Wiley Family Vacay: Day 1

Well, here we are, just a few weeks later and it's time to load up the car again - this time for vacation with the Wiley family. Nearly the same game plan and route down, we pulled out of the driveway at 3 AM and headed south for Gulf Shores.

While you guys did pretty good on our first drive south, we definitely tried to push it too much, paying for it in the final hour and a half of the drive. So this time, we decided to take our time, giving you plenty of stretch breaks - and it paid off! We stopped to see the rocket ship we missed last time (Wiley: "This is not a real rocket ship that's gonna blast off, this just a decoration rocket ship, Ryan!"), plus two more stops with playplaces so you could run around. Char, you did awesome too! You had an upset stomach in the morning, so by 10 AM, you were in your third outfit, but other than that, you were a trooper with very little fussing.

Once in town, we enjoyed a laid back night on the beach. After a long day and being awake for 20 hours, we all crashed hard and fast.

Yay for a great first day and happy little boys with very little, if any, meltdowns!

3 Months

How, oh how, is it three months already?

• You now weigh 13 pounds and 3 ounces. You are wearing 3, 3-6, and some 6 month sized clothing, as well as size 2 diapers already. 
• You are officially and consistently sleeping through the night already. You go down each night somewhere between 8:30 and 10:30, depending on the day and you wake up somewhere between 6 AM and 7:30 AM. After a quick morning feed, you go right back to bed for your best nap of the day. You usually don't wake up and start your day until somewhere between 10 AM and 11 AM. After some breakfast and playtime with your brothers, it's down for another nap (usually starting somewhere between 11:30 and 12:30). After another afternoon feed, you'll take another nap somewhere around 2:30 and 3:30, typically lasting another hour and half to two hours. You may catch another catnap or two between five and bedtime, depending on what the days holds. You are amazingly flexible though and adapt well to our busy schedules!
• You continue to love tummy time and are starting to rock just a little bit when on your stomach. Slow down, Sister, we aren't ready for any kind of mobility yet!
• You have begun batting and reaching for toys this month too. 
• Your legs are constantly a kicking and a moving. That combination, with your love for bath time, makes for a fun, splash-filled time!
• You have been teething most of this month, and while none have broken through yet, you are a drooling mess! You can't hold a teething ring yourself, so you have adapted and taken to chomping on your poor little tongue (and you have the bruises to prove it!). You haven't been too fussy though, just a couple nights so far where you had trouble falling asleep. 
• You are just as happy as can be -- cooing like crazy, blowing bubbles with your mouth, and smiling all the time. You especially light up for your brothers, with the most precious twinkle in your eye. This month you even gave us your first giggle!

Oh, Ms. Charleigh Jo, where is the time going? Please stop growing so quickly!

You are an absolute dream, Peanut, and you have stolen all of our hearts.

 

  

 

It Won't Be Like This For Long

Since you boys were born, we've really tried to soak up every moment and stage parenthood has thrown our way - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Recently, we've found ourselves in another trying stage. And while Daddy and I keep telling one another, "It's only a stage," and we know this to be true, it can still be trying in the middle of the storm.

You boys are trying to find your independence all while every adult around you (mainly myself and Daddy) is constantly telling you what you can and cannot do. It is a normal battle of power struggle, but still a frustrating one for each of us.

This week has been an especially difficult one; meltdowns reaching an all time high. We can rationalize each meltdown you have and understand perfectly why you are having them...but in the middle of them, it is difficult, to say the least.

A few nights ago, I was mindlessly wandering Pinterest when I came across a "suggested" article about managing meltdowns and strong-willed children (creepy! I had not searched for anything, but I was grateful it popped up). The article was about the difference between being rigid and flexible. It suggested giving the example of a popsicle stick (rigid and snaps when pushed against) vs a pipe cleaner (flexible, bends, and can return to it's original state when pushed against).

I shared the example with you boys. Together we snapped a popsicle stick and realized it hurt us when it snapped, it couldn't be put back together. We came up with examples of when we had all three been popsicle sticks and snapped. Then we saw how flexible a pipe cleaner was and thought of examples of when we'd all been flexible when things didn't go our way. I could tell you were truly getting it!

Five minutes later, Wiley you asked for chocolate milk (knowing I had just told you, no more chocolate milk, but you could now have regular milk). I reminded you of the answer and I could immediately see your body tense, your shoulders come up, and I knew a meltdown was in store. I looked at you, you sighed and relaxed your shoulders, and said, "Ok, Mommy. I have regular milk. See I a pipe cleaner!" Tears in my eyes, we celebrated this momentous breakthrough!! You had completely gotten it!

