Sleeping Beauty

 

 

Happy Easter

What a wonderful Easter weekend we had filled with family, love, and an incredible church service! We are beyond blessed and I am so thankful for this special holiday. Thank you Lord for your unimaginable sacrifice so that we could have everlasting life! This is a sacrifice my human brain will never be able to fully understand, but will forever be grateful.

As the boys have been shouting for two weeks now, "Hosana! Hosana! He's alive!" Amen. He is alive so that we may live again too!

Easter Eve at Nenny and Papa Donnie's house:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Easter at church, Grandpa and Grandma Karen's house, and Paka and Zsu Zsu's house:

 

 

 

Disney on Ice

Oh my goodness!! We have always wanted to take you boys to some sort of kids' show, but never had. Well, Friday we did!

Disney on Ice was in town, so we were off to see Mickey, Minnie, and gang. We didn't tell you where we were going, just that we were off to a "surprise." The whole way there you asked and searched for the surprise.

Even once we arrived, we didn't tell you what you'd be seeing. Your sweet faces just lit up when Mickey and Minnie came skating out, which was absolutely magical for me and your Daddy. It was such a fun night for us all - even you Charleigh! You were a champ and slept through the whole show, Sister!

 

 

Easter Festivites

One of my favorite things about holidays with kids are the activities we do leading up to the actual holiday. It has definitely been an adjustment adding a third into the mix, but Charleigh you are such a great baby that it still hasn't been too difficult!

Prior to Easter we made paper Eggs using shaving cream and paint, learned about the story of Easter, and of course dyed Easter eggs (which mommy, unknowingly, picked out the most complex box of dye imaginable!).

One of my favorite days and activities - had some special one-on-one time with all three kiddos to make the shaving cream eggs:

 

 

  

The Easter story: 

 

Dying Easter eggs:

 

 

One Month

How can it be that you've been with us an entire month already?! Time is just flying by and we are trying to soak up every little moment.

• You are growing so quickly, weighing 10 pounds and 3 ounces and 22.5 inches long. You still fit into your newborn clothes, but you can also get away with wearing some 0-3 month sized clothing and a few 3 month sized outfits (with plenty of room to grow too).  
• You a such a great baby so far and we are all so smitten by you. From nearly the moment you were born, you've been a professional eater! You have had no problems nursing which has been such an answered prayer. I love being able to nurse, but it definitely isn't easy and takes serious commitment. So when it is easy for the baby to nurse, it makes it that much easier for momma not to want to give up. We aren't on any kind of schedule yet, since you're still so young, and basically nurse on demand, but there are some patterns in your feeding schedule. In the morning, you typically eat every 2.5 to 3 hours. In the early evenings, typically between 5:00 and 9:00, you seem to do more cluster feedings, eating every hour (which I'm definitely okay with because this seems to set you up for longer stretches of sleep at night).
• On top of being such a great eater, you also love your sleep and will sleep just about anywhere. You take at least one nap a day snuggled up on my chest (because I learned with your brothers, that that won't last forever at all - so I take all the sleepy snuggles I can get!) and typically one nap on your daddy after work. You've had some pretty long stretches of sleep through the night too! You've had three nights where you've slept five hours in a row and two nights of six hour stretches!
• You are a very content, easy going baby. As of now, you don't do much crying, unless you're hungry or need a diaper change. I love your "hungry cry." It starts out as a little sniff and grunt, lip curled up as you search for food, and one eye winking at us.
• You adore your brothers already, and they you. As soon as they start talking to you, your find their face and watch them so intently. They love to sing to you, hold you, and help you with tummy time.
• You have begun to make a few coo-ing sounds and maybe even given us a couple "social" smiles (not just baby reflex smiles). You are a strong little one, and do great with tummy time. 

Not only did you turn one month today, it was also your first day at church! Your brothers have been going to church with Tse Tse and were excited to finally have the whole family back in church. You did great and slept most of the time, waking just for a few minutes for a quick snack.

We are so thankful for you Charleigh Jo and love watching you grow already. You are such a sweet, little, love bug! And as we sing to you all the time, Charleigh Jo...we love you so!

