Alright, Alright, Alright...

June 3, 2016-my girls have asked me over and over why I no longer blog. I have no good excuse except to tell them I post most everything to Facebook. But, they really enjoy looking st this blog so I am back and doing it for them. Julia is currently 10, Charlotte 8, and Andrew 4. But, that is all soon to be changing. Charlotte turns 9 on the 7th, Andrew 5 in July, and Julia ELEVEN(!!) in August. Life is busy. So busy. We have moved down to North Carolina in the hopes of better quality of life for the family. We've been here since last October, and the kids are doing well. Daddy's job is only 15 minutes away so he is able to be present a lot more. Julia is in 5th grade, Charlotte in 3rd, and Andrew is in pre-k. Daddy drives the girls to school in the AM by 7:40, and they walk home. Andrew goes to a different school that the bus picks him up for. Andrew is very young for almost 5. He's had to deal with some speech and developmental delays since birth, so he is a little behind socially and emotionally from his peers of the same age. The beautiful thing is he does not have to start kindergarten this year, but we're on the fence on exactly where to send him. But, we know kinder is not right for him this coming year. The kids are in year round school. They go 9 weeks then off 3 weeks all year. So, he would be starting kinder while still 4. Too young. And, they say noone regrets keeping their child back from kindergarten, but many do regret sending their child too soon. A lot of times the age difference doesn't come out until middle and high school. We want him to have the best chance possible to succeed. So, we will hold him back. The girls are doing great. Julia is about to enter middle school. I can't believe it. And, she's going into honors english and literature. We're very proud. Charlotte will be entering 4th grade. She just started horse back riding and is super happy about this. I wish we could buy her a horse. She is so content and happy around them. But, for now, we'll do lessons. She's excited for her birthday and upcoming geology themed birthday party. She is very interested in rocks. I love it because she is passionate about it, and it's a unique thing to be into at her age. She has quite the collection! On that note, I need to sign off and send out the invite to her party. I hope to be posting more again :).

Far, far too long....

My, oh my, where do I even begin? It is awful that I have not kept up with this blog. Unfortunately, dealing with the throes of PPD took me away from regular postings, but I am fully recovered, living life with zest, and I cannot let more time pass where I do not document Andrew and the girl's growth. They are blossoming, and, truthfully in just the past week Andrew has changed from a "baby" to a boy with a mouth full of words. He is now 21 months old, and just last Friday we had our belated 18 month check-up for him. We expressed our mild concerns over his lack of verbiage, and the pediatrician was on-board with getting EI involved just to help, but we're moving so getting him into EI up here now is pointless. It is also pointless to even consider EI when we do move because the moment we left the doctor's office Andrew's words exploded. And, I mean exploded with gusto! It is now one week and two days from that appointment. His words, in no particular order are, Da, Mommy, Julia, Charlotte, help, milk, Bubbe, I love you, meow, woof, up, off, down, uh-oh, sound of "giggle", hi, hello, Memere, Poppie, pepper, cup, banana, and, binky. He also waves hello and bye, and high fives. He is a lover of all things musical and LOVES to dance. He goes to the tv with the Wii remote and shakes it and does little dances in front of it because he knows the girls play Just Dance and dance in front of the tv. He also understands when we hand hims something and tell him to put it in the trash. He does. He is 23 pounds and I forget the height, but it was only 15%. We have another shorty on our hands. He is a HAM. When he gives Daddy kisses he sticks his tongue out right before the kiss and licks him. He thinks it is hysterical every time, and Chris acts shocked even though he knows it is coming. Just today he has started to clasp his hands behind his back, and looks like an old man. I told him he had a poopie diaper today, and he went and started climbing the stairs because he knows I change him upstairs. I had no idea he could put the two together. He is definitely a Daddy's boy and would much rather hang with him than me right now. When Daddy leaves he can quite often be found on his back or belly on the floor crying right after his departure. He has an evil little side to him-said with love. He likes to climb stairs, hit the cat if he can get away with it, climb on the table, and he is a magnet to any gate that may have been left open, or the cabinet that has the one broken baby lock. Which is a whole new thing altogether to our family because we never had to childproof with Julia or Charlotte! He is into EVERYTHING! There is not anything non-bolted down that is safe, and I cannot take my eyes off him. Back to his love of dance. Anytime he hears a beat, or someone sings his hands are in the air, and quite often he is shaking his booty. If he is crying, or doing anything, and you start singing the ABC's he will immediately stop doing whatever it was he was doing and start slapping his thighs. They do that at daycare. He has started taking the broom and dustpan which we have on a long handle and carries them around. He sweeps with the DUSTPAN, and he will empty the dustpan wrong side up over the trash. As I mentioned, he knows the word binky and boy, does he love it. He gets it at naptime at daycare, and then when he comes home he MUST sit in his highchair and suck on his binky for a few minutes. It has a strap attached that can be clipped to his clothes. His "thing" is he zones and plays with the strap. Both girls had a binky and we thought when it came time to give it up we were going to have major issues, but it actually went off without a hitch both times. I am hopeful this time around, but I am not stupid! I will be shocked if he gives it up without a fight, but we'll see. He also loves fans. He loves to watch them, and he has a fan with a remote in his room. I almost always carry him out of his room, and he is right at the height of the fan remote. He ALWAYS grabs it and makes it drop to the floor on our way out. Sometimes, I have forethought to hold his arms down on the way out, but most times I forget. Andrew has a few nick-names. Drew, Drewby,and Drewbear are the main ones. We never EVER call him Andy. In fact, when he started daycare the teacher laminated a bubble name "Andy" and I had her re-do it. He is just not an Andy. Don't ask! I am going to end this post for now. I have so much more to get caught up on, but this is a good start. Hopefully, I can get some pics to load!