Just a few hours later, you awoke from naptime, to have probably our most difficult afternoon in a long time. How could we go from such an incredible breakthrough to such a trying afternoon? After an hour of meltdown after meltdown, Daddy was home to save the day and help calm us all down.



Today, I had to put on my educator / intervention hat and use what I know works in the classroom and pray it would work in our home too. We are all working really hard to be great listeners (on the first time!), as well as "pipe cleaner kids," as you've named it! You both worked really hard to earn pompoms for your small cups. As soon as the small cups are full (and they nearly are after just one day), you get to pick a reward from the green paper and dump your pompoms into the bigger container. Once the big container is full, we will pick an even bigger celebration from the blue paper!

 

It was so great to have a new energy in our house today. It was a more positive place again. It was a place bursting with pride (Mommy proud of her boys and two little boys proud of all the pompoms being earned). It was a place of peace, love, and laughter.

Typically Daddy does bedtime with you boys, but tonight I got to snuggle with you in bed. Bedtime can sometimes be a difficult time in our house too. But again, the peace continued tonight. I loved tickling your faces and singing to you, as I watched you drift into sleep. The final song on our lullaby playlist tonight, "It Won't Be Like This For Long."

It won't be like this for long.
One day soon that little girl is gonna be all grown up and gone.
Yeah this phase is gonna fly by;
He's trying to hold on.
It won't be like this for long.  

What a perfect reminder!! Not only will these difficult moments not be like this for long, but neither will these precious moments either. I won't always be able to snuggle you to sleep and watch you drift off. So in the midst of the madness, we are still soaking up the joy and small quiet moments too. Soon you three will all be grown (it sounds silly when you're only three years old and three months old, but I know it's going to be just a blink!) and this will all be a distant memory. So we soak it up!

Parenting is hard.
Parenting is messy.
There is no one size fits all answers for the challenges thrown our way.

But there is one thing that is always there and that is our love for you. Your Daddy and I love you all fiercely and just want to do what is best for you. Even in the middle of this difficult week, there have been moments where we wanted to scream, and one of us would look at the other and point out how completely pure and innocent you boys are. We are far from perfect and have absolutely made countless mistakes as parents, but we hope you three never doubt our love for you. You make us so very proud. Sometimes I just watch you play and can't help but tear up knowing we made something so precious. You are so loved little ones. In the good. In the bad. In the great moments and in the small ones. We love you. 

3.5 Years Old

1,460 days ago my life forever changed with one simple word, "Pregnant." I can't believe it was four years ago today that our prayers were answered and it was finally confirmed that we were pregnant. Even more unbelievable is that you sweet boys have been in our lives for three and a half years now! It has been a wild ride, but I wouldn't change it for the world!

So, as it goes...here is your update:

Wiley

• You now weigh 33 pounds and are 39 inches tall.
• You are such a little thinker. We can stop and watch you for any amount of time and practically see the wheels turning in your head. You are constantly asking, "Why?" When we have to say, "I don't know," your response is always the same, "No say, 'I don't know, Mom.' You say why!" You need to know and need to make sense of the workings of the world around you. I absolutely love this trait about you...even if I don't always have all the answers! I can't wait to see what you grow up to be because I'm sure this characteristic will play a role in that!
• Over the past couple of months, your love for music has really taken off. It used to be that music was just a Ryan thing, but you are giving him a run for his money with your new found appreciation of music. Your dance moves are out of this world and you sing all day. Your current favorite songs are: (Jesus) Something About That Name, Jesus Loves Me, Shout Hosana, So Long - Farewell, Heigh-Ho (Snow White), and anything from Moana. 
• You are our Chatty Cathy and don't seem to really ever stop talking! Whether it's playing make believe (which I could listen to all day - it's adorable!); talking to your brother, Daddy, or me; or just talking to yourself about anything at all, you are always talking!
• You are very strong-willed and opinionated - another trait that will serve you well in the future, but can be trying in the toddler years. You know what you want and if you don't get it, meltdowns can definitely happen. As you continue to grow though the meltdowns are lessening, especially as you're learning to communicate what you want better. We can say, "Wiley, talk to us like a big boy," and most of the time you can turn the meltdown off and talk to us calmly (not always the case when exhaustion is a factor in the equation!). 
• The level of empathy you already have at such a young age is astounding to me. You are so thoughtful, caring, and aware of others. We joked when you were an infant that you were such a sensitive, old soul and that has stayed true. When a teacher would be out at school or a friend absent, you would remember and the next time they returned, always asked if they were better. When you see someone is hurt - even if you don't know them - you are one of the first to check to see if they are okay. 
• You keep us on our toes, Mr. Wiley and we absolutely adore your high-energy, curious little spirit!

