, it was exhausting. Had we not brought my mom, I might have booked us all plane rides home mid-week.

Oh I kid, the kids loved it. Margot was a definite trooper. She was so very tired, but she hung like naps were a thing of the past. Poor baby asked to go to bed at 5pm the day we got home.

Meredith and Noah saw Disney again for the first time, Noah was a baby (22 months & 11 months) on his first two trips so this was essentially like he was going for the first time again. He was amazed.

This year we did more stuff in Disney than we ever had before. I guess it was their ages. Well Josh and I and the two bigs, Mimi and Margot joined us here and there, in between naps and rests stops for Margot.

Margot was scared to death of all the characters, she would scream frantically and run into her daddy's arms everytime one approached us. By the end of the week, she loved them and thought they all should greet her personally and give her a hug. Her favorite characters were Pooh Bear, she cut a very long line of people and walked right up to him to plant this smooch on his lips! And she also loved Thumper.

We were actually waiting in line to see Minnie Mouse about 100 feet away and she saw Thumper across the way and demanded to go see her. So we go out of a very long line to meet Minnie to go and see her. Her favorite rides were the carousel, Dumbo and it's a small world. Oh and FYI, best place to see the characters in my opinion is Animal Kingdom, best setup to stand in lines and cutest shots!

Meredith decided she was over princesses. Instead she was enthralled with the lion king. With her envelope of money she brought home the entire set of lion kings stuffed animals.....exciting! (Can you hear my sarcasm, it's there....I loathe ~~allergen collectors~~ stuffed animals.) Nevertheless we now own several stuffed animals shaped like lions. It wasn't what I would have picked, but it wasn't my money.

This year, the kids got money in and envelope from their Mimi and when it was gone, it was gone. Meredith waited all trip to spend hers, hemming and hawing and thinking long and hard about what she wanted. Her favorite shows were The Festival of the Lion King, Muppets, Mickey's Philharmonic Orchestra and Beauty and the Beast. Her favorite rides were tea cups, Dumbo, Peter Pan and It's a Small World. She also rode her first roller coaster...Splash Mountain...and while she was so very nervous, she loved it. And she also rode her first thrill ride...Test Track...she also loved that!

Noah loved Disney World, but he really loved was the transportation to and from Disney....the boats, buses, and the MONORAIL! I could have skipped purchasing this guy a ticket and just put him on the monorail in the morning with some chicken nuggets and a coke and picked him back up at the end of the day. He knew all the different colors that rode on the various tracks and could not wait to get on them. It only added to the excitement that we stayed at the Contemporary, where monorails passed through the actual hotel. Yes, exciting stuff indeed! (no sarcasm...seriously...loved this hotel!) The highlight of his week was taking a picture with an actual monorail driver. After he was finished he looked at her and said "One day I'm going to be a monorail driver just like you!" To him it was like meeting Cinderella.

And he also did meet Cinderella and that confirmed what I already knew...my boy is a flirt!

Noah's favorite rides were Small World, The Track, and Peter Pan. He cried because he wasn't tall enough for Test Track...I mean crocodile tears.

The trip was great, the kids had a blast. It was also right around Noah's 4th birthday so we scored a Birthday pin and every person who worked at Disney from characters to food service workers told Noah Happy Birthday. He had no clue how they all knew it was his birthday! Super cute!

Disney was awesome, but next time we go I think I will require everyone be able to wipe their own asses first and entertain themselves happily and quietly on the plane.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T14:31:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving from 2 Tikes Under 2 & the Caboose! I could not be more thankful for these 3 little turkeys and my wonderful husband!

The Bike Race

2011-11-21T11:24:00.000-06:00

This year I asked Noah what he wanted to do for his birthday. I had almost talked him into a party at the zoo, where everyone could ride the train and carousel and call it a day. However my little Noah had much different and better plans. First he started off by explaining he wanted a bike for his birthday. Then he said he wanted a bike race with all of his friends at his house.

So I immediately went into bike race planning mode. My friend Blair planned a cute little cheerleader party for her 4 year old and had the cutest "tiger treats banner." So I asked her to please help me get a banner for our bike race and she did. Thank you so much Blair. I then decorated in various shades of his favorite color green!

The morning of his birthday he got a brand new, orange bike and a new helmet. He practiced riding his new bike with pedals as we set up for the party.

We put up his new banner and got lots of balloons and racing decorations.

We also hung racing pennants on the treehouse and swings. The kids had a ball playing in there.

He wanted goody bags complete with his favorite things...bubbles, gum and tattoos.

All of his friends started arriving and they all brought their bikes and helmets for the big race.

And thankfully cousin Connor made the long trek for the party too!

After everyone said hello and played for a little while we all lined up on the starting line. See the white line Josh came out early and drew.

All the kids lined up for the race. The moms were all given checkered flags to wave.

On your Marks....Get Set.....Go!!! Mrs. Katey waved the flag for the kids to start racing!

We made it clear that every child that crossed the finish line got a medal. It wasn't a contest.

We told the kids to race under the banner and back into the driveway.

There Mimi and MeMaw handed out gold medals to everyone.

Noah was super excited that he and all his friends got them. They were all #1!

After the race we sang Happy Birthday to the Birthday Boy!

Then we played some more with all of our friends!

This was a super easy birthday and a fun, cute idea! I guess it's all a 4 year old really wants! Happy Birthday Noah man!

To Noah on his 4th Birthday

2011-11-19T08:24:00.000-06:00

Dearest Noah,

I'm not sure when you got to be so big. I mean 4, how did that happen? I've always said it and I truly mean it, but you my dear grow the fastest. Maybe because your big sister always gets to experience the first at everything and because your baby sister is the baby and we make a big deal of all her new milestones. You are just somewhere in the middle....you grow up each day and it's not always as obvious. I know, that is why you are struggling with a little bit of that "middle child syndrome." It's how you know that you don't always need to listen or cooperate. It's like you have figured out the system. You know that Margot has to have my attention and that I expect more out of Meredith because she is "older" and you well you just coast right on by.

However my boy....you are just that, my only boy. Despite being stuck in the middle and sometimes glossed right over. You have your Momma's heart. You are my sweetest, most tender hearted child. You are always in a good mood, always happy and rarely if ever do you get angry or upset. Which is why when you do, I know you have a very strong opinion about whatever it is that has upset you. You are like your dad that way. The girls and I, we fly off the handle with every little thing.

Now that you are four you love trucks, airplanes, helicopters and all things that go. You recently discovered your love for riding a bike. We got a you a balance bike a couple of months ago and you are a pro on it. For your birthday you got a big boy bike with training wheels and I bet in the next 6 months, if that long, you are ready for those training wheels to come off. You love to play with your sister, and you still love your trains, but not nearly like you used too. You have recently started playing the Wii a little, a ver little. You still love sharks, and watching movies about trucks, lumberjacks, trains, cars and motorcycles. You decided last week you might want to be a mechanic. You got a "real" tool set for your birthday and have been working on all of your trucks and cars since.

You are smart, you know how to figure things out and use logic and reasoning to get your answer. You quickly put things together. Your answers are always witty and accurate. You have a solution to every problem and are always happy to share. You still tell me you love me out of the blue....all the time. I hope that never changes. Most days you tell me how beautiful I am. I love you my Noah Elliott.

And so today on your birthday like every birthday I want to tell you about the day you came into the world....

On the morning of Tuesday, November 19, 2006 I woke up at 4:30am to shower and get dressed before we headed to the hospital. I was more than a tad nervous. I knew that surgery was the only way to meet you and that my boy is the only reason I even went to the hospital that morning. We arrived at the hospital at 5:45am and I was hoping I would be the first c-section of the day, unfortunately someone else had arrived at 5:30am so we were bumped to second. If you know your Momma, you will know that I was not happy about this.

I met your anesthesiologist, the OR nurses and of course Dr. B. I was ready. However in all the time I had spent waiting for my turn, I had talked your dad into having absolutely no more children and having a vasectomy the following week. That's a procedure to make sure we would have no more babies. About 9am, it was time to head back, I walked back to the OR with the nurse. It was a little intimidating. I'm not sure why they make you walk. Or why your dad couldn't come with me. I got back there and they prepped me and inserted my spinal on the first try. I remember them sticking a big piece of silver looking tape to my leg and I asked what it was, and they told me it was to ground me. At that point I decided questions were not a good idea.

After a few minutes I was ready to go and Dr. B came in. He started asking if I was feeling anything and since the sheet was draped I can only imagine he was beginning the surgery. A few seconds later your dad arrived. He stayed by my head the whole time and gave me a play by play of what was happening. I unfortunately could not see since I was strapped to the table and had a big sheet in front of me.

And at 9:53am you arrived. You were a beautiful baby boy. When they first delivered you, you were very quiet. It seemed like way too long. I got very panicky, but no one else was. I'm sure it was just a second or two and then you were screaming. Not loud like your sister did, but more of a okay I'm here little yell. You weren't mad. You were just letting us know...hey I've arrived.

You were then cleaned up and whisked to the nursery. You made a quick detour to the waiting room where everyone who was waiting on you got to have a peek. You were beautiful. I was then wheeled to recovery where on my high from your easy delivery and the medicine and seeing you I decided I wanted at least two more children. After what seemed like an eternity I started getting antsy about getting to hold you, I watned them to bring you back. I sent your dad to check on you and they assured us everything was fine, it would just be a few more minutes. I think I gave them 10 more and then I made your dad go and get you. And when I held you for the first time it was amazing. I never knew I could love another child as much as I love you.

Happy Fourth Birthday my little man. I love you to the moon and back and as long as all the train tracks in the world.

Love,
Momma

The Birthday Week

2011-11-18T10:25:00.000-06:00

I am a huge fan of the birthday week. I used to enjoy it as a kid. You know going out to dinner on the night of your birthday. Having your favorite meal cooked on a different night, celebrating at school with cupcakes and your friends, and then on the weekend the actual party. Hmmm, maybe I grew up a bit spoiled. But hello....it's the time to celebrate the birth of that person. The reason they are here and happy and still able to celebrate with you. So I do everything I can to celebrate the birthday week. Unfortunately my little Noah's birthday fell on a Saturday. So his party was that morning of his birthday. Which meant no cake at school on his actual birthday, not to mention I didn't want to drag him out to eat after his exhausting day of being the host at his party. And since I don't cook on the weekends, we went ahead and started celebrating early.

On Thursday night we all went to Gatti Town to celebrate, complete with a cake and Mimi and Poppa!

This is one silly crew I got here!

Margot loved Gatti Town and ate more than her share of the free buffet for kids 3 and under.

Celebrating Wednesday before his birthday did throw him off a little. He was unsure if he was actually 4 or not. Either way he had a blast!

Finally big enough to ride the Bumper Cars. And as you can see, we had the entire place to ourselves.

Margot really wanted to ride the bumper cars with her brother to celebrate, but instead she semi-sort of -settled for this.

And no night at Gatti Town would be complete without a round of bowling!

A strike for Meredith!

Then next morning Mimi and I met up with Noah to celebrate at school. He was a little disappointed that Mrs. P was absent and missed his cake.

The second cake of the birthday week! A football, for my sports loving boy.

Noah and all his buddies celebrating! And if you look behind them you see Miss Priss sitting at the table waiting patiently for her cake.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-04T08:22:00.000-05:00

For God choosing and trusting me to the be the Momma of these three precious babies, I am eternally grateful and thankful. What a wonderful blessing they are. I love you guys.

When I grow up...

2011-11-02T08:14:00.000-05:00

In October, Noah's preschool did fire safety week. And luckily the firemen were able to come again this year. We got him dressed in all of his firemen clothes for the the special day and he could not wait.

He was a tad disappointed they brought the yellow/green trucks instead of the red ones. He loves the red ones. But that disappointment didn't last long. He was able to go inside and check out the truck. And luckily I brought my camera to snap a few pics. While in the truck, he changed his mind again and decided he did indeed want to be a fireman when he grew up. He just can't decide between that, a garbage truck driver, or a police motorcycle man. It's a hard decision I tell you.

Luckily, I had a conference for my speech pathology license at Noah's school that day and I was able to sneak out and see the firetrucks with him. Such a special day for my little man. Glad I got to be a part of it. I love this boy!

Soccer

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

This fall, Noah played in his first organized sport. He loved it. He loved the uniform. He LOVED the cleats. He loved being part of the team. And he loved his dad being the coach.

I don't think our team won a single game this year, but the kids had fun. Our team liked to share....the ball.....and knew better than to take things away from other kids.....the ball. The also knew to kick the ball into the goal....they just didn't always get it into the right one.

However all the members of the "Green Lanterns" got a turn on the field to have fun.

And their efforts earned them a trophy with their name and team name on it. My little green lantern was just a touch proud.

That trophy is the most cherished thing in his room right now. We are looking forward to t-ball now and hopefully another trophy.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T07:47:00.000-05:00

From our family to yours!

This year I let everyone pick their own costumes. Noah is Bumblebee transformer. Meredith a punk rocker and well I picked Giddy's....my little piggy!

Meredith talked me into dressing up with her. It's all she really wanted this Halloween. So I borrowed her tu-tu and pulled the rest out of my closet. I also gave my tennis shoes a little facelift.

Mimi came over to trick or treat with us. She was a mix between a witch and cruella de ville. Mimi loves Halloween and wigs.

Josh dressed up with his other baby girl. The farmer and his pig.

I do believe Halloween may be this little piggy's favorite holiday. After every house we visited she scoped out her goods and would eat right through the paper if we didn't open if fast enough.

We hit up every house in the neighborhood and came home with a haul. The kids loved it and were very into it, making sure not to skip any houses.

My beautiful girls.

My sweet Noah, being very selective in his candy choice.

This little piggy had way too much fun!

Happy Halloween everyone, I hope yours was just as great.

Tips for Margot

2011-10-26T13:10:00.003-05:00

Dear Margot,

Since you are still pretty new to this thing called life, I thought I would impart a few words of wisdom to help you survive in this big, bright world.

1. Despite what your mother's day out friends say, the macaroni, pudding, yogurt, spaghetti in the hair look is NOT in style. I promise.

2. Despite Meredith's wish, we do not in fact have a robot named Rosie like the Jetsons that comes behind you every meal to sweep and vacuum the food. Yes, as a child I thought that was futuristic and be around when I was an adult, but that is not the case. And Brownie she just doesn't do that well of a job, so the food needs to stay at the table...or the highchair tray.

3. Diaper changes are necessary. Diaper rash is absolutely no fun, it's itchy and uncomfortable. So please, please, please stop thrashing and wailing when I change you. It is so not necessary.

4. We do not have or want an indoor pool. No matter how much water you spill out of the kentwood machine, it will never be enough to swim in. Please stop trying.

5. Speaking of swimming, the toilet is for poop and tee-tee. It is not for swimming or splashing.

6. While we are on potty talk, toilet paper is expensive. Once you place the entire roll in the toilet it is no longer of use. If you want to go to college one day...again Please stop.

7. Hiding you shoes will not result in you never having to wear them. It will make me crazy. All the time I spend searching and cursing the fact that we are now late. Yes, please leave your shoes in the cubby like your brother and sister.

