Life

I almost titled this post "Slacker" - I haven't posted much of anything in forever. I haven't really even thought about posting something. Sorry to disappoint.

I cringe at the thought of even considering myself as being "slack." I feel like I run my butt off each and every day. I consider it a good day when I get laundry done, meals cooked, kids cared for, and maybe an errand run. Life these days has left little time or energy for anything. And I'm tired. Really tired. I realized this morning that I haven't been away from the kids in 16 months. That is 16 months of working all 24 hour shifts. Yikes.

Thanks for listening to my thoughts! On another note, the big kids are doing great. They are in a fun phase and enjoy just about everything. We've enjoyed some great weather lately and have spent hours at different playgrounds with friends. Its nice that they can run and climb and do almost everything themselves - and I no longer have to follow Griff around for fear he'd fall off of something or bite someone, etc!



Avery and Griffin are really "into" their friends and it is so fun to see those relationships develop. They get sooo excited to see friends and Avery makes pictures for her friends on a daily basis. (she'd be heartbroken to know that 1/2 of her artwork ends up in the trash can....she makes oodles and oodles of it!!)


Graham has kept me on my toes recently- his sleeping has been disastrous (thanks to ear infections) but that should be squared away on March 14 when he gets tubes! I can't wait!! Graham keeps me on my toes with his constant activity as well! Thankfully, he is fairly well balanced and doesn't keep a bruised forehead these days. He is cruising around stuff and can walk across the room with his push-walker toy. And he recently discovered the stairs and can shimmy right on up them!



Brent is thrilled to have his first real job lined up and is busy trying to get his GA license and all of that mess. He has a lighter month at work during March and is enjoying that. He is trying to get back into the routine of running and has his next race in April. Brent spent much of February doing projects around the house and getting it ready to sell. We have had it on the market for a few weeks now and have had a few lookers. We are trusting that God has a perfect buyer in mind and will bring them at the perfect time. So for now, we strive to keep this place relatively clean and picked up, which sometimes proves to be a losing battle!!

As previously stated, this mommy is tired and in need of a break...but I am really looking forward to all this next phase in life will bring. I can't wait to settle in somewhere for more than a few years. I can't wait to decorate our house. I can't wait to explore a new area. And I really can't wait to be close to family!! I am really trying to embrace life right now - take time out to kick the soccer ball with Griffin, color pictures with Avery, and snuggle up with Graham. I know these days will be gone all too quickly.

I'll attempt to be a little more consistent in my blogging...but no promises!!!

Hair-do

I think I need to put Brent in charge of taking Griffin to get his hair cut. The last 2 times that I have taken him, his hair has ended up in some weird style. Maybe I can't explain what I want or maybe the I need to suck it up and take him to somewhere that specialized in kids haircuts.

So this is the look I like - simple, mostly one length, "modified bowl" cut according to one stylist...shouldn't be too hard, right?

Well, this is what he ended up with this time. All I can think of when I look at him from the back or side is, " HELLO 80's !!" From the front, he still looks like a cute little boys though!!

And thankfully, his hair grows really quickly and this look will be gone in about 6 weeks!

Mommy Daughter Time

As a mommy of 3 little ones, I rarely have individual time with either of the older kids. Kind of sad, but its reality. I am really wanting to start making a little one-on-one time a little more often.

This weekend Griffin and I went to a birthday party at the Little Gym together and had some hang-out time on Saturday...and then on Sunday, Avery and I went on a mommy/daughter outing with 2 other families.

UNC was having a gymnastics meet to benefit breast cancer. It was almost like a womens health fair but had some kids activities as well. We went with Kim and Katelyn Runkle and Keri and Kaylee Fitzsimmons. The girls enjoyed coloring a picture, getting their nails painted, and eating cupcakes and popcorn. Avery really liked watching the girls on the vault and the floor the best.

10 Months and Counting...

Mr. Graham Charles is 10 months old today! Where does the time go?

Its been a big month for Graham in the "motor development" department. We went from just starting to crawl to speed crawling in a matter of days...from not sitting well on his own to pulling up on everything...from rolling around on the ground to cruising around furniture!

He is so proud of himself when he gets to what he wants - he gives the biggest grins and giggles! Graham is also a clapping machine! He claps when he is excited, when is is proud of himself, and sometime just to pass the time. He loves to play with Griff's workbench and with Avery's kitchen. (He can stand at each of them and there are lots of pieces to pick up and bang around. ) He is getting braver everyday and has even started letting go of the furniture and standing on his own for 4-5 seconds at a time. I bet we have another early walker...

Graham has already had multiple small bruises to his forehead, 2 busted lips, and a scratch down his forehead. (all of these have been self-inflicted!) I must admit that after Griffin's toddlerhood, I think I can handle anything in this department! This is a picture of Griffin at 10 months old -this was only one of the several times that I cried when Griff fell...

Graham loves to eat. He went through about a 2 week stretch of only wanting to feed himself - which was hard since there aren't a ton of things he can actually eat yet...but thankfully, he is letting me spoon feed him again! We've added cottage cheese and yogurt to his "pureed" selection this month. He loves puffs, cheerios, banana, graham crackers, mum mums, pancakes, toast, avocado, salmon, and cheese. He currently has 6 teeth but I think that 2 more bottom teeth are on their way...so we'll continue to add food as the teeth come!

Graham is a great napper - sleeps at least 1 1/2 -2 hours in the AM and PM. But his nighttime sleeping patterns change continuously, based on the ear infection status. (normally 1 good week, 2 bad weeks, 3-4 sleep re-training nights; repeat cycle.) He has had 5, yes 5, ear infections in the last 4 months. We are holding our breath that we can remain ear-infection free until our ENT appointment on March 4!

Graham continues to be super smiley and very laid back. He seems to adapt well to new places and people. Avery and Griffin make him laugh and smile more than anything or anyone. He loves to play patty cake and peek-a-book makes him belly laugh sometimes. He's been such a joy and we are loving watching his little personality emerge!

T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!

The little man is very much "on the move" and is loving it!! He loves both Griffin's workbench and Avery's kitchen - Lots of things to bang around!!

My Family

Avery spends hours every day drawing at the kitchen table. We go through markers and paper like there is no tomorrow. Its been really fun to watch her "ability" progress. She now makes fingers and toes on everyone, and tries to make the hair and eyes the correct color. She even draws eyelashes sometimes. Pretty funny to see. (She gets frustrated trying to draw "boys clothes" so I made the boy clothes on the picture below.)

"My Family" by Avery

(daddy, graham, mommy, avery, griffin)

Griffin isn't nearly as in to drawing as Avery. He prefers to sit at the table with scissors and junk mail and make me "pieces!" But the kids were making Valentines Day cards today Griffin announced, "I made my family." This is his first attempt at making a person and I thought it was precious!

My Family by Griffin

Thankful for a Sunny Day!

We had a beautiful sunny day today, with a high around 68. Very windy but still felt wonderful! After naps this afternoon, we played out in the yard for a long while and then took a walk to the neighborhood playground. We all needed the energy release!

griffin and his "walking stick"

get a glimpse of all those teeth!

avery brooke

pushing his dump truck

doing her "tricks"

my little monkeys

headed off to the playground