No rhyme or reason...

...to my blog posts lately. Or my life. But that's okay. It is what it is. You have to do what you have to do (as Chase told me the other day). Speaking of my second child, he fell asleep in the car the other day. I carried him inside and sat him down on the stairs while I went to get something from the car, hoping that would wake him up. He awoke for a moment, but when I came back in was fast asleep. On the stairs. When he got into a deeper sleep he sort of fell a bit and stayed asleep. Apparently this boy really needs a nap sometimes.

 Here's my newly redecorated kitchen (above the cabinets). Thanks Mom!

 She also helped me brighten up my living room. Although I love the brown and blue combo I've had for the last couple of years, it was getting a little drab.

 My little Miss turned 3 months today!! We busted out the bumbo a few days ago! She's getting too big!

 These boys love love love their sister!

 Some photos from this evening--

Here's what's been going on with my little lady in the last month:

- She sleeps from around 9:30-10:00pm to around 8:00am! I am seriously one lucky woman!
- Not only does she contine to spit up at unprecedented rates, we've also added some serious drool to the mix. I need to get this girls some more bibs, and I'm praying that this drool does not indicate TEETH! I'm not a fan of nursing babies with teeth.
- She's discovered her hands and loves to suck on them!
- This girl is seriously happy and easy going. It seems that some days she lives in her car seat because we're running around town, but she never seems to mind. I've gotten some good giggles out of her as of late, she goo's and makes noises, and I love how expressive she is.
- Her eyes are still BLUE!
- She rolls onto her side.
- Still loves her bink, still can't keep it in her mouth for more than a few seconds.
- Sleeps best when swaddled (which helps with keeping her binky in her mouth!)
- Is wearing 6-9 month pajamas! This girl is looonnngggg!

We love our Cora and can't imagine life without her!

Granny Shanny

Want to know how you can get your mother to come visit you twice in a two month period? Have a baby! Not just any baby, but a baby GIRL. And not just any baby girl, but a baby girl that looks a lot like your mother! We all love it when Granny Shanny comes to town! Nick drew this picture after she arrived. She's in the attic (he asked her if it was okay if he drew her there), below her is me, then Chase, then Nick, and laying on the ground is Cora. Brad's school is to the left and our garage (which we don't have but talk of and dream about often) is on the right.

 My mom made valentine sugar cookies with my kids, which means I don't have to do it with them next week for Valentines day, right??? :)

 This scenario is becoming all too familiar -- Chase gets really tired around 5:00pm and if I don't watch closely he puts himself to bed on the couch. The problem? He's up until midnight or later, even if he only sleeps for 10 minutes! He sure is cute, though...

 My dad joined us at the tail end of my mom's 8 day trip, and I think he held Cora for 72 hours straight (lucky girl!), only taking breaks to wrestle with my boys!

 Cora loved all the attention from Grandpa and Granny!

 How do I get my kids to smile in pictures, you ask? Simple: BRIBERY! :) Having my mom here was incredibly refreshing. I needed some help with some decorating around my house (one of her many talents) and it was so wonderful to shop with her and then come home and let her work her magic. We talk and laugh and watch HGTV and I am constantly overwhelmed at how blessed I am to have her and incredibly grateful for the love she shows me and my kids. It never gets any easier to say good-bye when my parents leave -- I cry everytime. They simply are the best.

 My mom helped me complete a project I've been wanting to do forever -- hand and foot prints on canvas to be hung in the toyroom.

 Chase thought this tickled!

 The finished product -- something I know I'll cherish forver!

 I have to admit that I kind of love when my boys sneak the camera away and take their own pictures! This is one I discovered that Chase took of his cute feet.

 This Nicky boy has grown up so much the past 6 months. He can ride a bike sans training wheels, loves school, begs to go to gymnastics, and has recently started piano lessons. We went to a kindergarten fair on Saturday and he got this "class of 2024 shirt." I am NOT ready for him to go to all day kindergarten next year. I thought I might be more ready after Cora was born, but I'm not. I hate the thought of him spending the majority of his wakeful hours with people I don't know. He's VERY ready, though, and I know he'll love it, even though I'll miss him!

C H A S E

Chase turned THREE this past Saturday! We're potty training and couldn't leave the house, so we just tried to do all his favorite things at home (puzzles, geo trax, playing outside, making cupcakes, and reading books). The Smith's joined us in the evening for his favorite dinner and chocolate oatmeal cupcakes .