 

Flying Solo

Well, today was the day. It was three against one. The moment of truth. How would I fair doing this mommy of three thing by myself?

It was definitely baptism by fire today. Last night, Charleigh, was your worst night to date (still not bad - as of now, you are a dream baby!). From two to six, you were up every hour, on the hour, to feed. So, while I desperately wanted to go back to bed at 6:30 after nursing you, two little boys were already awake...15 minutes before the clock turns green.

So, still half asleep, it was time to start our day! Charleigh, you typically go back to bed from 6-9, but again...not today! So, the four of us had breakfast together and began to get ready for school. Even though our day started earlier than anticipated, we all recovered nicely and had a calm and peaceful morning. Our goal: be in the car by 8:30. I must say, I was very proud that we were pulling out of the driveway, all dressed and looking fairly presentable, by 8:29.

Test number two: could I handle the preschool drop-off with three kiddos and just two arms? I hope it wasn't a fluke, but again, things went pretty smoothly.

It's amazing how quickly three hours can go, and before we knew it, Charleigh and I were headed back to school to pick you boys up. A little more challenging than drop-off, but still a success.

After lunch, it was the moment I had been dreading all day. We were going to attempt naptime yet again (not sure if you've really napped in your beds since Charleigh was born! I hope this is another naptime strike and not the end of naptimes completely yet). This weekend, Pinterest suggested an article on how to successfully get your kids to stay in bed  (side note: how does Pinterest know me so well?! I have never searched for any articles on this topic...little bit creepy). But we were desperate; so we took the Super Nanny's advice (per this article) and have implemented a new bedtime routine. Shockingly, it is working...slowly, but surely. Today was our first chance to try it at naptime. After 49 minutes (an hour was my cutoff), I had two sleeping boys and didn't have to raise my voice once. Thank you, Lord!!

It was just what I needed after a fairly sleepless night. I was so excited to plop onto the couch and snooze right along with you kiddos. However, you had other plans, Ms. Charleigh Jo. You were wide awake and ready to interact. So while I desperately needed the sleep, I was happy to welcome some one-on-one time with you.

 

 

 

After naptime, it was outside for some vitamin D and playtime!

By the time Daddy got home, we were all a little exhausted. So, it was dinner, time to read some books (sorry Charleigh, you just couldn't hang with your brothers for story-time tonight - and finally crashed after fighting your naps most of the afternoon), and bedtime (which included a surprise: new PJ mask jammies, which were quite the hit!). After an hour of fighting it, you boys finally fell asleep.

 

Shew. We did it. We may be a little tired and a tad cranky, but we did it! All-in-all, it was actually a really fun day. We had our moments of stress, but it was a good first day flying solo.

 

Hello Spring

Today was Daddy's last day at home before returning to work (we were so lucky to have him home for over a week!) and the first day of spring. After a lazy morning, we decided to all take a drive to get out of the house (even if it meant the four of us just stayed in the car) so he could get fitted for his tux for Uncle Kye and Aunt Yaya's wedding. After a quick fitting, we decided to make a little pit stop...we were just five minutes from the zoo and thought it would be a nice surprise for you two boys.

While the forecast called for the 70s, it definitely wasn't there yet around noon. So it was a very quick trip! A spin around the zoo on the train, a ride on the merry-go-round, and then back home it was. Though quick, the fresh air felt great and was much needed for us all.

 

After a family snuggle / rest session (since you are still boycotting naps!), the sun came out and temperature finally did rise. So, what better way to welcome in the first day of spring, with a trip to "our" park. You boys got to run around and burn some energy, while you kept close watch over them Charleigh Jo.

Sometimes the best days are those that are unplanned and just happen as you go. We enjoyed a lot of family time today and really soaked up our final day with Daddy. He has been so helpful the past week and a half. It is going to be quite the adjustment saying goodbye to him tomorrow morning as he heads to work. You three are so lucky to have a daddy that works so hard for you, both at his job and when he is home. So while we are thankful for his job and the fact that he provides for us all so that I can stay home with you three; we sure are going to miss him!