8. Snack time is at 9am and 3pm. You are not allowed to help yourself to a snack any ole' time you want. Your brother is wrong...we do not just help ourselves to cookies and fruit snacks all day long.

9. Crayons and markers were made for paper. Not walls....or cabinets....or furniture....or clothing....or your face....or to eat, they are for paper only.

10. It is not nice to play hide and seek with important things. Like keys, remotes, wallets, your shoes! It's only nice to play when you tell someone you are playing and you hide yourself. Not things.

Sincerely,
Momma

What day is it???

2011-10-25T11:24:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while, what can I say. I've been busy, I'm 4 issues behind in my US Weekly...you know it's been rough around here. But, I've missed blogging and documenting all of the kiddo's milestones and things they say and do that just make me smile.

Let's see....

Margot....oh my little caboose. The girl has more energy than my other children combined. She NEVER stops. She is constantly in motion and when she is strapped into her car seat she is a jibber jabbering away. She cannot stop moving. It's different. Her favorite things to do these days are to climb...anything. To shove stuff in places they don't belong. I found a sippy cup with week old milk in the crystal cabinet. A cabinet that I don't frequent often and therefore I was lucky to find this sippy full of yucky goodness. She is talking alot. Her favorite thing to say is Noah....O-wah! She repeats everything her big sister says and trys to say Meredith, but Ta-ta works for now. She went to the pediatrician for her 15 month check up. Besides her constant runny nose and changing her thyroid dosage again, she is the picture of health. I just love this one to pieces. Melts her Momma's heart. She loves to cuddle and give kisses. She loves to wave and say bye-bye. She claps for herself when she is proud of her accomplishment. And if you don't pay her enough attention she walks over, tilts her head and sticks her smiling face right in yours. Her favorite place to be is outside. She would go to anyone if they promised to take her out to walk, play, ride or swing. She's our giddy girl!

Noah....This boy....oh the love of my life. He is such a Momma's boy. He wrote the definition on that. He has me wrapped around those little fingers of his and I often forget in less than a month he will be 4 years old. Independent is not a word I would use to describe my little ham. He likes for his Momma to do everything for him. He is always smiling, always willing to give you a hug and a kiss. He is as tender hearted as they come. He wakes up everyone morning in the best mood and is so dang lovable. It's hard not to start your day off right with Noah. He LOVES school. He is learning so much this year. He is writing his name and knows all of his letter sounds. He loves to ride his bike and begs to do it everyday all day. He stills loves trucks, planes, trains and automobiles. When he grows up he is going to be a monster truck driver and a jet fighter pilot. He wants to play all sports and loved soccer. He is getting ready for t-ball. Oh how I love this boy.

Meredith....my big girl. My first. The one I tried the hardest with and worried the most. The one who will probably have a complex because of it. Oh I kid. She's my learning curve. She sets the pace. She is getting so big so fast. She is so sweet and compassionate. She loves fiercely, worries constantly and has a heart of gold. She is loving school this year and loves her teacher. She is reading....thank goodness...she's been wanting to for so long. She absorbs so much....I'm impressed on a daily basis. She is cheering and dancing and loves being center stage. She is funny. She loves being the big sister and the boss. She loves riding bikes, and writing....all over everything....list after list after list....she is her father's daughter. She is my first....my big....my love.

So that's where we have been. Josh and I well....we are blessed.

Lip Smackin'...Hip Shakin'...Foot Stompin'...

2011-10-05T20:05:00.002-05:00

Today was marked a day of a big milestone for Margot....no not walking, she's been doing that awhile now. In fact Margot achieved this one way before her brother and sister. I think Meredith did it for the first time at four and Noah at about three years old. But Margot, she marches to a beat of a different drum....her own...Yes at a mere 14 months, Margot dug into my purse, fished out my peppermint flavored gum pack. Opened it and then popped a piece into her mouth. I figured this out as she came around the corner smacking her lips and chewing like a cow....while carrying her container of gum. She smiled from ear to ear when I saw her. To make amends for doing something she knew she shouldn't be doing, she walked up and offered me a piece. Sweet girl she is.

A little neglected

2011-09-26T20:08:00.000-05:00

I know, I've neglected this blog. Not the other one, because that one I'm trying to keep up with. Not that I'm not trying to keep up with this one....it's just sometimes life gets in the way of this one. While I want to record all the sweet memories here....like the day Noah got his new soccer cleats and fell in love with them. Yes that was a good day. Look at that boy's smile.

But back to what I was saying....life just gets in the way. The days they start early and they are full. Full of life. I'm constantly running, typically back and forth. To schools, practices, lessons, playdates, mommy and me, games, parties, the grocery, upstairs, downstairs and so on and so on. You get the picture right? I think I've stated before that three kids, is like your ass never hitting the sofa again. It's not time to chat on the phone, or find your mind to lose....it's just one big whirlwind. And so lately I've tried....tried being the key word....to unplug and enjoy it. Do you know how quickly 18 years pass....trust me...I know and I know you do too. So we have been busy making memories. Loading everyone into the bathtub and splashing all around......

We've joined cheer squads and yelled and cheered and made new friends. We have come out of shell a good bit and found something we love to do....and that we are good at.

We've been busy doing homework and learning lots and lots of new things. And asking lot of questions as little curious minds always want to know....even when their Mama's do not know the answer. We've been making messes and using our imagination. We were sick and missed school already.

We've been exploring and playing. Playing hard. Laughing and smiling and learning to share. We have gotten into things we shouldn't have....lots of things. We have emptied drawers and cabinets and unfolded loads upon loads of laundry that Mama had just finished folding. We have taught Mama the importance of putting laundry away immediately.

We cheered on the field at half time for our first varsity football game! We played in the stands, we ate concession stand food. We ran around with friends we met that night....friends we promised to run around with next time too. We belonged to part of a team and we longed to be part of a team, making promises to do it next year. We learned that good old fashion small town football games are some of the best kind. We cheered even when our team was down...by a lot.

We met up with best friends for playdates that we don't see often enough. We laughed and smiled and hugged and vowed to see each other more often. We giggled for no reason other than giggling is fun. We ran with the boys, we shared toys and ate hot dogs for lunch more than once.

We picked out our own outfits for free dress days at school. We rocked sparkles and learned to accessorize. We grew up a little over night, kissing those baby days good bye. Yearning to be bigger, while trying to promise the Mama we would stay small. We perfected "the pose."

We joined a team and learned what is is to take turns. We learned that winning doesn't even matter if you are having fun. We learned that in order to score goals, you have to kick the ball into the net. Our coaches were quick to realize that a 3 year old's attention span last about 3 minutes before we need a water break.

We realized that those soccer cleats really are magical and can make us do things we never thought possible. We learned a team chant and picked a team name. We were on a roster. We learned that dad's really do make the best coaches and Mama's make the best fans.

We found time to cut an paste and draw and do all things girly on a soccer field, and we learned that even girls are pretty good at kicking soccer balls. We decided that next year we wanted to do that too. We learned to walk which is why we had to be strapped in, because we learned that toddling onto a soccer field with a game in progress is not allowed. We learned that sometimes the big sisters don't always let us play with them and their friends.

We spent the weekend with Mimi and realized that it's nice to have a break from the Mama and Daddy. It's nice to get junk food and watch TV late at night. We confirmed how awesome our Mimi is.. that she will brave the zoo with all three of us solo and load us up for a late evening Krispy Kreme treat. And that after a solid weekend we can really wear the Mimi out.

Yes we learned to walk and then to run and climb and even to jump. We tried to lock Mama out of the room we aren't allowed to play in. We laughed when we got caught and melted a Mama's heart with that smile...who could get mad at that sweet face.

We learned it is a whole lot easier to get IN to trouble than it is to get OUT. And that sometimes we need a Mama's help when we can't do it our-self. We perfected the pout and realized it works just as well as the smile. We left sticky hand prints on every surface in the house and it was okay because they are only little once...right?

We got big boy rooms and decorated them with sharks, alligators and boats, and that by just moving things around, how different the world looks to those little eyes. A little individual attention goes a long way and can bring big smiles to little faces and make those eyes shine a little brighter.

Our sweet dog had a stroke and was told she would not walk again. We quickly learned that our four legged friend really is part of our family. Its amazing how dogs can tolerate incredible amounts of pain without the whining that humans do. We gave Brownie some recovery time, now she is up and walking around. Her back left leg is not what it used to be, but she gets around. Meredith had to learn to sleep without Brownie in her bed and we know she will no longer be going upstairs....she doesn't even try. It's hard enough for her to get up and down the few steps to get in and out of the house. We learned that she can't run like she used to and we have to be a whole lot more gentle with her.

Yes, we have accomplished a lot of things in the end of the summer of 2011 and made some great memories. What I learned most is how much I love these three little tikes. And that how quickly they are growing and changing. And how blessed and grateful I am. That's where we've been.

Big Sisters are the best....Little sisters can be a pest

2011-09-01T16:26:00.002-05:00

Margoth thinks her big sister is the best. She does. She LOVES her some Meredith. When Meredith gets home from school she squeals in delight. She also gives her great big bear hugs and lots of kisses. Her brother sometimes gets jealous from all the attention his big sister gets, but Noah and Margot have that love/hate thing going on and are constantly battling for the attention

But there is just something about having a sister. When Margot gets the opportunity to crawl freely upstairs she often high tails it to her sister's room. She doesn't get to do this too often, because we have 17 stairs with no baby gate at the top. .....Note to self --- take care of that soon. Once she is in her sister's room she is as happy as a pig in mud. She likes to touch all her sister's toys, sometimes eating them, she likes to pull clothes off the shelves and things off the night stand. She loves messing everything up as Meredith would say.....much to her dismay.

On this particular day, Meredith was in her room playing with her smurfs on her bed. Margot hasn't mastered climbing up there yet, so that is Meredith's safe zone when the little monster is in her room. Luckily, there were plenty of other things to entertain Miss Priss.. for instance her sister's underwear drawer.

Yes she grabbed all the panties and started putting them on her own head like a hat, she then drapped some tights over her shoulders like a shawl. A very fancy shawl indeed. She placed a few more panties around her arms like bracelets. She's very stylish.

And I know you maybe thinking....well how the hell did that baby get those panties on her head by herself....NO WAY. This is the child that can open a pouch of fruit snacks by herself. I also confess we often put diapers and such on her head like hats....she likes it....and she's used to it. As you can see she has multiple pairs on that head of hers.

Once she had satisfactorily gone through the drawers, she started rummaging through the cabinets. All the while, my five year old is saying "Mom are watching her....Mom she going to break something!" The adoring sister thing doesn't always go both ways.

The best thing about Meredith's room is there are lots of drawers and lots of new things to get into.

The calico critter house is her absolute favorite though, because those furry little animals taste so incredibly sweet. And occasionally she will play with them too!

Yes I do believe in a 12-14 years I'll be hearing "Mom she in my stuff again!" I know my poor mom heard it .....Over and Over. It's a shame you have to get older to see your foolish ways.

A little piece of Heaven...

2011-08-31T14:29:00.007-05:00

Almost 6 years ago Josh and I moved to Mississippi from New Orleans. We bought a house and planted our feet in the ground and watched as our family grew. While Nola will always be my home, Mississippi is now home too. I may eventually tell people I live in Mississippi when they ask where we are from instead of my "New Orleans, but we have been in Mississippi 5 and half years now" response..... Maybe.

Mississippi is going to be our home for the long haul though...pending any other unforeseen circumstances or natural disasters. Josh has a great job, we have wonderful friends, and my parents moved up here by us and are five minutes away. I do miss all my family in Nola, but life here is pretty good. And so last month we purchased our second piece of property in Mississippi. This is what I like to call our "little piece of heaven."

This second piece of property is about 25 minutes from our current home. We have no plans to move our here permanently, but instead to build a much smaller home on it for the weekends. You see this piece of property is water front. On a lake, that you can boat on, ski on, swim in and fish.

My parents always owned some type of waterfront piece of proptery, so I grew up on water. Be it a bayou , a river or the Gulf of Mexico. Their primary residence used to be on the Jordan River, that was until Katrina took that away from them. No the land is still there, but they sold it, because the heart ache was just too much to experience twice in one's life. So we fully plan on sharing this "little piece of heaven" with them too.

The kids are excited. I'm not sure if it's the waterfront location or the bunk room we promised them, with three built in bunk beds....one for each of them.

It's a big, scary step for Josh and I, but I'm sure it is one we will be so happy we took one day.

The kids and my husband, love to go out and see the property. This is where our new sea wall is going to be. Noah is already asking to go back and watch them fill it in with the cement.

One day in the not too distance future, we plan on putting something that looks a little like this on it.

Noah wants it to be green just like this one....Meredith is hoping for pink or blue.

This will be the first framed photograph to go into our new little cottage on the lake

And I'm sure we will spend many a weekend and summer days our here at the lake, making memories we will cherish forever. Thank you Joshua, for making this dream come true!

By definition of Homework......

2011-08-30T21:23:00.004-05:00

I often forget how literal 3 year olds can be. No, seriously I do, even with my 3 year old shadow talking to me constantly, I do.... I forget. This week Noah had a homework assignment for his pre-school class. Now before you all freak out, it was to decorate a collage about things he LOVES. Very cute I know. I have to say I'm getting to be a mighty fine collage maker. This is the 5th one I've made in the last three years, I'm sure #6 is a week or so away.

Back to the story, his HOMEwork was to make a collage. He got the assignment last Monday and had a whole week to do it. It was due yesterday. I completed it Sunday...I like to teach my kids procrastination. See I can't even complete this story without going off topic multiple times....it's late....forgive me. Yes, 8:44pm is late these days.

Okay trying agan....the HOMEwork was due Monday. We completed it and I have to say it looked darn cute for pulling things together Sunday morning and printing pics right off my computer onto card stock. I listed all the things Noah loved....well most of them...he's pretty loving. He then colored it with his big sisters help. And when it was done we talked about it so he would know what to tell his classmates about all the things he loves and then packed it neatly into his folder and schoolbag. I was proud of my our work. He seriously did color it, with a lot of help from his sister....at his request.

So off to school we went Monday with our collage. As I walked him in, I saw all the kiddos laughing, smiling and holding their collages proudly. I couldn't wait to hear about what everyone loved and what he told the class about his when I picked him up later that day.

So imagine my surprise when he gets in the car that afternoon and I open his folder and see the collage that ~~I had did~~ we had did. My first thought was.....what the hell....I mean come on Mrs. P, you could have at least kept it one day....I worked so damn hard! I was perplexed. His teacher last year had hung them all year and sent them home in a scrapbook at the end. Surely his new teacher could keep them a night....right?

Hey Noah....did Mrs. P not want to keep your collage at school?

"Uh-huh"

Uh-huh she did or Uh-huh she did not.

"She did"

"She did want to?"

"Yeah....but I cwried"

You cried?

"Yeah I cwried because I didn't want to"

You didn't want to what?

"I didn't want to weave mine....so I cwried and her let me take it home."

Did any of the other kids take theirs home? Or just you?

silence

Noah did the other kids hang theirs up or take them home?

"They hung dem...I taked mine home becuase I cwried"

Buddy, no we have to send it back....you have to leave it at school like your friends....we can't take it back home.