 Chase got to take a treat to pre-school a couple days before his birthday and was so excited to take yellow sugar cookies -- yellow is his favorite color.

 Helping me make the cupcakes--

 Opening presents

 Enjoying an ice cream cone

 Entertaining himself by making faces in Granny's mirror--

 sledding in the back "yard"

Chasey --
*is a naturally happy and joyful soul
*loves puzzles, trains, and books
*Does NOT like to clean up!
*Loves his family and is naturally affectionate
*Will state that he does or doesn't want something and then will instantly change his mind and say "Maybe I do/don't" in the sweetest voice you've ever heard.
* Is completely and perfectly potty trained as long as he's naked from the waist down -- the second he has undies or a pull up on him, forget about it! Suggestions anyone?
* Loves music, has great pitch, loves to sing, and stole the show at his pre-school program last week!
*Seems to be in his own care-free and happy world a lot of the time (I'm working on instilling a sense of responsibility!)
*Calls me "my girl" or "my dear" a lot of the time -- melts my heart!

This boy brings me so much happiness. He delights me and I love to be with him. Happy Birthday, Chase! We love you!

A 2 month old and some thoughts

 This is me. I have three kids. I have to remind myself of this occasionally because I still can't believe it. I have been asked constantly lately how the transition from 2 to 3 is. Usually by mother's of 2 that are looking into their near future with fear behind their eyes. I know this because that was me for the last year, gleaning all the advice I could from those who had already crossed this threshold. But this is what I've decided: Yes, it's hard. The small amount of free time I once had is completely gone. Relaxing with my husband in the evenings, also gone. I canNOT wrap my head around how in the world I'm supposed to get everything done that needs to be done. Returning phone calls, pretty much impossible (I've been struggling with this one since Chase gave up his nap).That's beings said, we're surviving. I'm incredibly content. I wouldn't even say that I'm stressed. Or maybe I'm happily stressed? One thing is for sure, it's easier in some ways than my transition from 0 to 1 or 1 to 2 and harder in some ways, only because of my individual circumstances. And another thing's for sure; I feel so blessed. So happy. So thankful. So in love with this little girl, her two big brothers, and their dad. Life is good.

 Cora turned 2 months old last week. Here are some things I want to remember:
-She's in the 99th% for weight AND height. She weighs over 12 pounds and is 24.5 inches. Not only does she look much older than she is, she just seems older, always has. As cliche as it sounds, "she has an old soul."
- Her head is only the 80th%!!! I say only because I have never had a child who's head was ever less than the 99th%!
- She is happy, content, smiling, cooing, almost/kind of laughing.
- She loves Nick! She smiles just when she sees him. I'm sure she loves Chase too, but he doesn't pay as much attention to her yet so I'm not sure the bond is as strong -- yet.
- She sleeps anywhere from 7-11 hours straight each night, eats quickly, then goes back down for 3-4 more. I'm not bragging because I've done nothing to deserve this except for keep her on a eat, stay awake, sleep very not strict schedule. I don't let her cry, I rarely wake her from her naps like I did with the boys -- I just got lucky!

While it's only been 2 months, I have to admit, I'm already sick of the color pink. It's never been one of my favorites, although I fully embraced it when I found out I was having a girl. I'm over it now and ready to broaden my color horizons. :) I am, however, still loving all the cute clothes and accessories that come with having a girl!  I just wish I were crafty enough to make some of the styles I love, as I'm certainly not rich enough to buy them.

Bored? Can't sleep? Procrastinating? Have a few spare minutes?

'Cause I just put up 4 new posts to help ease (or add to) all of the above ailments! Happy scrolling!

Aren't you dying to see what Cora looked like this morning?

I thought so...

PS- Someone tell me the secret to skpe. Whenever I do it with my family it freezes up every 10 seconds and is so frustrating! We replaced our web cam but it didn't help. Maybe I wouldn't feel the need to blog every single photo I ever take of Cora if I could show her to my family via skype! :) Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Soooo excited

First came Jack and Nick (8 months apart)

Followed by Cal and Chase (6 months apart)

And now, introducing the next great duo, Cora and Francis (2 months apart). So excited to see these 2 GIRLS together!

Welcome to the world, Frankie!! Congrats to Tim and Katie, Jack and Cal!