Sweet Thing

Is there anything sweeter than a Father and his daughter? I love this picture. I know I'm a bit behind but I'm finally posting pics of Ally's blessing from October 25. It was a very busy and very good day. We had lots of family come for her big day and Brent gave her a very beautiful blessing. Perfect for a beautiful little girl.


















I wish we had a better family pic than this one, but the boys did not want to stop the backyard games for a photo session and Ally was hungry. Bad combo. I'm hoping someone in the family got a better pic than we did.
















Amid all the chaos at our house, Brent was put in charge of feeding the boys. Imagine my surprise when frosted brownies were at the top of the menu for two hungry boys still dressed in their Sunday best. I was thrilled to remove chocolate stains and lasagna sauce from their new white shirts.














Evidence of Cole's brownie-fest remain on his cheek as he gives his sister loves.














Overall, it was a great day. Thanks to all who made the effort to come.

Smile

Looking at these pictures completely changes the angle of my post today. We've had an interesting past few days full of sickness and sleeplessness. But it's not worth focusing on that when I have these little faces to remind me of why I'm doing this.
I truly have wondered lately how my mother did this. How did any of our moms do this? They must have looked at a lot of photos or just had a gift for recognizing what's really important.



For example: Is it really a life and death situation if I let Cole completely dismantle his cookie in search of M & Ms and devour the pieces off the kitchen floor?


And is it really so bad that Keith and Cole love their sister so much that they practically squeeze the life out of her?



And isn't it okay that every stick or similar item is turned into a weapon? Isn't that what boys do? (I did draw the line when the boys wanted to take the sticks to bed with them)



Yep. I'm learning to let go of a few things and only focus on what is important and necessary.








These 4 are it--the 4 reasons why I got out of bed this morning and remembered to smile.

Brotherly Love

Never before has a girl been so loved...or smothered. I pray every day that Ally makes it to tomorrow.

Luckily, I've managed to get a few pics of her while the boys are sleeping or playing...

There are so many things I would like to write, but there just isn't time right now. For the most part, things are going well. At least we are all surviving.
Sometimes I feel like Superwoman, like when I'm nursing Ally with one arm and getting the boys down from their high chairs with the other arm or when I take all 3 kids to the park and we all come back alive. Other times I feel like the Born Loser, like when my children have gone several days without a bath, or when the boys are eating M & M's for breakfast while watching a movie for the 2nd time that morning and when my house looks like home base for the Manhattan Project.
We have made a few small strides. Ally is now sleeping on her own, although it's usually in her bouncy chair or swing. Baby steps...baby steps... Or so my mantra goes.

Baby Ally

She's here!


















Little Allison Kae was born last Sunday, August 9 at exactly 1:00 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz and was 20 inches long.


Here are the proud parents before surgery. It was such a relief to have such a smooth delivery.
















So far, we've survived the first week, but only with lots of help from Grandmas, aunts and uncles.

Cole and Keith managed to set off the alarm in the elevator and 3 alarms in the recovery room, all within the first 25 minutes of being in the hospital. Needless to say, their visits were brief. I missed them like crazy and was anxious to get home, even though my activity with them is still limited.

Ally is doing really well. She's a really good eater and seems to take her brothers' endless hugs (translation: death grips), kisses (translation: maulings), and body-part-inventory (translation: poking, squeezing and naming all her facial features) in stride. All I can say is that she is going to be one tough chick. She has no option. It's a matter of survival.

My only struggle is that she won't sleep alone. Brent doesn't mind at all. He sleeps with her at night and even for naps when he is home. I just hope she doesn't get a lopsided head like Cole did when Brent slept with him for so long.

Ma'm-hood

It's happened. I've officially become a "Ma'm". I don't really know when, how or why this happened, but it cuts like a dull butcher knife. The worst part is that it has even happened when I don't have children with me. For awhile I used that as an excuse.
Do pregnant woman automatically warrant a "Ma'm" label? What has triggered the "Ma'm" label spewing forth from the Rite Aid cashier, the Albertson's bag boy and the Drive-thru chick? I don't feel any different than I did 3 years ago. I don't think I look that different (well, okay, with the exception of my current pregnant silhouette).
When does one become a "Ma'm" anyway and more importantly, how do I reverse it? Am I in denial of the fact that somewhere along the road I've crossed the line into full blown Ma'm-hood?

Well the good news in this quagmire of self-pity is that I certainly cannot deny the fact that I have two adorable little boys and an equally precious little girl on the way. I guess if that's the price I must pay into Ma'm-hood (aka Outer Darkness), than I have to say that it's worth it.