And the crocodile tears started.....so did the hysterical crying and incomprehensible speech. I finally got him to calm down enough to explain to me that...

"Momma it's HOME- WORK....I don't want it at school....I want it at HOME!"

I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that the crying and negotiating went on for an hour over the homework. I tried explaining that homework is sent home to do, but goes back to school. He has still not mastered the definition of HOMEwork. I promised to help him make another collage for at home...I also promised that one day we would get this one back. But none of these promises pacified the little guy. So I had to use the tough love approach when I explained the collage was going back to school and that he would get it later when all the other kids did. Tears or no tears. He finally accepted that.

He wanted the homework on that board up there apparently.

Today I didn't send it back though. I walked him in to talk with Mrs. P to see if Noah's version of the story was true. Especially since I learned that his little friend Bella brought hers home too. Well his story was true. Apparently when she went to hang them, Noah started crying. It took Mrs. P a minute to figure out why. Once she did, she told him he could take it home, she didn't want to upset him. After that he started a domino effect with the 3 year olds and they all wanted to bring theirs home....Mrs P, being the wonderful, sweet teacher she is, let them. But this Mamma is a stickler for rules and tomorrow it's going back.

Yes, my Noah is very literal, poor little guy.

A year ago today.....hmm some things change....some things stay the same.

2011-08-29T09:23:00.003-05:00

Occasionally on my blog I like to go back to the same month in years past and read those posts. It gives me a good perspective on where we have been and where we are going. This month was super easy. I had one post to read. It pretty much summed up life back then.....come to think of it, it still pretty much sums up life today. Except that little person isn't just spitting up anymore....now she is fussing right along with them.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2010

THREE!

It's been a while, what can I say, being the mother of three is a lot busier than I ever imagined. Well three that are stepping stones and all under 4, because in some way or another they all still need the momma. The one and only momma and no one else will do.

Let me describe three....so you can get the mental picture....

Three is standing at the back door trying to put the smallest in the car seat to get ready to get donuts, trying to answer the questions being spit out by the other two about can we leave now? when are we going? where are we going? are we getting chocolate milk? can I get sprinkles? is the sky blue? can we get a pet dinosaur? can we take a trip to the moon? all while consoling the crying.....scratch that....now screaming infant, who doesn't' really want to get in the car seat and go to get donuts. Nope that infant would rather just be held all day at home, because she can't even eat the damn donuts. So you finally console her and are about to buckle her, but at this point your 2 year old has grown so impatient he has unlocked the lock and deadbolt that you have constantly told him never to do and it is at that exact second that you remember that you forgot to turn off the alarm... the alarm whose speaker for the siren is located on the wall of the mud room that you are currently standing in with all three kids, approixamately 4 feet above you, in a room that is 6ft by 4ft and it is at that split second that you hear the door open and that tiny mudroom is instantly filled with the most awful, loudest, screeching noise you have ever heard. The only thing louder is the wails from the infant who has projectile spit up all over you and your hair in fear, and is now using her tiny palms and fingers to grab on to you for dear life....screw that car seat. The other two have now wrapped their entire little bodies around your two legs and aren't sure if they should cry or not....but surely they are beyond terrified and I am pretty sure the 2 year old has now shit in his diaper. And you are frozen, because you are covered in spit up, and can't move due to the two kiddos who have firmly attached themselves to you and make it increasingly difficult to walk. The alarm pad is 2 feet away....you are pretty sure you ear drums have blown and you now have a migraine from the noise at 7:30am....and you are thinking that at any moment someone is gonna throw you a break and scoop in and make it all better..... and then you realize you are the momma..... now the momma of three....and life is always going to be some sort of alarm just blaring in your ear waiting for you to fix it.....because the momma fixes everything....no breaks coming your way.

In the end we got the alarm turned off and told the alarm company we didn't need any rescue vehicles, I explained to the tikes, who never realized we had such a cool feature before, what it was for. I didn't use the whole it is to make sure intruders never enter the house speech....I went with the....it is to make sure that you guys never open a door to go outside without me knowing speech. I'm a mom...of course I gave the latter explanation. I then got the infant and myself cleaned....the infant who also had the shit scared out of her literally and it was all up her back....and then I reloaded everyone back into the car seats and headed to get doughnuts...eventually we were all sitting at the table enjoying our sprinkles and chocolate milk, it just took a hell of a lot longer than it would have taken with one tike or even two...but that's my life now....THREE! Welcome to my new journey. I promise I'm back...I think I've been missed, based on the various emails to please post on this blog again...well I've missed you too internets!

What he says....My Noah

2011-08-29T07:47:00.000-05:00

In regards to my white yukon....as reported by a teacher at school.

Noah, what does your car look like?

"My car.....it wooks wike a big, white unicorn!"

...........................................................................................

In regards to turning fast

"Mom just hurry and turn fast.....Dad hold on to your big head!"

.......................................................................................................................

In regards to the toaster

"No giddy. you have to get your own....Mom giddy needs a pop tart!"

"Hold on giddy.....Momma has to cook it in da oven......not da oven.....da.......da pop tart oven!"

............................................................................................................................................

In regards to being corrected

"Mamma I just want to ask you one wittle ques-dun......"

"What?"

"Mamma I love you!"

Bath Time Fun!

2011-08-28T23:10:00.000-05:00

Too get this much enjoyment out of the the small things in life....It's what it's all about.

Going to give the Bigs a run for their money.

2011-08-23T08:23:00.001-05:00

You may remember that my Noah is the one who would normally sneak into my pantry in the wee hours of the morning to get black and white cookies. Or whatever other snack he deemed appropriate at an ungodly hour.

Well apparently his little sister has decided she is going to give him a run for the money. After she was up, changed, fed and playing contently with some toys this am, I decided to sneak onto the computer to get a few work related things done. And all at once I noticed that she was not chatting up her toys like she ususally does. So I went looking for her. She wasn't on the rug near all of her toys where I had left her.

Instead I heard a rummaging sound coming from the pantry. These days I have learned to keep my camera out and available, because with babies you have to act fast. I grabbed it off the island when I saw this....

Notice the already open and eaten pack of gummy fruit snacks to her left.

For the record I hate gummy snacks. They are sticky and cause cavities. They are not filling, I'm sure they are full of sugar, even if they are also "made of real fruit." They are the one snack that not only provides zero nutrition, but they leave your kids still hungry and wanting for another snack, even your 13 month old. One pack just doesn't do it. But obviously I buy them...

I buy them because I was not denied junk food ever. I was also offered healthy options, although now I rarely take them. I just tend to eat the junk food out of the sight of 6 little eyes. Therefore I use the excuse that my gummy snack purchase help me teach my tkes, that moderation is key. Really I'm just a huge sap.

Apparently Margot has missed the bus on the moderation is key lesson. Pack number two....showing her mad skills on opening it alone.

Mom...I'm not asking for help....I'm showing you I can do it by myself. Not once did I cry or protest for you to come to the pantry to help me....but if you want to see how I do this, I will show you.
This is how you do it....Tear it off.

Dig right in and get one....See it's open.

When you finish your second bag....just go right in for your third....like my mom said they are NOT very filling. It defintely takes more than one bag.

Yes...I did, I opened that one too and ate it before you got here....I know I'm so incredibly smart. My big brother and sister have taught me so well.

Mom, I had no idea that three packs were not okay....I didn't know I swear. Noah said it was fine...Sorry mom. But can I finish it now....I'd hate to waste it.

Thanks Mom, you're the best. I'm not sure why Ta-ta and Noah say you are the meanest mom ever sometimes. I totally disagree with them. Hmmm does that get me another pack after this one?

She literally ate three packs of gummy snacks while I snapped over 30 pictures. When I finally picked her and her trash up and shut the pantry there were plenty of crocodile tears. Luckily she is like her brother in other ways too and recovered and moved on quickly. I guess I'm going to have to start keeping a very close eye on the pantry again.

She's got spirit...yes she does!

2011-08-22T20:46:00.001-05:00

Today she earned the spirit stick!

The Overall Spirit Stick.

Not the one for her grade, but the one over-all the cheerleaders.

Cheerleaders ranging from pre-k to 6th grade.

Approximately 40+ cheerleaders.

The coaches picked her.

Yes, I'm bragging.

Deal with it.

This is my child who is so shy, she hides from her own shadow most days.

She earned it....

for cheering the loudest, good participation, good listening and a big smile all practice.

She earned the spirit stick today!

And we were both very surprised.

The other moms around me noted how she lit up at her name being called.

Oh Mere, I knew you had it in you. And I love seeing you do, what you love to do!

And I'm so very sad we have to give it back Wednesday too.

But she is determined to earn it again!

Watch out world here comes Margot!

2011-08-18T20:27:00.000-05:00

Today the caboose started Mother's Day Out. It was a rough one. I didn't cry when my big girl started Kindergarten. I didn't cry when my mamma's boy started Pre-k 3. But today I shed a tear as my caboose started Mother's Day Out. It's a milestone. She's growing up and I'm so not ready for this. She is growing much faster then the other two did. It's just not fair. I miss those newborn days.

I used my day to run to the grocery, run a few errands, then get a hair cut. I didn't sit around the phone like I did when I first left Meredith at Mom's day out. Nope, I'm a seasoned Mamma now, and I know she was in very capable and loving hands and she would be okay when I got back.

First day of Pre-K 3

2011-08-17T11:40:00.006-05:00

Yesterday my man started pre-school. He had been asking when it was his turn since last Tuesday when Meredith started. Although when the day came he was a little unsure. He realized he was not going to his old classroom with Mrs. Emily and all of his old friends. Luckily he had 3 friends from last year in his new class and of course his Bella. I don't know what he is going to do next year without sweet Bella.

Here he is ready for school. Don't be fooled by his smile. He was not happy about taking the picture at all. And he hated the outfit. "I wook funny!" "Deez are church clothes!" "Da kids are going to waugh at me!"

My husband put that thought in his head. When he saw the precious outfit, I think he said.....'Really....I mean come on all the other kids are going to laugh." But I kind of figured this was the last year I would be able to dress him as I saw fit. Hell it was a lot longer than Meredith let me without all the fussing and fighting. Oh well....here is my boy in what I think is an adorable "back to school outfit"....or as he thinks his "church clothes".

Before we went in, he wanted a picture with his momma.

He got to bring a friend with him to school on the first day to keep him company. Of course he chose his shark. I made him promise me he wouldn't let his shark bite anyone.

Noah and his best friend Bella. We didn't get Mrs. Emily again, thankfully we got Bella! It made back to school much easier.

Saying good-bye to Margot and Daddy. Margot is into rocking chairs lately and she immediately found the only one in the classroom.

Here he is with Mrs. Paula. He told me he liked Mrs. Paula, she had long hair and it was circle hair. I said I know bud, it's curly like yours. He said "No! Mine is curly....hers is circles!" Point taken and noted.

Noah's first two days went well. While there were a few tears about going initially, he was smiling from ear to ear when I picked him up. He loves his pre-school and I do too. He's just not real good with change and the unknown. Today was much, much better. He ran right into the room and only came back to give me a kiss when I said please. Then he jumped right back into playing with his new friends. Mrs. Paula reported that today he wanted to know where they were going and when all day. He likes to know his schedule. He did complain on the way out that there was no rally or stretch and grow (PE) and that," Dat made it a weally bad day!" Not to worry bud, those activities start back next week. His favorite part of the day both days has been snack. Of course.....bear cookies with icing and Oreos. What's not to love about that!

A stroll down memory lane. Here is Noah 2 years ago when he first started Mother' day out at his school. Wow! Margot starts Thursday....I'm amazed at how quickly time has passed. Oh and Noah, apparently I did not document your first day last year. Luckily I didn't document your sister's either, because that would make me a terrible mother for sure. I'm guessing my hands were full with your newborn sister. I'm sorry! Hopefully Mrs. Paige has some photos to share of that day....please tell me you do paige!

Mimi's birthday

2011-08-17T11:31:00.001-05:00

On Sunday we celebrated Mimi's birthday. It was very low key, we went out Saturday night and then on Sunday Mimi and I cooked dinner and I made her a cake. I'm not a baker, cooking is more my specialty. Happy Birthday Mimi our lives would not be so colorful, fun and fulfilled without you. We love you to pieces!

First days of Kindergarten

2011-08-17T11:12:00.003-05:00

Last week on Tuesday, Meredith started Kindergarten. Wow. It's such a milestone year. Everything I ever learned, I learned in Kindergarten. It's the start of a crazy, big adventure. It was one I was not ready for. I mean where have the past five and half years gone? Meredith was excited, however she really did not want to go. She would have been perfectly content to stay home with me, Noah and Margot all day. Unfortunately that's not a reality and off she went. There were no tears from Meredith for her first day and actually none from me either. Of course I still have two monkeys at home to keep me very occupied.

She was very excited about her teacher this year and the fact that lots of her little friends are in the class....excuse me....lots of her big friends...I'm not allowed to call them little anymore. A few of her friends were not in her class, but she told me that was okay because she plays with them on the playground. To hear how big she sounds saying all of that is what amazes me the most. The way she says things....it's bigger this year.

I already went to school and ate lunch with her. I was anxious. I also stayed after to watch her on the playground and help in art. This year her personality seems to be blossoming. She's not the shy, quiet child I saw last year. She was excited I was there, She wanted to show me two very important things. One the big slide and the other a big mushroom. First, she climbed to the very top of the play structure to go down the very biggest slide. Then she jumped right off and took me to see an "amazing mushroom" growing high up in one of the trees. I had no idea what she was talking about, but I did not picture a real mushroom. Apparently it is all the rage with kindergarten girls on the playground. The entire group was amazed by this mushroom. After that she ran and played with lots of different friends and had a smile from ear to ear. She didn't sit next to me, or hang out by me like some of her friends did. She was too busy. After art when it was time for me to leave I expected her to cry or get sad, instead she had a big smile, gave me a big kiss and said see you later alligator and marched right into line.

My baby is growing up...

Her new beautiful princess school bag for her big year. She loves it...

And of course the "Meredith pose"

When we got to school we met up with her friend Grace, they are in the same class this year and wanted to walk in together. I think both girls were very happy about that.

We found her classroom.

And once we were inside she asked me in a whisper, to please help her find her cubby and seat. There were tons of parents and children in the room it was very chaotic, and boy did it melt my heart for her to ask me for help. And here she is ready to go. After this I gave her a quick kiss and headed out the door. It was a long first day and a long first week for me, but I survived and she loved it.

Before we headed out, I had to get one more superstar's picture. Although this super star was sad and going to miss his big sister, he was very happy to be going home with his momma.

The Beach

2011-08-16T21:27:00.002-05:00

Last year we missed it, but this year we loaded up the crew and our neighbor Kennedy and headed back to the beach. We made sand castles, caught crabs, boogie boarded, floated in boats, played games, watched movies, rode go carts and rides, played putt-putt, had ice cream, got air brush shirts and had a really good time. Meredith learned to boogie board. Noah got in the ocean a lot without freaking out. Margot LOVED the ocean and would scream when we took her out. We found some awesome seashells....the kind you buy!