Ryan

• You now weigh 29 pounds and are 36 inches tall.
• You still have such a love for music. A good beat comes on and you can't help but to start dancing and singing along. You adore the Moana soundtrack and are always singing your songs from preschool. 
• You are our Cuddle Bug. While you have more than enough energy to keep you going throughout the day, it's as if every now and then you need to stop and snuggle up just for a moment to refuel. Thumb in your mouth, you 'll sit down with one of us, grab our thumb too to tickle it and then off you go ready to play again. My favorite is when, out of nowhere, you'll come get me and ask, "Mom? You want to snuggle up wit me?" How can anyone turn that down?! I know the days are probably starting to wind down when you're the one initiating the snuggling, so as long as you're asking, I will always have time to snuggle up with you, no matter what I was doing! 
• You have turned into a bit of a sass-a-frass in the last few months. We used to call you our rule follower, but lately you are beginning to test the limits and establish your own independence. And while your daddy and I are well aware that this is an important part of your development, it still tests our patience. 
• We used to joke, even back in the NICU days, that you had a flare for the dramatics and were going to be on the stage one day. Well, sure enough, you still seem to fit that profile. You are our comedian and entertainer. You know how to get a laugh out of us and you play it up to get those giggles. The silly voices you do, the make believe, and your hysterical facial expressions - you still might have a place on the stage one day, Ry!
• You are quick to share and are always thinking about others. I can't give you anything (toy, snack, drink, etc.) without you saying, "What about Wy?" or "Wy get one too?" If Wiley wants something you have, you are usually quick to give in and share with him. 
• You keep us giggling, little guy, and we adore the constant cuddles and thumb tickles!

I still can't believe my babies are three and a half already. "The days may be long, but the years are short," is something I tell myself on a daily basis. I have loved the three year old stage, but with any stage there are challenges and you boys can wear me out sometimes. But...in a blink I know I am going to wake up and you all will be off and living on your own. So, we will soak up these challenging days, we will soak up these fabulous days, and we will celebrate each new stage life brings us! Happy half birthday, Munchkins! 

Family Vacay: Day 5

Today we headed back home, but not before one last dip in the pool and a quick stop at the park. Our nearly ten hour drive turned into a twelve hour drive with a few meltdowns along the way, but we made it! 

What a great, spontaneous vacation we had. As to be expected, a few small bumps along the way, but all in all, it was such a sweet week for our family. It was so nice to spend time with Uncle Daniel, Aunt Liz, Grace, and Emmie, as well as some time just the four of us. I went into this week hesitantly, nervous to take three kids to the beach, but it was well worth it! 

Family Vacay: Day 4

Wiley, you are a trooper! Minus a froggy voice, you never would've known you were sick. You woke up happy and ready to go today. Uncle Daniel and the family were headed home today, so we decided to go out for breakfast - a yummy donut truck and cute coffee shop, one beach down from us. 

Once home, we hung out while they packed up. After our goodbyes, the five of us headed to the pool for a quick swim before naptime. After naps, we went back to the pool where we had the place nearly to ourselves. You boys enjoyed lots of jumping in and holding your breath contests. Charleigh you got back in too - you were so comfortable in the pool, you caught a catnap on Daddy. 

We then hurried home for a quick dinner so that we could walk the beach on sunset one more time. This was probably my favorite hour of the trip. To watch you three boys running and giggling down the beach, while wearing you, Charleigh, on my chest, with the sunsetting in front of us, it was just such a peaceful moment. I'm still so amazed that you three are mine and this is our life!

Family Vacay: Day 3

I woke up this morning, hoping you boys would want to head back out for our morning bike ride. Instead, we woke up to you, Wiley, with a fever of 102.5. You were simply pathetic, crying nonstop, almost unconsolable, and wanting to just be carried around. We got you to take some Tylenol, drink some Gatorade, and munch on some popsicles before snuggling back in bed together. You asked to do some puzzles on my iPad....only to realize you didn't even have energy to do the puzzles yourself - you just wanted to watch me do puzzles. That didn't last long though and probably five minutes later, you were snoozing on me. 

Wanting to play it safe, we decided to take you to an immediate care center and I'm glad we did....you had been hit with strep! 

You were in high spirits though and after lunch, we headed to the pool for just an hour or so before going back home for a family snooze. After naps, we all headed out for a walk around the town center, a yummy dinner, and tasty ice cream.