Auntie Stacey

Auntie Stacey has been visiting a lot and been helping me out tremendously. It is wonderful to have a sister that can come when help is needed. I appreciate her more than she knows and am extremely grateful for her past and present help. We love you!

You Can Never Have Too Many...

Right?

Wrong!

My little monkey got dressed yesterday and forgot to take her underwear off. So, she wore two pairs of underwear all day. I love her!

Time flies....

When you have 3 children!

Wow! What a change from 2 to 3, but I love it! Andrew has become the center of attention in so many things, and more so by his sisters. They relish playing with him when he gets home from school, and we have all nicknames him Bubba Bear. When Julia gets home around 3 she usually gives him his bottles, and then we put him down for a nap. He lights up when he sees Julia. It is adorable.

Charlotte still always asks to hold him, and she complains when he pulls her hair. She doesn't QUITE get that he is a baby and can't help it, but luckily she laughs and does not get mad.

Mommy is now a stay at home mom for a while. It has been a huge change, but I love every minute of being with Andrew. I have made some great friends with other little ones, and we stick together. Andrew is gaining weight now, and the big joke is our pediatrician said he'll probably be one of those kids we'll have to feed to keep weight on him. If he did not look just like Chris we'd wonder if we brought the right baby home.

He is an absolute ham, and when not hungry or in his car seat is a smiley little guy. He has a great disposition, and makes us laugh. Two days ago we started oatmeal, and he is doing great with it. He is grabbing his feet and drooling like crazy for weeks now. No tooth, but I think his bottom right will be his first. His hair has really grown but gets matted in the back. He loves a show called "Curious Buddies: Look and Listen at the Park", and is starting to jump in his jumperoo, and likes to lay on his back and play with toys. Daddy is, by far, his favorite person. Whenever he sees him he gives him a big goofy grin. I thought I was going to have a Momma's boy but no such luck :).

The girls are doing great in school. Julia's reading level is high and advanced, but she struggles with math. Charlotte is doing well with pre-k.

We THINK Andrew is growing out of his reflux. I have started to back off the meds, and he seems to be doing ok. Hopefully that continues.

We had a wonderful Christmas. Everyone was thrilled, and we're so grateful and lucky to have some of the greatest kids ever. Enjoy the pics!

Oh Andrew.....

How do I love thee? So so much! I cannot handle your smiles, your coos, your stretches. I love everything about you-even your spit up. It is hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that you will be 11 weeks in two days. Where does the time go? I look at your sister's, and I have no idea. I cherish every single moment with you. Your crying, your poops, your gas-none of it phases me. You make our family more complete in a way I never could have known. I am so happy to have you!

You love to snuggle in the Moby wrap. Aside from your nighttime swing which you need to sleep in to stay upright the Moby is your favorite place. It warms my heart to know you like to be so close to me. No matter how hot it makes me, how much it hurts my back, or if there are things I need to get done without a baby attached to me I will never deny you the comfort of Mommy.

My heart hurts when I think of going back to work on Monday and sending you to daycare. I know you will be ok, but I also know noone will love you and care for you like Mommy and Daddy. I am praying the transition goes smoothly, and that you adjust well.

We saw the doctor yesterday to check your sacral dimple, and it is just a cosmetic thing. There is no medical issue, thank goodness. We then went to the GI doc and we're now putting cereal in a few of your bottles to help keep everything down.

You are sleeping through the night like such a good boy, and smiling more and more. I love you sooooo much!!!

Whoops! Mommy made an oops!

But, we fixed it!

Julia's hair had gotten really long, and it desperately needed a trim. I recently trimmed Charlotte's hair so figured I could take on the task of Julia's. Argh. She only wanted a little off, and I wet cut it. I underestimated the amount I took off before it was too late, and Julia fet the back of her head and burst into tears. I felt awful! I actually went upstairs and cried to Chris that I made a big mistake (out of Julia's earshot), but the reality was it looked really good-just shorter than expected. Chris came to the rescue and saved the day by suggesting to Julia that now a feather would look awesome in her hair. It is the new trend right now where you pick a colored feather to be inserted into your hair by a bead. She instantly stopped crying, and we went to the salon and had it put in. She agonized over which color feather to pick but finally decided on a black and red one. It actually looks really cute, and by the end of the day today she told me she loved her hair. Whew!

Do you like Smarshmellows?

Charlotte loves them! That is what she calls marshmallows. "Mommy, I love smarshmellows!" I love her words. I don't bother correcting her. She will learn in her own time!

Dear Charlotte,

You have such an awesome ability to make Daddy and I laugh.

Yesterday when we came home from school Julia said something (probably nothing bad), and you said, "Don't talk to your Mother like that!" LOL! Then when we came inside you yelled at me that your shoes were too big and you weren't wearing them anymore. I think someone needed to take their own advice.

You are still calling macaroni and raviolis "macarolis". It makes me smile every time you say it. You insist on wearing your hair down every day. I trimmed your hair last week for that reason.

Tonight at dinner you played a rhyming game with Daddy. You cracked yourself up and were laughing hysterically. Your laugh is infectious. We all ended up laughing from watching you laugh!

Today was picture day and you coveted the comb/brush combo you received. You thought it was hysterical that they made you say "chicken" instead of cheese when they took your picture.

You are so unique and bring us so much happiness! We love you!