We went again with our good friends and neighbors, and had a blast. The kids enjoyed it too. Thankfully Kennedy agreed to come along and be a 3rd set of hands and watch Margot during naps. We could not have done it without her.

Here are the tikes at the beach....it's the best we could do.

Here is the boat....the kids loved the boat....hell I loved the boat.

My how we have changed....this years pic and here is last years.

And that my friends is all I really got for you. I guess the camera stayed in the camera bag the entire trip. But the memories, they will last a lifetime!

Margot's First Birthday Party....better late then never

2011-08-16T21:18:00.001-05:00

Okay this post is a whole lot of late, but here it is. We celebrated Margot's first birthday party with a couple of celebrations this year. First we had dinner and cake for her birthday at home. I cooked her favorite meal and got her a cake and petit fors. She loved them!

Here is my beautiful girl on her birthday.

She was very generous with her petit fors....for that her brother and sister were grateful.

but she did do her fair share of damage to them.

After cake we opened gifts and she got her very on wheels.....I think she was a tad disappointed it wasn't a power wheels.

That weekend we threw a big party to celebrate. Because it is not everyday you get to celebrate your baby's first birthday. We invited a few close friends and family to help us sing.

I did lots of decorating to turn Mimi's pool into a magical first birthday. Margot's Aunt Lei Lei, Aunt Carrie and Mimi helped out a lot too!

Friends and family starting arriving and everyone jumped right in the pool. There was lots of splashing, good food, laughter and plenty of Popsicles and balloons. Even the birthday girl had fun swimming.

After an hour or so we made the birthday girl get out to sing. She was not happy. It was almost naptime and she had just spent a long time in the sun. I know it's cliche' but...."It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!"

Josh explained to her that after we sang she was going to get to eat that cake. This calmed her down a little.

After a little taste of the cake.....

she pushed me away and went back for more....

then she tried to take it away from Josh....

With that we put her on the ground with it and she got right to it....

After cake everyone swam again until the party was over. Margot went down for a nap before her party ended and when she awoke we opened a few gifts with the few friends and family who hung around.

Although she was way more into the cupcakes then the gifts.

The caboose is one....I'm still trying to figure out where the year went.

Follw me on over....

2011-08-10T20:58:00.000-05:00

Hey you, come on over and check out my new blog.....

What's for Dinner!

I'm still going to post on this one too, that one is just a project!

Out of the mouth of babes

2011-08-10T18:41:00.002-05:00

Today was an interesting day around the homestead. After enjoying a wonderful and relaxing afternoon with adult friends at the movie, I picked Meredith up from school and returned home to relieve the babysitter that had the other two tikes. The house was chaos. Not chaos caused by the babysitter, but the chaos we had been living in for a week and half now. There is crap everywhere, my life is spiraling out of control and now that school is starting back up I have a great plan. A plan to get everything back in order, to clean out closets and junk drawers and toys rooms. It's the same plan I had at the beginning of the summer. It didn't quite work out.

Today though, I walked in and was greeted by hugs and kisses and pleas to go outside and play. Particularly to play with a new remote control helicopter that really flies. Well one that did fly until it crashed one too many times, now it just hobbles along. And although I know messes can wait and life is meant to be enjoyed, the toll of the mess and the toys strewn everywhere, including said helicopter and remote just got to me.

My answer was no, not until all the other toys were picked up and put away, the ones specifically downstairs. Upstairs is another gorilla that I plan to tackle later. And I knew that if I made them pick that up too, then we might be able to get outside with the helicopter by Saturday. After hearing my condition the kids readily agreed to it. But no picking up was done. A few minutes later they made the same request with smiles parked from ear to ear. Because normally I oblige, but my reply was the same, when the toy room is picked up. Then came the whining and complaining about how unfair I was. I know.... I cook, I clean, I wash clothes, I bathe you and pick up your toys....life is devastatingly unfair.

After several more minutes of pleading to go outside, my refusals along with pleading to get them to pick up and of course the empty threat of putting all the toys in a bag for children who didn't have any and would treat them with respect, I did it......

I followed through.

I marched and got myself a garbage bag. I didn't say another word. I went into the toy room and starting putting whatever I got my hands on into the bag. Wii remotes, monster trucks, a Justin Beiber barbie, and so on and so on. One by one I calmly and rationally tossed barbie after barbie and monster truck after monster truck into the bag. Meanwhile my children lost it. Crocodile tears, screaming, crying, flinging toys around at the unfairness of my actions. There cries were loud, you would have thought I just announced that air was now being rationed. They were so hysterical that it scared my baby girl to death and quickly her face scrunched up, tears began flowing and wails ensued. My heart broke for her, poor thing was scared to death. Hell I was too. I put down my bag, forbid anyone to get anything out and scooped up my baby to comfort her.

This made them quiet down a little and the tearful begging to please give it back, we promise to do better, loads of apologies and plenty of please mamma's, began. When my response was no, it was too late, things quickly got very disrespectful and with that I sent them to their rooms. More protests and crying and screaming ensued. Since Margot was in my arms I did not raise my voice. I simply pointed to the steps and very sternly said "GO". More dramatic behavior, apologies, tears and begging, which followed with my arm stretched out and my finger pointed at the steps with me repeating "go....go.....go....GO". They slowly picked themselves up and started heading that way.

At this point, Margot realized what was going on. Well she at least got the overall picture. Her big brother and sister were being punished and sent to their rooms. She began to scramble out of my arms and then crawled over to the steps with them, stood up at the bottom, raised her arm and pointed her finger to the top and yelled "DOE.....DOE.....DOE.....DOE!"

After the bigs had tearfully retreated upstairs, she turned around and clapped and said "YAAAAY!" And so it begins, the caboose....calling the shots...Lord help me!

Dearest Margot,

2011-07-13T23:36:00.002-05:00

Today you are one! It's been one of the quickest years of my life. It doesn't even seem possible that you are a year old already. It seems like in the blink of an eye you went from this little blob of a baby having bilirubin checks to sitting, crawling and emptying out cabinets. Where did the time go?

In the tradition of my tikes' birthdays, I will also tell you your birth story on your very first birthday and each year I will tell it again and again. Because I will always celebrate the 13th of July of 2010. It was one of the best days of my life. It was the day I met you. And so...

Bright and early on the morning of July 13, 2010 I woke up and took a shower and headed to the hospital for 6am. You were the first c-section scheduled for that morning. I patiently waited for 7:30am to arrive. That was my scheduled surgery time. But when 7:30 rolled around, we were told I had to wait, because I had yet to get my IV to receive the two bags of fluid I needed to have the surgery. I surprisingly kept my cool and did not bite off my very sweet RN's head when I realized that this meant a delay. You see I was having a pretty good morning. I mean I was nervous as hell. You see I'm a big chicken and you required a surgery to make your way into the world. However, I was cool, calm and collected as compared to your brother and sister's birth days, in which I was scared shitless. I'm not sure why, maybe because I knew sort of what to expect. So this delay, was not doing much for my nerves. I quickly began to move from the cool, calm and collected stage to the "okay I've changed my mind and am ready to go home" stage.

After I talked your dad and Dr.C, my anesthesiologist, into squeezing the bag to make it drip faster, I was wheeled back to the surgery suite. All was a go. Dr. B, the ob/gyn was ready and now I just needed to be prepped and grounded and get my spinal in to get the show on the road. That is where all the fun began. It took Dr.C over 40 minutes to get my spinal inserted. Yes, drugs are a huge necessity in a ceserean section and so therefore when it didn't happen on the first try like we all thought it would, it was another small delay. Dr. C is the head of anesthesia over at the hospital and so I'm not really sure of why it took quite so long or why I had to endure a few unnecessary pokes at my spinal column. He did eventually ask if I and worked out during my pregnancy because my back was very muscular. Since I did work out this seemed like a feasible reason for the amount of time it was taking. That or he was just trying to keep me from freaking out.

After a few hundred pokes at my back, my mood went from upbeat and ready to just worn out. The feeling was not pleasant and I was ready to head home and come back a different day to try. Fortunately that was not an option. After a few tears and deep breaths and the sweet nurse hands that I almost squeezed off, we were ready. Except for the small fact that Dr. B was now delivering another baby somewhere in the hospital. Apparently spinals only last for so long because after Dr. C repeatedly asked a nurse or someone to call Dr. B to begin, he finally got on the phone and called him, himself. He was pretty demanding and it made me happy he was my anesthesiologist that morning. 100+ pokes and all. Finally, Dr. B came running into the room a few minutes later and apologized, talking about another woman's baby crowning. I know she needed help, but at this point I was beyond ready and so were you.

Your c-section was hard. My blood pressure dropped twice. I was scared. While I'm sure I was never in any real danger, your blood pressure dropping while you are laying on an operating table is not a very pleasant experience in fact it is downright scary. I felt like there as an elephant on my chest and I couldn't breathe. Thankfully, Dr. C was on it and brought it right back up.

And right after that scare is when you arrived. Dr. B said it's a big baby girl. The first thing I remember was you were quiet. That freaked me out more than a little. I remember praying, please let her cry, please let her cry, then asking out loud "why isn't she crying?" While your other two siblings came out very loud, you were very quiet. However, a few seconds later you were crying and it was the sweetest sound I had ever heard. It was at that point I was able to breathe again. Your cry wasn't a scream or a wail, but the daintiest, little girl cry. I was in love, and upon hearing your first cry I grew a 3rd heart that I knew right, then and there I would forever wear on the outside of my chest forever.

After they cleaned you up, they brought you over so I could see you. You were gorgeous and so pink! Everyone in the room commented on your beautiful coloring. Apparently not all newborns have that gorgeous coloring. You were amazing and so beautiful and LOVED. After a few minutes the nurses and your dad took you down to nursery. Your dad carried you and apparently posted a picture of you on Facebook, before he made it down to the waiting room. Needless to say people on the world wide web saw you, before the people who were camped out in the waiting room waiting a very long time to meet you. They were not happy as you can imagine when they saw you on Facebook first. Oh technology and the world we live in today, I can't imagine what it will be like by the time you are having your babies.

When I was finally sewn back up they wheeled me to recovery, that is where I finally got to hold you for the first time. And I could not get over how incredibly gorgeous you really were. Don't tell your brother and sister, but you were the most beautiful newborn baby. We stayed in recovery a long time. My uterus had to be manually contracted back down and sweet girl that is a more unpleasant feeling than your blood pressure dropping during surgery. When we finally had a green light to head to our room we had to wait on transport. At this point I believe it was close to 2pm in the afternoon. Your brother and sister had been waiting in our room for over an hour to meet you.

Your Mimi came back to recovery to see what was going on after picking up the other two tikes. And believe it or not when we were finally able to leave recovery, she is the one who wheeled you from the recovery room to our room. I'm pretty sure that is not standard hospital policy, but even my nurse was tired of us waiting at this point. Finally we arrived and you were introduced to the chaos that became your new life. It took your older siblings one second for the squeals and excitement to kick in. They had been so excited and could not wait to meet you. We even had a cake and presents and sang Happy Birthday to you for the first time. They were just a touch excited. You had several visitors awaiting your arrival that morning. Your Mimi, Poppa, Poppy Greg, Aunt Lei Lei, Nanny, Aunt Jamie, Aunt Katey, Memaw and Pepaw were there. And you had so many visitors in and out the next few days to see you. Everyone wanted to see you and hold you and love on you.

So that my sweet girl is the story of how you arrived....that is your birth story. It's a story about how you entered the world and our family and changed 4 lives for the better. It's your story and I can't wait to tell it to you year after year.

I love you my sweet Margot. Happy Birthday sweet baby girl.

Love,
Momma

What a difference a year makes....or 6 for that matter!

2011-07-08T20:06:00.008-05:00

One year ago on the 4th of July we took this picture....

this year we took this one....

Life is constantly chaning and boy does it change FAST. A year ago, we were missing one tiny human in that picture. She had not even made her presence into this world. Yet to make her mark on our family. Amazing isn't it. The whole process. That is nine months time, you can make one of these...

And that in a single year she will become this....a talking little thing with a personality out of this world. Always smiling, always happy, but oh so demanding and tough.

It really is incredible. Six years ago this past May, Josh and I stood on the porch steps of St. Mary's Assumption and took this photograph.

Then six years ago this very month we decided to start a family. We were newlyweds and old enough to begin a family, but we had no idea how much it would change us. How much we would grow, and how quickly it would all happen. These past six years have been some of the most incredible years of my life. So much change in what appears to be such a very short time....but enough time to turn the two of us into this...

And I have to say....it is simply amazing. I'm not sure where the next six years will take us. However, I do know, that we don't plan on adding anymore to our brood. In fact if we do, it will be nothing short of a miracle. A miracle that will cause me to visit my OB and question his knot tying techniques. But to think that we created these guys is a miracle in and of itself! And for these tiny three little miracles, Josh and I could not be more grateful. I just wish they would stay this little.

Great-Grandpa

2011-06-07T22:24:00.001-05:00

Growing up my grandfather was one of my most favorite people ever. In fact he was probably second in line....right behind my grandmother. But they were neck and neck. I was always known as the apple of his eye, that's what he called me.

My grandfather was a little bit different than my grandmother, he was loud, some might say even a little obnoxious. He always had something to say and while most made me laugh, it often times got other people upset. He always told me stories, sometime he would tell the same ones over again, but they never got old. I loved hearing them and I admired him. I especially loved hearing the ones about him and my grandmother dating or how when he first married her they lived in an apartment that shared a bathroom with another apartment and he would wait outside the bathroom door while she showered. I loved hearing about his life, his life before me, before he was a grandfather or a father or even a husband. He was a great storyteller.

My grandparents were the best and were happily married for so many years. And anyone who knows them, knows they were like oil and water, but then two peas in a pod. While I only grew up knowing one set of grandparents it was all that I ever needed. They made me feel loved and valued and I looked forward to spending time with them. And for being one of 16 grandchildren they gave me lots of their time as well as all of my cousins. Lots of their time, their home was an extension of mine and as I grew older I tried to do the same for them. Even in grad school I made it a point to stop by their house for weekly visits and watch TLC or the rebroadcast of the news with them. I did this because I knew one day I would no longer have that luxury. I look back on those visits and hold them so near and dear to my heart.

You see, my mom was raised by wonderful people. People who taught her that above all else family is what really matters. And my mom, being the wonderful mom that she is taught that to me and my sister. Friends, jobs, hardships will come and go, but family is always with you for the long haul. Always.

My grandmother passed away 8 years ago this year, the weekend I started dating my husband. It saddens me to think that my husband never got to know her or meet her, because she was one of the people I loved most in this world and the one who I always looked up to. And I know she would have loved my husband. But what saddens me the most is the fact that my grandmother will never get to know my children, however I am making damn sure their grandfather does and that they know him.

God I miss them both. While my grandmother is no longer with us you can understand my missing her, I miss my Grandfather because I don't get to see him often enough. He lives a little over two hours away and though we try to visit him at least once a month, with 3 babies and call schedules we don't always get there. But when I do I am so very grateful that I took that time to make him a priority, because that means he is getting to see my children and that my children are getting to know their one and only great-grandparent here on this earth. And that is truly is a blessing.

