Different Experience All Together

Gracy is 4 months old! The doctor told us to go ahead and start baby food. So we brought out the camera and the video camera. That was about the only similarity to the first time Lauren Kate and Gibson had their food. Next came the noise and interfering and opinions from the siblings. Not to mention that they were practically IN the high chair with her.

People say, I am not sure why they are so different when "we raised them the same". There is nothing further from the truth! Although we still teach the same principles, kiss and cuddle, take the pictures etc., Gracy is growing up in a totally different atmosphere than her siblings. For example, as an infant Lauren Kate watched Baby Einstein, Gibson watched Barney (because of Lauren), and Gracy watches Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

I trust that the Lord has a great plan for all of their lives and He knows the exact birth order of our children, correlating to their perfect personalities. I trust that He had a reason for putting our boy between two girls. Is this a good time to mention that Gibson told his preschool teacher at church on Sunday that he had a baby brother? When she asked him his name, Gibson replied, "Spider man"!

Picnic In Our Backyard

We don't have a backyard in our home, but we do make the best of it. A few days ago we had a McDonalds picnic on the porch and today they played in the garage. We have to pull the car out to make room. It is just a constant reminder that they do not know any different. They had a blast. When we moved here, Lauren Kate was not even two and Gibson was 4 months old. Gracy is officially a city girl by birth. I do take them to parks nearby at least 3 times a week, so don't shed a tear for them. Shed it for me... ha.

Bad Dream

Last night I had a dream that Larry loaded Lauren Kate and Gibson into the Camry and then we got onto Marta to go where we needed to go. He thought I was going to drive them home and I thought he was going to drive them home. Somehow in our selfishness to do something alone together, we forgot about the kids! Gracy seemed to be missing from this dream. I was trying to call the preschool (where we left them in the parking lot), when it hit me that they just might die from the heat if I can't get to them. I started panicking and desperately trying to call. My new touch screen phone was not cooperating. I woke up sweating and almost crying and quickly went to check on my kids.

As I was thinking about my dream today, I realized that it is linked to our upcoming cruise to the Bahamas. I am feeling very nervous and selfish about leaving the kids behind. Especially Gracy whom I feel needs me and only me so desperately right now. She needs me to nurse, to cuddle and to comfort. So it sounds ridiculous to say that I am sacrificing to go on a cruise, but that is exactly how I feel. I know that it is vitally important that Larry and I get time away together alone, and more importantly that I give my husband priority. I don't want to lose my marriage in the process of raising kids.

So I am just going to pray. Pray that my kids will have fun with Grandma while I am gone. Pray that my mom will survive, and pray that Larry and I will have a fun relaxing time together!

Easter 2009

I did a few little things for the kiddo's for Easter. Made them Easter baskets, got them new outfits, and read them the Easter story. Not to mention that Nicole and I stuffed 250 Easter eggs for the hunt at church tomorrow. But the most fun by far was dying Easter eggs as a family. Gracy just hung out but she seemed to enjoy herself. I am so thankful that Jesus is alive and gives us something to celebrate every day!

"Don't Panic"

My dear sweet husband sent me to get my toes done for Easter. Isn't he the greatest? When I called him to tell him I was on my way home, he said.... "Don't Panic". Long pause. "I did the laundry!" Whoo Hoo Hallelujah! I was WAY behind on progressing the wash. That is another blog later. I have decided that the don't panic comment comes from the fact that Larry doing laundry is a rare and fascinating event. He needed to make it dramatic and exciting. I of course made a big deal of it and gave him much praise. After all I am very thankful. What kind of wife do you think I am?

So I am not sure of the details of how this all went down, but when it was my turn to complete the never ending chore, I opened my dryer to find BLACK CRAYONS on all of my whites! He had prior confessed to washing some clothes with the crayons, but he reassured me that he found them all and that they had not gotten on any of the clothes. Somehow one of those cheeky little boogers must have snuck into the dryer.

So next time Larry tells me he is doing laundry, I will have to remind myself....

DON'T PANIC!

The Secret Is Out

I decided that if I am going to blog, I am going to be honest. I realized today that in the real world things do not appear as they really are. For example, today at playgroup a lady said to me, "Wow, we just don't know how you do it with 3 kids. You always have it under control".

Poor, sweet, well intending lady. What she doesn't know is that BEFORE we got there, we had already had 2 timeouts, a baby "crying it out" in the crib, and of course I did not shower or bathe my kids. AT the playdate, I had 2 kids pee outside and nursed one in the car because I can not get her to easily take a bottle. On the WAY home from the playdate, one side of a carseat remained unbuckled because a certain child could not do it up and a certain mom would not climb in the back because she had to pee. HOME from the playdate, it took 3 times going into the kids room to get them to sleep in their own bed and a crying baby in a swing next to me now. I should probably be soothing her instead of typing.

Here is a picture of Gracy refusing to take a bottle.