I cannot tell you how overjoyed I was that my parents went down to get him the week of Noah's preschool program. It warmed my heart knowing that Noah had a very special visitor in the audience watching him.

And it warmed my heart that after his performance he jumped right in his lap to tell him something.

and then he gave him a great big hug.

And it brings tears to my eyes to have these photos to one day share with kids when the only way they are going to be able to see him and remember him is through these photos.

And I smile knowing that my sweet baby girl who never wants to go to anyone but me, will sit in her great-grandfathers lap because she knows him.

And she may only be old enough to remember him by these pictures, but it's okay because I have lots taken each month when we visit since the time she is but just a few weeks old.

Yes there is nothing that makes my heart melt....than seeing photos like this. I can only imagine what he is telling the boy (as he likes to call Noah.)

Or this....the only thing that could make this one better is if my grandmother were in it.

Dancing

2011-06-07T21:24:00.000-05:00

Here is my bug at her 3rd dance recital.

And with her best friend, her brother.

And here is Noah checking out his sweet Bella!

After the recital....I know I'm a bit biased, but I think she is gorgeous.

And one of our few family photos, with three it doesn't happen often.

Time is flying....

2011-06-07T21:09:00.003-05:00

Look who finished his first year of preschool....

(this is noah and his best little friend Bella....I have no pictures of Noah without Bella and for his two year old preschool year I will always remember Noah tagging along with his sweet friend Bella. They were obviously looking at Bella's momma.)

And look who got the keys to kindergarten....

Here she is with her key and sweet friend Grace.

And look who got a tad emotional.....okay A LOT emotional....(and who might need a tad of botox!)

And look who is literally hell on wheels......in the blink of an eye it will be her....the baby going to kindergarten....time please slow down!

Around here somewhere

2011-05-09T16:53:00.000-05:00

When Margot was first born things were hectic. Doctor appointments, doctor appointments and more doctor appointments. I felt like I was always running, trying to catch up.....not even dreaming of keeping up. Almost 10 months later, things are still crazy. I'm convinced this is it. Life will not slow down. There are no more mornings of sleeping in and hanging in our jammies all day. Now there is school and car pools. Ballet lessons and appointments. I'm always running. ALWAYS.

So more often than not, my house is a wreck. There is always a load of laundry to be done, dishes to be washed, clothes to be folded and put away, dinner to be cooked and cleaned, toys to be put away, beds to be made, butts to be wiped and tiny hand prints to be wiped away. I've tried to keep it clean, I've tried to keep it presentable. I've tried and wished and hoped to channel my inner Type A self, but it just isn't happening. Hell at this point I'd settle for just being able to find a place to sit on the couch and possibly find my car keys without having to curse repetitively to myself.

Before kids I was the type that did baseboards when company was coming over. Now I settle for at least straightening up the areas the company will see. So it utterly shocked me when I had someone coming to the house that I barely knew for the first time and did nothing. Someone who I barely knew and normally would require having a spotless house to let walk through the door. However it was a day Josh was on call, my son was miserable from a tonsillectomy and hadn't slept in day, I was working on zero sleep, and my very last nerve was dangling from a thin string. I was barely keeping it all together.

In fact I had totally forgotten the appointment and that someone was even supposed to come by. So when I got a text that day that she was 5 minutes away, I quickly surveyed the ~~house~~ wreckage and deemed the mess impossible to be cleaned in 5 minutes. I targeted one area of the disaster. The kitchen. In four minutes I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, I cleaned off the counter tops and table and quickly wiped them down. I gathered all the toys my two arms could hold and threw them into the toy room. With a minute to spare I walked into the living room to survey the rest of the house. I cried. Why had I picked the kitchen???....................why the HELL did I not do a damn thing about the living room. Where the hell was my brain???? So with 30 seconds to spare, I gathered up the toys in the living room and foyer and pitched them into the toy room, I grabbed blankets and pajamas that were strewn all over and threw them into the laundry room and then I saw her car pulling up. There was still a mountain of laundry on the coffee table and loads of unfolded laundry on the couches. I hauled all of the laundry onto one couch and grabbed the unsightly Cars sleeping bag that was heaped up in the middle of the floor and threw it on top of all the clothes to hide them. Because that was all I had left in me and surely that shit would work...right? I mean really would you even notice this.....

Would you think less of me? Or that I was at least a little off? Would you think....damn this woman has stooped to an all new low and has lost it?

Exactly! I can't even see that large unsightly, red sleeping bag....sleeping bag? What sleeping bag? I mean as long as I think that, then it works right? My visitor briefly let her eyes flutter in that direction, but she never mentioned it. She also spent a total of 20 minutes here and never made it to my "clean" kitchen. But she never mentioned the mess and for that I love her.

Yes, that is what I have stooped too. Josh and I are picking up a few more sleeping bags for our next cocktail party. Especially since the Caboose's new favorite activity is to create a mess like this in under 2 minutes. Yes, 2 minutes, the approximate amount of time I have to take a shower these days.

My loves

2011-04-11T23:25:00.002-05:00

Plain and simple.

Five

2011-04-10T10:22:00.002-05:00

Dearest Meredith,

Today you are five. FIVE. five? I know... when did you get so big? This has been a big birthday for you. You could not wait for this day to come. You birthday is one of the last amongst your little friends and it has been hard. Just last month as we were getting ready for another birthday party, you put your hands on your hips and said "this is it, I'm done. I'm not going to anymore birthday parties until I am 5!" Thankfully we weren't invited to anymore, because I am pretty sure you would've stood by your word.

Your fifth birthday celebration was so memorable. It started by us getting not one but two birthday cakes. One to serve and one for you to blow candles out on. Why? Oh because you got mono two weeks before your 5th birthday. The joys of big school and turning five. But you were determined to feel better by your party. You told me that all week. "Don't worry mom I will feel better for my party."

In the past five years it is amazing how big you have gotten and how fast that has happened. I know it is cliche' but it passed in the blink of an eye. I still remember five years ago, being wheeled to my room in the hospital after coming out of recovery. It was about 3am and the nurse was going over a few things. I had been awake for 21 hours at this point, 17 of those hours in labor and had just undergoing a major abdominal surgery to meet you. After her five minute spiel she looked at me and asked "Any questions?" I remember looking back at her in my exhaustion and simply asking "Can you repeat all that to my husband when he gets here?" and then asking "Are you just going to leave this baby in here with me?" Becoming your mom was surreal, like no other thing in the world. I had no clue how awesome it would be, how amazing. You changed me.

The night before you birthday party as we tucked you in, you looked at your dad and I and said "Well tomorrow a lot of things are going to change now that I'm five....Oh mom I just can't wait I'm going to start fixing my own food and my own drinks...and I'm going to be tall enough to go outside and get my own cokes out of the refrigerator." It tickled me to death to see how excited you were for this day.

Every year for your birthday, your dad and I go all out to throw the best celebration we can, to celebrate your five years here on earth. To celebrate another year of you. To celebrate getting the wonderful privilege to be your parents. To celebrate you. We love you so much. We love who you are and who you strive to be. We love you. Happy Birthday to my five year old.

Love,

your momma

And so it begins...

2011-04-05T18:13:00.002-05:00

Tonight my sweet friend Allison brought me a birthday dinner. She made homemade lasagna, salad, bread and a bottle of pinot grigio. And as much as I would love to say I put that dinner in the fridge for tomorrow and went out on the town to celebrate, sadly I did not. With one child home with mono.....yes I said it....MONO....and a DIFFERENT child home covered in large red welts over most of her body due to an allergic reaction to penicillin, we are home bound.

So Allison's dinner was exactly what we needed and it went fabulously with the birthday cake my husband picked up for me. Meredith and Noah gobbled down some lasagna, that and spaghetti are some of their favorites. Josh and I also enjoyed some with a glass of wine. Margot sat in her chair watching everyone eat as Josh opened up her very expensive organic baby food.....*note the child with allergies. It took one spoon to the mouth for her to start yelling in protest. She then knocked the spoon full of organic baby food away and all over the floor, repeatedly. Josh was feeding her. Me I wouldn't have let that happen....at least not repeatedly. After several more failed attempts and an almost overturned bowl of baby food. Josh cut up some lasagna and placed it on her tray.

She inhaled it. Then did the sign for more. So we gave her more and she inhaled that as well. We asked her to look up and say cheese and her look is exactly what I would be thinking....I'm trying to eat here people.

Margot ate an entire meal of lasagna tonight and no baby food. Meredith and Noah had stopped eating baby food by 9 months old. Margot is right on target. Well a little early. Again she likes to be first.

Thanks so much Allison for a great birthday meal. I really appreciate it and love the gesture. I think I may start giving my friends a night off from cooking for their birthday too!

Being the first

2011-04-04T21:19:00.003-05:00

Margot was not the first born, in fact she will be our last. The caboose. However, she will not let a title like "the caboose" get her down. No sir-ree, in fact she is determined to be the first at several things. She was the first of my babies to sit up at 5 1/2 months. And now she is the first to get up and crawl on all fours at 8 months. She's been on all fours for a while and inching forward little by little, but last Monday is what I am calling her official crawling day. It was the day she crawled all day and proudly showed she could get wherever she wanted. Although she did do quite a bit of crawling on Saturday And Sunday as well.

But Monday is our day. In fact when Josh got home Monday evening, she crawled right over to him and landed at his feet with her arms up. It was very sweet. He was amazed and finally believed my proclamation of her crawling abilities.

I'm betting she is also going to be my first to walk, since she is already starting to pull up. She just has to do it by her first birthday.

A little bit of Noah - what he says

2011-03-21T18:25:00.000-05:00

You brought someone with you today?

Yeah

Well who is this?

Its my wittle sister.

What's her name?

Noah.

No silly boy she wants to know what your sister's name is not yours.

Oh her name is butter-bean.

Yeah, buddy that's her nickname, but tell her what her real name is.

It's Mar-giddy.

Well I tried, but Meredith is still ta-ta and Margot will forever be Butter-bean or Mar-giddy.

Spring Break - Lessons Learned

2011-03-20T19:11:00.001-05:00

The sand is not my friend.

My kids love the sand.

The laundry doesn't take a week off too.

School takes up a lot of time.

Preschoolers do not get the term "sleeping in."

Neither do toddlers or babies.

Eating a picnic lunch at the beach is not nearly as fun as it sounds.

Other peoples children are a great source of entertainment for your children, almost like a babysitter. However you will not feel anymore relaxed that day, then if you had to entertain them all day by yourself.

Being a mom is exhausting.

I never realized as a child that someone actually packed all the stuff we needed, kept drinks cold, fixed dinner, grocery shopped or all the other things that made my spring break vacations a vacation.

The beach is a fabulous place to be.

Call during Spring Break sucks.

The gulf is cold in March. Very cold.

Kids do not have an internal thermometer like adults.

I will never again go to the beach without my husband until everyone can carry their own shit, wipe their own ass, and feed themselves.

Kids have no concept on how much work it is for you to take them, they had an ABSOLUTE blast and so did I, once I was upacked. Thank you so much Leslie!

Going somewhere with the older two is getting much easier. Going somewhere with just Margot is easy. Going somewhere with all three is like carting the circus around with you.

You are hard pressed to find a waitress wanting to take the table with 3 adults and 7 kids.

Sipping a strawberry abita in the afternoon with a friend while your children run wild is a spring break must.

I'm convinced if my house was smaller it would be less to clean and would always be neater. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Babies learning to crawl will do it at the beach and crawl off the blanket to load a fistful of sand into their mouth.

After they gag and choke on it and you fish it all out and clean them all up, they will inevitably do it AGAIN and AGAIN.

Babies can nap anywhere.

Josh does a whole lot more than I give him credit for.

Quantity does not equal quality.

Attempting Panera at noon with three kids by yourself is impossible.

Three kids needing to poop in a public restroom at the same time is going to happen on spring break.

Drive thrus were made for me.

Traveling between meals is even better.

Unpacking is not easier than packing you can just take as long as you would like to do it, that is the advantage.

What lessons did you learn this spring break?

Beach Babe

2011-03-19T08:15:00.001-05:00

Have you ever seen anything more peaceful?

Brownie Jane goes to school.

2011-03-17T19:02:00.004-05:00

Meredith's school had a pet show last week. My girl was so excited and we signed Brownie up immediately to participate. Brownie was thrilled. Preschool with lots of other animals....what dog wouldn't be thrilled. I made sure Josh took the afternoon off that day to help me with Brownie. I wasn't braving three tikes and an 80lb dog at a pet show alone...no way. Have you met my dog? She is quite the beast.

Here is Brownie and Josh in her designated area. Brownie along with the other Big Dogs were assigned a nice spacious, spot in the back. Geared up and ready to meet some 4 year olds. Look at her precious name tag.

All the parents arrived a little early with their furry and slimy friends waiting for the preschoolers. I have to say the animals were very well behaved for having so many different kinds there. There were big and little dogs, cats and kittens, rabbits, lots of turtles, a fish and a ~~mouse~~ hamster. Although I agree with Meredith if it is looks like a mouse, than by golly it sure isn't a hamster.

When the preschoolers came out, Meredith found her way right over to Brownie to show all of her friends. She loves that big, old, brown, stinky dog. She is a good dog.

She truly was so proud of her dog. All her little friends thought Brownie was great too!

Brownie also really enjoyed the pet show. She loved all the attention given to her by the kids.

The kids ran from animal to animal for basically and hour, it was great.

After Meredith showed off her dog she then ventured out with me to see the other animals. One of the classes had a pet turtle that they brought to show.

There were also lots of little turtles. And they were a big hit, literally. I think they all went home with concussions from being dropped 4 ft to the ground repeatedly. The poor dad manning that station couldn't keep up with the turtles or the preschoolers. They went from hand to hand.

The ~~mouse~~ hamster hid in his cage, he was afraid of the ~~wild animals~~ preschoolers. He saw what the turtles next to him were going through.

Noah loved being in preschool that day too. He decided he really loved the ~~mouse~~ hamster. Sorry Noah that's just one boundary I am keeping firm.

It really was a great afternoon, Brownie is already looking forward to her next two visits to preschool.

A break....spring break to be exact.

2011-03-13T23:06:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow I am taking this crew to the beach....minus the husband. Wish me luck and sanity and an extra pair of hands. It's gonna be a fun, wild ride. I can't wait. The yukon is loaded down and we pull out bright and early. See you in a few days Josh and internets!

Good news.....no....GREAT news!

2011-03-12T19:44:00.004-06:00

You may have previously read that Margot had an MRI scheduled and an appointment with a neurosurgeon. I know I never specified exactly why that was. I admit I was a little vague. Partly because I am the type of person that believes if I don't mention it out loud, or type it for the world to see, it isn't real. And I did not want it to be real.

Margot was born with a sacral dimple, it was noted on her birth-day and then followed up on every well baby visit since. At her 6 month check-up her pediatrician thought it was time we took a closer look at it and referred us on to a neurosurgeon who ordered an MRI before we saw him. We weren't expecting anything since Margot was moving her legs and had good muscle tone, but we needed to have this test done and see a neurosurgeon to look over scans so that he could rule out spina bifida and spina bifida occulta. And just reading the possibilities and could be's were scary enough....enough to worry this momma to death.

On Monday Margot had an MRI of her lower spine. She required anesthesia to do this since she had to remain still for approximately 35 minutes. She did great, but it was tough to see my baby so groggy and cranky afterwards. We then had to wait until Thursday to get the results from the neurosurgeon. The wait was unbearable, probably some of the worst days of my life. It's amazing the places your mind can take you while you wait. I needed to know Monday afternoon whether or not something was going on. Each day my worries grew a new head and got a lot bigger. By Thursday morning, when I was sitting in the neurosurgeon's office waiting for him to come in with the results I was ready to vomit all over. It was the longest three days of my life.

I am happy to say, her results came back perfect. Her spine is perfect and normal. It ends right where it is supposed to and her sacral dimple is just that a dimple. A very deep dimple that we can't see the end of, but it is a dimple and absolutely nothing more. We are completely grateful and have been celebrating the good news since. And we thank all of you who have prayed for our sweet baby girl. There are no words to express how thankful and happy we are and how much we appreciate it.

To celebrate we had cookies and milk Friday night, Margot even got an Oreo.

Hmmm, what is this?

Dad are you sure this is for me? Isn't it normally just for the bigs?

Hmmm, it's not so bad.

It taste a little sweet, mom....just like me.

Let me get another little taste.

Noah you do know what you are talking about.....I love it too!

This is some good stuff....I'm going to enter a sugar induced high at any moment!

Mom I may be addicted like my brother....this is really good shit.

Can I have oreos every night?

Milestones

2011-03-03T21:25:00.000-06:00

Today my baby girl clapped for the first time. She sat on the bed with me and the older two tikes and as we belted out three different renditions of "Pat-a-cake" she clapped. And we all clapped and cheered and a little part of me was very sad inside, because it is all happening too quickly....not that it was happening....just happening too quickly. So I'm soaking it in and relishing in every. single. second.

She's clapping and waving......and I'm going to find three very heavy bricks, for three very little heads.

An the universe throws me another curve ball

2011-02-22T21:36:00.004-06:00

Today I took the youngest two tikes to see good ole' Dr. H. Our ENT. Noah had an appointment for a re-check. The last time we saw Dr. H it was more of an emergent situation. Noah was screaming in pain and I called begging for them to fit us in immediately....which they did considering we were under a tornado watch or warning at the time....whichever one it is that they actually see a tornado. We were the only people there that day....no wonder they fit me in.

Anyway today was our "2 week check-up" to make sure the antibiotics that Dr. H gave Noah worked. Well since the Universe thinks I am awesome with dealing with sickness, guess what....his ears are still infected. Yep, Dr. H said Noah will once again need surgery to put tubes back in. And then he so casually mentioned that while he was under we might as well take his adenoids and tonsils. I knew that part was coming. Then he asked where in the world my children got such large adenoids and tonsils?

This is where it all went to hell in a hand basket. I said..."well I've never had an ear infection, but I do have abnormally large tonsils. I've had lots of doctors trying to take those suckers out for years, but I wouldn't let them." Big Mistake. HUGE. Dr. H then told me to open wide and say Ahh. He peeked in with his super cool light and tongue depressor and said "Holy smoke they are huge....we have got to get them out of there."

He asked if my throat was bothering me now....which it is. He then asked what kind of medicine I was on....to which I said none. He then said that they were infected now with lots of puss and stuff on them. And that whether I liked it or not he was getting those tonsils out of there. He then proceeded to sit me in his fancy chair and suction the disgusting stuff off my tonsils.....too much information. That's why I put all the cute pictures.

So after he was done with me. I asked him to peek into Margot's ears....you know for shits and giggles. She had just gotten the all clear on her ears last week from Dr. B, our pediatrician. So we held Margot down so Dr. H could take a peek and again he said "Holy smoke has she got fluid in those ears....yep I have to do something about those ears too."

I told him just last week they were fine, and he disagreed based on the amount of fluid in them and the consistency of it. He asked how long this had been going on and when I told him since November, he was a little blown away that we hadn't made it there with Margot's own appointment by now.

So the next thing I know, Dr. H's sweet nurse is putting all three of us on his surgery schedule. And while I committed to a date for the two youngest tikes, I would not commit to a date for me. No three for one special for me. Come on, we have all heard of the scary tonsil removal in an adult story. No way am I doing that. I'll keep my tonsils and my funk with me and that is exactly what I told Dr. H. He took me very serious to my word because before I could get everyone loaded up and in the car he had called Josh to break the news to him and made him promise to see my tonsillectomy through.

And that my friends is how it goes here. Never a dull moment. Never a doctor visit that says...things are going great. See you next year. Or even see you in three months, nope it is more of a "see you for surgery in a few weeks", or "we need to get this kidney stone out right away", or "you really need to get that MRI now", or "she will then follow up with a neurosurgeon on Thursday", or "we need to repeat her blood work in a month", or "your blood work came back abnormal for xyz and we need to draw some more".

Yes, that is what we have been going through here on top of stomach bugs, viruses and ear infections. And it is no freaking fun. AT ALL. Yes, Margot has a diagnosis of Congenital Hypothyroidism. We have no other diagnosis for her at the this time. She is growing well and meeting all her age appropriate milestones, but we do have a surgery scheduled now and we also have an MRI on the books for her, with a follow up appointment with a neurosurgeon. We could use your thoughts and prayers.

Noah has a diagnosis of shitty ears and abnormally large tonsils. I hear his surgery won't be pretty either. Although it will be prettier than mine. I'm guessing my mother of the year award will be in the mail for making him go first and me being too chicken to do it. So when you are praying for my sweet baby girl, please pray for my baby boy as well. And hell go ahead and throw a little prayer in that Meredith's tubes stay put or we will be doing a three for one special that day.

And that my friends is a small sampling of what my life has been like for the last 7 months. Okay let's be honest. The last 15 months. Margot has kept us on our toes. But she is perfectly healthy and perfectly, perfect. And for that I am so very thankful.

I hope you enjoyed my pictures from my impromptu photo shoot with Margot and Noah. I am by no means a photographer. I have the fancy camera, but I just point and shoot and I know that is sad. But at least I am taking it out again and taking pictures. My motivation to do that lately has been overshadowed by my exhaustion. But Margot is growing so fast these days andI know I need to document it. You can also see how easy it is too take pictures of two children when one is named Noah. You ought to see the outtakes of trying to photograph three. Well hell the only way for you to do that is for me to show you, so tomorrow I will.

And one last photo of Margot in deep thought.....I wonder how long she is going to point that thing in my face and yell Margot....Margot....clearly if Noah doesn't need to listen, then neither do I.

Sometimes our similarties even scare myself....

2011-02-21T13:15:00.002-06:00

People tell me all the time how much Meredith is such a mini-me. I know her attitude is all me....there is absolutely no denying that. I just never realized her much her mannerism are just like mine too.

Like mother....

Like daughter.....

Scary isn't it?

Sick of it...

2011-02-21T13:10:00.003-06:00

I am sitting here typing this with my Kleenex box by my side, my nose running, my throat sore, my head aching and my eyes burning and I am longing for the days of summer, when no one is sick.

Today is my 6th day with this cold. The cold that came after the most awful stomach virus that has ever hit our family...pre and post tikes. I am OVER it. We have had RSV, fevers, the flu symptoms without the presence of the flu, bronchitis with breathing treatments, ear infections, more fevers, constant runny noses, the most awful stomach virus and kidney stones. Dear Universe.....I have dealt with more than my fair share.....so take your sicknesses and shove it.

My tikes are driving me crazy. And I am not myself. I'm exhausted, I'm irritable, I'm rundown and worn out. I'm OVER IT! Completely over it. I long for the day that hearing my sweet children's voices at a high pitched squeal doesn't remind me of nails being scratched across a chalkboard. I'm sick of being on edge and wanting to just retreat to my room with the door locked. This is not me. I thought about postpartum issues, but I am sure it is more cold and flu season issues. I just want to feel well and while I am at it.....I am sick of my kids being sick. Margot's nose has been a faucet that has been turned on since Halloween, and I am not exaggerating. Poor baby has been so sick she probably has no idea what it is like to feel well and not have a fountain permanently attached to her face.

But despite all these illness that have plagued our family, we have managed to keep it real here.

We have road monster trucks.

And we have gone bowling...

We got a jump start (thanks to garden club) and planted our spring garden.

We have soaked up the beautiful weather outside.

We have gone fishing.

No we don't let illnesses keep us down. I have tried convincing my husband to just blow up the house and build a new one. I'm convinced that is the only way to get all the germs out. Then once our house is rebuilt for insulation I'm going to just a cellophane type thing to keep it germ free. Think that will work? So Internets what has plagued your house this cold and flu season?

Meredith's first father-daughter dance

2011-02-13T21:59:00.001-06:00

It seems like only yesterday my dad was toting me to my father-daughter dance. No really, it does. Am I old enough to have a child to be sending off to her own....I guess I do. Sniff....Sniff. So Saturday night was the big date. We ordered the dress, grabbed some last minute shoes, borrowed some very costume jewelry from the babysitter
(unbeknown-st to me....thank you very much Carrie.) And we did a sprinkle of makeup....and I mean a sprinkle. Although someone....uh-hm Carrie....also gave her a little of that, so she also put on a sprinkle before I got a hold of her. But none the less I have to say my baby looked beautiful and like a little lady. She glowed with excitement and came home beaming from ear to ear over how much fun she had.

Her dad was also very excited about his date and said he looks forward to doing this again and again and again.

My baby girl.....getting too big too fast.

Getting her dad to do the famous Meredith pose.

Pinning on his boutonniere

And attaching her corsage....today father/daughter dance....tomorrow prom.

Her first dance date was a double date too. Here is she is with her gorgeous little friend Grace.

With their dads ready to head to the fancy restaraunt....Olive Garden.....girls choice!

I'd say she was having a good time.

Dancing with her friends.

They had a table where she could make a mask.

And here is the room full of girls and their dads....well the dads are somewhere right? I guess they are like thirteen year old boys and stand around the perimeter of the room too.

When she got home she was just as excited as when she left and a little bit tired.

She started showing me how she danced.

And then she broke out in a rap song of some kind.....Peace out baby!

Cowboy day at school

2011-02-13T21:24:00.000-06:00

On Friday Meredith had cowboy day at school. This was actually our second cowboy day, since we jumped schools mid-year. But that's okay because we have the cutest cowgirl gear around. The kids not only dressed like cowgirls and cowboys, but they also ate cowboy food. I signed up to bring Capri Suns because we all know how those cowboys LOVE Capri suns. I also volunteered to bring anything they may be lacking for their cowboy meal, the teacher asked if I minded bringing some corn-beef hash. I had no clue what that was. I used the wonderful tool of facebook to send her teacher a message asking what it was and where one might find this particular cowboy food. Luckily this stuff came in a can and was easy to find. My little cowgirl even tried it....she is so NOT her mama's daughter, because I wouldn't have even attempted it at her age or now.

The rest of her cowboy meal included baked beans, bread, beef jerky and an oatmeal raisin cookie.....and don't forget that Capri sun....a very important part of a cowboy meal!

Here is my little cowgirl....HEE HAW!

And her baby sister just sat in awe watching as she did her posing. So we let her get in the next one. She is so hunched over because her latest method to move from here to there is to scoot her booty on the wood floor while sitting up. She leans over, moves her hands forward and then pulls her booty and chunky thighs forward. It's adorable! Here is the world's best big sister and her baby.

Enjoying her cowboy lunch at school.

And here is cowboy day at her old school back in September....I have to say she is a really cute cowgirl.

And this is what she looked like the first time she wore this cowgirl get up. My has she grown.

What she says....priceless

2011-02-08T20:54:00.000-06:00

How was school today bug?

"It was good, but Mrs. Parvin wasn't there because her son was sick."

Oh that's too bad, who was your teacher since she wasn't there.

"Well it was Mrs. Lisa and Mrs. Katie.......and Mrs. Bustitute."

Mrs Bustitute?

"Yeah Mrs. Bustitute!"

Mrs. Bus-ti-tute.....do you mean Mrs. Substitute?

"Oh yeah, that's it!"

Since you've been gone...

2011-02-08T20:03:00.002-06:00

Since you've been gone.....well since I've been gone, but the song doesn't say that so.....since you've been gone...here is a little of what you missed. Condensed. Trust me...you want the condensed version. And because blogger and I are disagreeing over which orientation my pictures should be, this is now really condensed. Damn you blogger!

Noah turned three and had a shark party to celebrate....

It was a join birthday party with his girlfriend Bella and all 6 of our kiddos matched...

Margot started eating baby food...and by the look on my face it must have been pretty tasty!

We once again took the kids to the ~~north pole~~ tea at the Roosevelt.

Noah was Joseph in a play and Bella was Mary.

For the most part Joseph sat still, but then......well he's three come on.

And they were the cutest Mary and Joseph ever, I think the star might have been a little jealous.

We made it to Christmas Eve Mass.

The guy in the big red suit and boy did he deliver...

and deliver.....

and deliver....

and deliver!

We snuggled and giggled and played, the entire two weeks Meredith had off for Christmas break.

Margot started sitting up by herself.

The kids took a train ride with Josh and got some ~~funky looking~~ cute train hats.

They were a tad excited about this experience. Margot and I traveled by Yukon to pick them up from the following train station. They beat us there, thanks to On-star. That is a post for another day.

Dear Meredith

2011-02-04T20:02:00.000-06:00

Today I spent the day at your school and I have to say I am so impressed. You are at "real" school now. You have a full day complete with recess and lunch and I was honored to be a part of it. I was so amazed by you. You are smart and considerate. You are kind and compassionate. You are well mannered and good natured. You answered when you were called on. You waited your turn. You did your work diligently. You ran and played when it was time. You laughed and smiled. You mingled with friends. You ate your green beans off your cafeteria plate before you ate your pizza (and now I'm wondering if you really are my child). You made sure to show you mom just what a great student you are. I am so proud of you. You are everything I could ask for you to be at four and half. I can't take all the credit for that, but it makes me think that your dad and I must be doing something right. I hope that it continues. I hope as you get older we don't fail you as parents. I hope we continue to help you grow and nurture that wonderful spirit of yours. I'm so incredibly proud of my big girl and I love you!

In hiding....

2011-01-29T21:19:00.012-06:00

I've sat down to blog in the last couple of months a million times, but each time I got up right after logging in. Because blogging, like my life, has become overwhelming. I mean it's not that I don't have much to say, it's that I have too much to say. Life is changing rapidly here and while I am now confidently treading the water of being a mom of three. Every now and then ~~our pediatrician~~ life throws us a huge tidal wave.

Lots has happened....lots of changes....lots of news....lots. So I figure if I don't just jump back in, there will never be a good time to start blogging again. It amazes me how much one more child can add to your plate. Life with two was pretty great and pretty easy. Not to say moms of two have it so much easier than me. I think it all has to do with what's on your plate. My life with two was easy. Three tikes has spread me so thin I don't know if I can do it all. Granted Margot has more doctor appointments than your average bear and Meredith suddenly and unexpectedly made a huge school change. We went from a small playschool to a preschool at a real school. Those few things alone have added so much to an already full plate.

I mean between doctor appointments, dental appointments, kidney stones, field trips, Christmas programs, lunch dates with mere, drop off and pick up and meetings for the various organizations I belong to, I don't know how much more I can handle. And so it was at that point I had to start cutting things from my to do list. Blogging was one of the things I put on the back burner, along with baby books, housework, baseboards, and laundry. But when the whole family wore dirty jeans to a birthday party and Josh wore dirty scrubs to work, I decided the laundry had to be permanently put back on the to do list.

Blogging did not make it back on the to do list, but I've missed it. And I'm sure you have missed hearing all about my so called life.

So let's start with a few updates....

Margot

She is 6 quickly approaching 7 months old.....I guess that is tired speak for 6 and a half months old. She is sitting with minimal assistance, she is cooing like a champ, she is eating like a champ - when she is not sick. She loves her baby food and thinks puffs are great too. We have come a long way with my little Margot. She has been in more specialist office in the last 6 months than the other two tikes put together. She has a diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism and we have an appointment with a pediatric neurosurgeon in March. She is a pro at having blood drawn for lab work and that just breaks a Mommas heart. She is the worlds best baby. She sleeps in her baby bed all by herself. She falls asleep on her own, but will also let her Momma rock her. She loves toys, keys or anything she can get those little chubby fingers around and when she does it all goes straight to her mouth. She laughs uncontrollably at her big sister and hides in fear from her brother. She loves him, she just really loves it when he doesn't torment her. She loves to nurse, however she prefers to do it at 9pm, midnight, 3am and 6am....because the daytime is way too busy to stop and eat. If it is time to eat and we just can't for whatever reason she is totally cool with that and will wait patiently. She's my shoulder baby....meaning she will fall asleep while I'm holding her by laying her head on my shoulder....that is a first for me and I freaking love it! Laid back doesn't even begin to describe my smiley, happy baby girl. If I could be guaranteed 4 more like her I'd beg Josh for 4 more....kidding Josh....kidding....well sort of. I'd beg for just one more. Her favorite toy is a pink rattle. Her favorite snack is puffs I guess or breast milk. Her favorite food is sweet potatoes.

Noah
Noah is a little over 3 and right smack in the middle. That is my Noah. He is in the middle constantly, he is shuffled to all of his big sister's activities and all of his little sister's doctor appointments. He walks to the beat of his own drum. He goes with the flow, but makes it known he is going with it because it is his choice. He does nothing quietly and if he does...you can bet the middle of the oreos are gone. I feel bad about the him being in the middle. I strive to make sure he gets as much attention as the first who is always experiencing something new and the baby who needs lots of attention. Noah is smart. He gets things. He can watch something for a minute and he has figured it out and if he doesn't, he will ask. He has the vocabulary of a 5 year old....I laugh when I think about how I had him evaluated for speech. He is my only child who never shuts up.....EVER. He is constantly telling you something, asking you something or talking to himself. Surprisingly he never runs out of things to say. He loves the colors green and white. LOVES them, even though he will say his favorite colors are pink and blue....because that is what his big sister says. He adores his big sister. Most of the time, like 98% of it, they are best friends......the other 2% I want to run away screaming. He loves school and is fiercely independent. He can drive a power wheel like no body's business. My neighbor thinks he is a better driver than most of the other cars that drive through my neighborhood. His listening skills need major improvements and he will tell you that. He will randomly tell you throughout the day that he loves you for no reason.....and it will melt your heart. He loves to be social and isn't really shy, although he's not super outgoing either. He's right in the middle, which is a great place to be. He has the absolute best personality. He wakes up extremely happy and has everyone around him in stitches all day. He rarely gets angry, but when he does watch out. He's a ham bone and so loved. His favorite toy is a toss up between trains, his fire engines and his big 18 wheeler. His favorite book is "The little engine that could." His favorite snack is Oreos. And he recently decided he hates bananas, but when he gets that you wont' give him any other snack but a banana, he WILL eat it with gusto. His favorite food is spaghetti and meatballs.

Meredith

Meredith is 4, but soon to be 5. Most of her little friends are already 5 and that is devastating to her. She is now in pre-k 4 at the local Catholic school here. She wears a uniform and goes to school for far too long each day. It still makes me sad to think about it and I'm sad all week long and can't wait until friday of each week when she is home. We moved her mid year, which is hard, but she has adjusted way better than I ever thought she would. Her teacher said she is doing great and making friends. She can write her full name, she can read various sight words, she can recognize color words and shapes. She can write her numbers. She LOVES computer time at school and also LOVES music class. She doesn't like to color and she will tell you that. She is not fond of her new school, because it's long and frankly I agree. Moving her to a new school was one of those decisions as a parent that you don't want to have to come across. We moved her for big reasons. Big reasons that kept us up late at night. We made hard decisions that we knew would not be easy to follow through with, but we did. Because we knew that, that was ultimately the best thing to do for Meredith at the time and because that is what parents do. I hope one day she realizes why we made them. Because right now she still doesn't want to go to her new school in the mornings....and that is hard. She loves to play school at home though. She loves to read and write. She loves to be the teacher and hold up flashcards for me and noah ALL DAY LONG. While I play along with it....let's just say Noah is not a star pupil after about 2 minutes. She loves to dance. She can come up with a song and choreograph a dance in no time. She's got lots of rhythm. LOTS. She is a great helper. She can change a diaper and believe it or not is always willing to help me out with the younger two tikes. However when it comes to helping herself, she still likes to be the baby at times. She's shy....painfully shy. She's just like I was, so I know she will be okay and outgoing one day. She's not a morning person and she definitely has her mommas mood. While Noah may be all smiles, Meredith is all attitude...it just depends on the day of the week. She is still very much a mommas girl and that is okay with me. Her favorite colors are still pink and blue. Her favorite singer is Madonna. Her favorite toy is her barbie dolls right now. Her favorite book is any book, my child has a serious addiction to reading....she is her mother's daughter. I will often catch her reading to her brother and sister and her brother will sit intently listening to her. And no she cannot really read, but she can pick out sight words out of lots of books. By reading I mean she has most of her books memorized. Her favorite snack is anything with sugar. Her favorite food is Chinese or shrimp pasta and dessert. My baby lives for dessert.

My kids think I am the world's best cook. I wanted that written down for proof....in case they ever change their mind. So there we are...all caught up. HARDLY. But I will be back and give more updates. I PROMISE!

The memories I want to last forever

2010-11-02T22:48:00.005-05:00

Tonight my little man made a very big milestone....no not potty training....we did that a few weeks ago. No tonight marks his second night of going to bed WITHOUT his pacifier. The pacifier I dreaded taking away for a few reasons....

1. I am pretty sure he was more addicted to it, than his sister was, if that is possible.
2. My hands are pretty full and this was one more thing I was putting off.
3. There was no Disney world trip planned to try and bribe him with.

However Mimi and Poppa came to the rescue with number 3....no we aren't going to see Mickey Mouse....but they did promise to by my boy a "shewiff car" that he had been eyeing in the toy store for his birthday IF he got rid of the paci. And I was not sure who was more excited....Noah or Mimi. Noah was pretty stoked someone agreed to get him a "shewiff car" even though he already has a gator. And Mimi is always excited when she gets to spoil her grandchildren...which she does quite well.

So yesterday, Mimi kept all 3 tikes while I went to a meeting. When I got home they showed me a bag of pacifiers. A bag that Noah had willingly collected and put his pacifiers in. He then gave them to Mimi to take home. Later on that day he found one....under his bed...he put it in his mouth....and when I found him he told me that Mimi forgot one....then he asked me to hide it with him under his covers so Mimi and his Daddy couldn't find it. I guess he knows who lets him slide in the family....me.

I laughed and then I took his paci and said he could only have it at night time OR I could call Mimi and give it to her so he could get his sheriff car. He told me to give it to Mimi and so I took it downstairs and hid it.

That night he went to bed.....WITHOUT a pacifier. And he slept all night WITHOUT a pacifier.

At 7am the next morning, Noah was ready to call Mimi and report his news. And as promised Mimi and Poppa picked him up from school today and took him to get his sheriff car. He then stayed at Mimi's that afternoon to work on it with Poppa. When I picked him up around 3, the sheriff car was finally finished, however it needed to charge for 24 hours before it could be driven. Explain that to an almost three year old without any tears. He was genuinely heartbroken as was his Poppa seeing this. Poppa promised that as soon as the sheriff was full of gas he would bring him over the next day. And with that promise we finally got him into the car to head home.

Tonight Noah went to bed at his usual time again without a paci. However he got up three times to use the bathroom. Finally after asking a fourth time to go potty in an hour, Josh told him no and the tears started flowing as well as the "I want my paci" cries. My heart broke a little, but I knew better to give in. He did it the night before and now he was the proud new owner of a sheriff.

So I laid with him and his daddy laid with him and we both listened as he cried broken heartedly for his paci and the sheriff he never got to ride today.

I finally asked him if he wanted me to tell Poppa to bring his sheriff back to the lady at the toy store and I would go get him a paci and he shook his head no while sobbing "no I a big boy."

Right now my two favorite guys are upstairs sound asleep side by side and neither one of them has a paci. These are the memories I don't want to forget and the stories I want to one day tell Noah. How much everyone loved him and wanted to celebrate this accomplishment. How very proud of him we were at what may one day seem as very small accomplishment....because today, right now....this is huge.

My favorite halloween face...

2010-11-02T22:20:00.001-05:00

Hey Margot, it's halloween. Let's practice your "I'm scared face"

Is that the face I use when I see Noah coming momma?

Yep that's the one.

Okay here you go....

How was that momma?

Perfect!

Family

2010-11-02T11:17:00.000-05:00

My family is so normal and cute might I add.

My little Who Dats!

2010-11-01T14:24:00.000-05:00

We start raising them to love the black and gold really young 'round these parts!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T21:02:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween from the pumpkin patch.

Here is a quick family picture.

And here is what happened 10 seconds later when we told Meredith and Noah they were finished with pictures. Whoosh there went Margot.

My brain has left me and other things....

2010-10-11T15:20:00.001-05:00

I'm still here, my brain I'm not so sure about. For instance my husband bought me this gorgeous bag from my favorite store....

I know it's gorgeous and I love it, however it fell apart 2 months after owning it. Well the entire purse didn't fall apart, but the gold clasp did. And then it looked like a gorgeous purse that had a hole in it, I know, that part sucked. Mainly because I drooled over this purse for months weighing in on whether or not I should fork out the dough for it. I asked various friends and night after night looked at it online and in catalogs. Finally after many nights me going back and forth with Josh as to whether or not I should buy the purse he had heard enough and ordered the damn thing. That's a man for you. It arrived when I was in the hospital with Margot a day after she was born. My good friend brought it up to me so that I could actually hold the bag I had been agonizing over for months....screw the new baby.

And sadly two months later the bag broke. I almost cried, but I've had lots of other things to cry over the past couple of months, things that put the whole bag breaking in perspective. So I called the company who sold me the bag and they sent me a prepaid shipping label to return the bag to them so I could receive a refund. I am toying with the idea of buying the exact same bag again since the company had such great customer service, but first I have to make sure they get the bag.

This is where the whole losing one's brain comes in. I brought the purse and prepaid label to the local UPS store today to ship back like the store instructed me to. I had to buy the box, which really ticked me off, but I did. Then I threw the purse in the box, closed it up, put on the the shipping label and left the store. I have no idea how or if the company that sold me the purse will ever know that it came back from me because.....I included no paperwork with the purse, not even a sign that said you broke my heart with your cheaply made clasp. Nothing. So this major company will get a box with a purse in it, in approximately 4-5 business days and I am sure they will think "stupid people." Because an hour after I left UPS I was thinking stupid ass....where in the hell is your brain.

I called the store to tell them this today....their response...."oh my!" My response...."surely this can't be the first time it's happen....I just had a baby....she's still getting up two times a night....my kids are wearing me out....I feel like a chicken running around with my head cut off....I hate that saying too"

As for my brain, I'm betting it's laying on my pillow and probably been laying there since that night that I decided that three kids ages 4 and under was a fabulous idea and talked Josh into giving it a go. Oh I kid. I love me some Margot.

But in all honesty I really have lost it. I mean three kids whose butts constatnly need wiping, whose faces constatnly need cleaning, breakfast/lunch/and dinner need making, there is always a mountaing of laundry, a fire to put out and someone always needs to go potty. I often wonder back to when it was just Meredith and try to remember what I did with all that *free* time. Life is busy....very busy. And some days it is 9pm before I can even just catch a breath. It's hard to imagine what three kids so close in age are like, unless you have three. I love it when people without three try to tell you they know where you are coming from. I politely smile, but inside I'm thinking...."you have no freaking clue!"

I know life will get easier, I know at some point the three of them will be roaring out the door without a second for me. I'll miss them being babies at that point I am sure, but right now I'm just surviving the day and doing the best I can. So if you see me driving down 98 with my tailgate open....honk for me to close it and then just laugh with me.

What he says....so Noah

2010-09-23T14:59:00.001-05:00

MOMMA....I go ow-side.

No baby not right now.

Puh-weaz Momma I go ow-side.

No, noah we are not going outside...we are leaving to go to school in a minute.

I go ow-side and I no in and ow.....okay I PWOMISE!

******

MOMMA! because everytime he says this he screams it

Momma...can you turn on da wight in da payroom....cause I a wittle person dat can't weach!"

*****

When you guys come inside I'm going to throw both of you dirty birds in the tub.

No Momma....don't frow us....put us in gent-LY!

******

Momma....I wove you....you da best momma!

What she says....in the hospital room

2010-09-15T21:20:00.004-05:00

Upon seeing her sister for the first time, she screamed....

"Where's her legs...she don't got legs...SHE HAS A TAIL!"

After laughing hysterically, we explained that she did indeed have legs, she was just in a gown and wrapped up in a blanket. She calmed down when I showed her two cute, little chubby legs.

*******

Upon seeing her momma for the first time since having the baby....

"Mom do you got ANUDDER BABY IN YOUR BELLY?"

"No, I just had the baby"

"Well den who is in your belly?"

"nobody"

"Well it sure looks like anudder baby!"

And that my friends is what you call honesty.

The Chaos

2010-09-14T20:29:00.010-05:00

Even taking family photos with tikes is chaotic now! This is the one and only we have of all of us, except for in the hospital. Partially because as soon as we got everyone positioned in their matching outfits, the camera broke and partially because cooperation from three tikes is never going to happen simultaneously. It's the way it works here.

Look at the hospital pictures if you don't believe me...chaos at it's best...that's how I would describe life now, good chaos. These are our two family photos, I LOVE them.

Life really isn't bad, I mean it as chaotic as all get out, and still as crazy as this post, but not bad....it's good old fun chaos. In fact I decided to change things up a little bit since Margot has come around. Like my ass never hits the sofa anymore during the day. And as you can tell from my blogging, it hardly ever hits the computer chair. I do sit here often and play bejeweled blitz, my biggest vice. Mainly because I can do it with one hand while nursing and because Margot loves to watch all the bright colors moving so quickly. It has nothing to do with my addiction to it at all...it has everything to do with nursing and Margot.

Other things I have started doing is making the bed! I know, I now have three kids to get out the door on time, 2 lunches to make and I all of a sudden decided I cannot leave the house without the bed made.

I read two books and joined a book club. I am sleep deprived and exhausted, but yet I stayed up very late several nights in the last two months to finish two books, The Help and The Castaways. Both books I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

I also had someone plants tons of shrubs and bushes in my backyard that I am now have to water daily. Just a few more living things, depending on me to take care of them. I suck at gardening and anything green. I am taking bets on how long these plants will live.

I stay on top of the laundry or as on top of the laundry I can. It is a never ending process and I never see the bottom of the basket, however everyone is always wearing clean underwear these days and not turning them inside out. I've also enlisted the help of my children with this....hurry and run to call the child labor agencies on me.

I accepted the invitation to join the Junior Auxiliary. I think it is a wonderful organization that does wonderful things for the community. I added one more thing to my very full plate.

I once again, like the ladies on Wisteria Lane, am in the garden club. It hasn't helped me one bit in the past with my gardening skills, maybe this will be the year it does, if not I will go to the meetings and eat bon bons, like all the other stay at home moms.

I developed a new method for letting one know their gas tank is empty. I didn't find the light that most car manufacturers install to let one know an effective method at all.

I decided to tackle potty training my two year old. It's a slow process and I am not doing so well....neither is he. I'm going to blame it on the diarrhea. Yeah that sounds good doesn't it.

I've decided the 8lbs of baby weight that won't fall off looks good....I'm loving it. My gym won't let me drop off Margot in the child care room until she is 6 months old. I am currently scouting out places to get her a fake ID.

I have taken up the practice of letting people cook for me and my family and then devouring every last bite. It went on for at least 5 weeks after Margot's birth. I am so damn blessed to have such fabulous friends. I'm considering a 4th baby just so that I won't have to cook for 5 weeks again....kidding Joshua!

I now have a wake up time of 4:30am. I'm not complaining because at least I'm not setting an alarm to wake my baby up like I was having to do.

I have taken up "spending time in doctors waiting rooms" as a hobby, I do it at least once a week, here are two of my favorite people doing it with me.

I am becoming very well versed in the the condition of congenital hypothyroidism. It has been many a topic of conversation around here lately.

I dispense medication like I have an RN behind my name instead of an SLP.

I enrolled my tikes at 2 different schools, because I thought waiting in two different car lines all the way across town from one another would be awesome...it's overrated, but they are both loving their schools and teachers, so I am confident I made the right decision for each of them.

I ate lunch with an adult friend with no kids for the first time today in well over 2 months. Then I had to rush out and pick up kids at 2 different schools, but it was a nice change of pace to only have to worry about feeding two people instead of 4 and having an adult conversation while doing it. **I realized after publishing this and talking with the friend I had lunch with, that I counted eating with just Margot as eating by myself. Yes one child feels like being alone, three feels like a damn circus.

I let my kids take responsibility for putting on their own shoes in the morning. Sometimes we go to school like this. Yes, we both knew they were different, it's just what he chose to wear. He is expressing his sense of style and creativity. I was picking my battles. Roll with it, I did.

I've become addicted to sister schubert's yeast rolls....they are so not helping my 8lbs. But I cannot resist buying them in the grocery. At least I've contained myself to only fixing them every other night!

I let my kids have a lot of say in what they are wearing these days. Call it lazy, ridiculous, absurd or you can just call it smart parenting like I do. His sister picked the outfit, he picked the hat, and I picked the lime green crocs to go with it.

I've also let them start fixing their own hair....it helps on days when we got like 30 seconds left to get out the house before I miss the car lines at both the schools. And if I miss them I would have to get out and walk them in....in my pj's.....that is my motivation people....CAR LINES!

So that is an update on me I promise to give one on each of the kids this week too. And here is one of my butter bean, because she is too cute for words. She is literally growing right out of her bouncy seat. I stinkin' love it! Although she is getting way too big too fast!

A milestone

2010-09-13T22:25:00.003-05:00

Yesterday my Noah reached a milestone, a big one. He pooped on the potty, for the first time. Awesome! He got his beloved "tree" truck that he had been eyeing at our local toy shop. The tree truck that he had been talking about for weeks and debating as to whether or not it was worth putting his little cheeks on the toilet seat to make some poop.

Well yesterday he did and he was handsomely rewarded with this....

And last night as I was tucking him and his tree truck into bed, he proclaimed...."my twee twuck is my best fwiend" and who is one to argue with that.

And right now that tree truck may be his best friend replacing Hiro of the Rails for the time being, but this little girl comes in at a close second. I know because he also lets her play with the tree truck too.

Notice I said he pooped in the potty yesterday. Then last night he came down with an awful case of diarrhea and it has been running its course all day. We haven't pooped in the potty since the first time. I guess now we will now have to start all over. And he already has his sights on a new "horse truck" to match his "twee twuck".

Congential Hypothyroidism

2010-09-12T20:27:00.007-05:00

Do you know what that is? I didn't either when Margot was born. In fact, I had never heard of it at all until she was 9 days old. That is when her pediatric endocrinologist gave us her diagnosis. It's been a whirlwind adventure in her sweet 8 weeks of life, but we are finally adjusting and headed down this new path.

When Margot was born she was a happy and healthy 8 pound baby girl. Everyone commented on her beautiful coloring and how sweet she was. When we left the hospital she had lost a few pounds like all babies do, but I wasn't concerned at all. When we went for her two day post hospital weight check and she had lost even more weight, despite nursing well, I knew right away something was very wrong. Call it mother's instinct, but I knew, I just didn't know what.

Eight days after Margot was born, we had taken the big tikes to my mom's house to go swimming. Margot and I stayed inside and rested while Josh and the kids had a ball, it was just a normal, fun, relaxing day. When we got home from the pool about 3pm. our little world was turned upside down. We had a message on our answering machine from a pediatric endocrinologist office regarding Margot's appointment. I was confused....endocrinologist...Margot....what the hell. I think those were my exact words. My heart dropped, because that mother's instinct kicked into full gear....I had known something was wrong, it was like a sixth sense.

The message was as follows....and yes I can repeat it, because it is a message I'll never forget....

"Hi this is the Dr. M's office calling from the Children's specialty clinic, I was calling to set up Mar-"gots" appointment (really no one pronounces it Margeaux....it's always mar-got, yes mom you were right, but still I don't care, I love the spelling I chose.) You have an appointment tomorrow (Thursday) at 11:00am, if you cannot make that I have also set one up from Friday at 1:00pm, but the doctor feels it is imperative that you be here tomorrow if you can. Please call us back to confirm at this number..."

Can you say I was freaked out, confused, scared and everything wrapped into one. Margot had not seen her pediatrician or anyone else with MD behind their name except her dad, since we left the hospital when she was 2 days old. She had been continuing with weight and Bili checks, but we had not seen any pediatricians, so needless to say we were more than stumped as to why we needed to suddenly see a specialist. No clue.

The first thing we did was call the specialty clinic to see if the appointment was really for my sweet, perfect baby. It was. We then asked why? The receptionist said for her thyroid. We asked if she was sure it was for Margot, because we were not informed about any thyroid problems. She said yes.

We then called our pediatricians office. Dr. B was out of town. Her office did not have a clue why we were being sent 2 hours away to see a specialist. There was nothing in her chart. We got no where. Josh did find out which pediatrician referred her, and after many tears and phone calls, Josh realized she failed her newborn screen for hypothyroidism.

The tears started flowing. I was so ignorant when it came to congenital hypothyroidism. I knew nothing about it. I had no clue and was so afraid of google. I called a friend of mine and the tears started flowing and even though I couldn't even talk to tell her what was wrong, I didn't need to. She just cried right along with me, until I calmed down enough to explain things. Sometimes you just need a good cry first.

We headed up to see the pediatric endocrinologist that will now follow Margot throughout her childhood. She was only 9 days old and already in a waiting room for a specialist, never what you want to have to do with your newborn or any child for that matter. After waiting about two hours we finally saw Dr. M. He walked in and explained that based on Margot's newborn screen she was being diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism. Apparently a normal THL number for her thyroid would be 0.8 and hers was about 178.   He didn't even repeat blood work to make sure, he immediately started her on a daily thyroid medication that she will require for the rest of her life. He also explained that this occurs in 1 of 4,000 babies and predominately in females. He also explained how nothing I did or did not do during my pregnancy caused this to happen, it just occurs during fetal development. It didn't relieve the guilt that I had inside, not even one tiny, little bit.

He gave her the first dose of medication right there in the office, it kind of took me by surprise. Shouldn't we do more testing? I mean look at my sweet baby, she was perfect! Medication, daily, seriously. I couldn't even wrap my head around this a little bit. I was scared, I was confused, I was in denial. Because although I was sitting there in the room, with a specialist, listening to all the information, part of me was still thinking this was not real. The test results were not hers, this was just a mistake or a really bad dream.  This didn't happen to me, this happened to one of the other 4,000 families. Dr. M just kept talking, I caught bits and pieces, I listened as he explained how very important taking this medication is, and how important it is that she get this medicine daily and at the same time every day and how it needed to be taken on an empty stomach. And there I had something more "tangible" to worry about. An empty stomach, how in the hell do you give a newborn who is nursing every 2 hours and not really on any type of schedule medication on an empty stomach at the same time daily. I finally had something smaller to wrap my head around. I didn't need to worry about hypothyroidism or the long term effects, or if it would cause problems during her pregnancies one day, or how would she do taking this medication as an adolescent or in college, or if it would affect puberty or if she would fight obesisty..... I could worry about the here and now and how in hell I was going to get this medication in her and on an empty stomach.

He also explained how taking this medicine daily and at the right dosage is especially critical in the first three years of life for normal brain development. And that we would closely monitor her dosage this year due to how rapidly babies grow this first year. And then he explained how it is also important for the rest of her childhood for normal growth and development.   And in my head I was still thinking about getting it in at the same time on an empty stomach....would 9am work best or 4pm or 9pm....I was in denial. After going over all this with Dr. M, we headed home with our new prescriptions, samples of medication, a return appointment to recheck her levels, a headache and a heavy heart.

Margot is now two months old, we have been back to see Dr. M for her follow up and have received some very good news. Her THL numbers are now normal, her thyroid levels are within normal limits, we are doing the best we can with getting the adult pill crushed in water down her and on an empty stomach, she is reaching age appropriate milestones on time, and she is getting chunky. I cannot tell you how very blessed I feel about all this good news.

So yes, throw all that on top of being the momma of three tiny tikes and just trying to survive the day and it is enough to drive you insane.
All that being said, I am now in a better place. When I got the letter from Dr. M Friday letting me know her levels were all normal I felt like the elephant that had been parked on my chest for the last two months had finally got off of it and I could breathe. It hasn't been easy. I've thought about getting on medication myself. I've been in a constant state of shock, denial, heart ache and very anxious. But I've gotten better and feel like I am not returning to normal or to my new normal...I'm still adjusting to three, but it is good.

Life threw us for a loop, we are going down a slightly different path than the one we set out for and planned for with our baby girl. And while the path is not better or worse, it is only different, it is still taking some navigating to meander through. I know I am very fortunate, and that this could have been much worse, I hate hearing those words. I'm not sure why. I hate that Margot will need to take a daily medication forever and yet thankful that such a medication exist. I hate that she needed to go to a specialty clinic at 9 days old and yet I am thankful they caught it so early. I hate hearing that at least what she has is treatable when I tell people her diagnosis and yet I am so thankful that it is. I hate when people say I told you everything would be okay when I tell them our recent good news and yet I am so thankful things are turning out to be okay....actually they are more than okay, I am the mother to three beautiful babies and I'd say life is pretty damn good. I'm not sure why I hate those things....I just do and I'm just being honest. I'm getting it off my chest along with that elephant.

So there is an update Internets. It's been a long two months. Lots of ups and downs and somersaults in between. I'd love to share some updated pics, but in true third child fashion I really don't have any of Margot.  And it's not because my day is too busy to snap a quick photo although most days are, it is because my camera is broke.  And because I can't find my other one. I promise to get some of her on here soon, because she is so damn cute.

I also apologize for my abscense...again. It took me a long time to get this post up here. There is so much I wanted to say about it, but at the same time so much I didn't' want to say. I was wanting to make sure I was in a good place first and finally I am. Rejoice with me in her good news and I promise now I am back.

THREE!

2010-08-29T10:58:00.000-05:00

It's been a while, what can I say, being the mother of three is a lot busier than I ever imagined. Well three that are stepping stones and all under 4, because in some way or another they all still need the momma. The one and only momma and no one else will do.

Let me describe three....so you can get the mental picture....

Three is standing at the back door trying to put the smallest in the car seat to get ready to get donuts, trying to answer the questions being spit out by the other two about can we leave now? when are we going? where are we going? are we getting chocolate milk? can I get sprinkles? is the sky blue? can we get a pet dinosaur? can we take a trip to the moon? all while consoling the crying.....scratch that....now screaming infant, who doesn't' really want to get in the car seat and go to get donuts. Nope that infant would rather just be held all day at home, because she can't even eat the dam donuts. So you finally console her and are about to buckle her, but at this point your 2 year old has grown so impatient he has unlocked the lock and deadbolt that you have constantly told him never to do and it is at that exact second that you remember that you forgot to turn off the alarm... the alarm whose speaker for the siren is located on the wall of the mud room that you are currently standing in with all three kids, approixamately 4 feet above you, in a room that is 6ft by 4ft and it is at that split second that you hear the door open and that tiny mudroom is instantly filled with the most awful, loudest, screeching noise you have ever heard. The only thing louder is the wails from the infant who has projectile spit up all over you and your hair in fear, and is now using her tiny palms and fingers to grab on to you for dear life....screw that car seat. The other two have now wrapped their entire little bodies around your two legs and aren't sure if they should cry or not....but surely they are beyond terrified and I am pretty sure the 2 year old has now shit in his diaper. And you are frozen, because you are covered in spit up, and can't move due to the two kiddos who have firmly attached themselves to you and make it increasingly difficult to walk. The alarm pad is 2 feet away....you are pretty sure you ear drums have blown and you now have a migraine from the noise at 7:30am....and you are thinking that at any moment someone is gonna throw you a break and scoop in and make it all better..... and then you realize you are the momma..... now the momma of three....and life is always going to be some sort of alarm just blaring in your ear waiting for you to fix it.....because the momma fixes everything....no breaks coming your way.

In the end we got the alarm turned off and told the alarm company we didn't need any rescue vehicles, I explained to the tikes, who never realized we had such a cool feature before, what it was for. I didn't use the whole it is to make sure intruders never enter the house speech....I went with the....it is to make sure that you guys never open a door to go outside without me knowing speech. I'm a mom...of course I gave the latter explanation. I then got the infant and myself cleaned....the infant who also had the shit scared out of her literally and it was all up her back....and then I reloaded everyone back into the car seats and headed to get doughnuts...eventually we were all sitting at the table enjoying our sprinkles and chocolate milk, it just took a hell of a lot longer than it would have taken with one tike or even two...but that's my life now....THREE! Welcome to my new journey. I promise I'm back...I think I've been missed, based on the various emails to please post on this blog again...well I've missed you too internets!