Around the House

I followed the kids around one morning, shooting our everyday-ness. Lest you think everything is rainbows and unicorns around here from the previous posts I should have included pictures of tantrums and meltdowns and a grumpy impatient mom when the whining pushes me over the top, because that is also our reality. But for now let's just focus on the positive, I need that. Pictures and commentary...

Gah! Don't you love him? I do! I love his sweet eyes and long lashes that are growing everyday. Poor baby got a goopy, weepy eye Wednesday that sealed itself shut with every sleep, thanks to booger kisses from Kate. It started in the left eye and now has moved to the right. We have eye drops to get his eyes all sparkly again.

Someone is getting rubberband wrists! Yum. We went to the doctor this week for his eye and the boy has gained another 12 ounces. Seriously. Officically 12 pounds 4 ounces. I went on the mini-pill this month and was a wee bit (read: a lot!) worried that my milk supply would be affected even though it is not supposed to change anything. Clearly my milk and Rhett are doing juuuust fine.

Kate loves to sit in baskets, anything cozy and confined really. Shoe boxes, toy totes. Everything gets dumped  out so she and her beloveds can nest. The more the merrier.

Kate now says "I love you". It is the sweetest and I need to capture it on video. She only does it in a whisper-y voice and you need to say it first. Phil discovered it first when he was tucking her in at night. He takes her little face in his hands, brushes her hair back and whispers "I love you" and she says it right back, often putting her hand on his chin as she does it. We both die from the sweetness and have to say it at least five times just to hear it return the sentiment. And because we really do love her at least that much. 

The last three images were all shot in sequence. So many faces and emotions! Love this boy. He is so observant and helpful. He surprises me all the time with what he understands. Examples: I was folding a blanket and he went straight to the correct drawer and opened it for me so I could put it away. He muscled the vacuum that was sitting in the hall into it's proper position in the hall closet and shut the door, clapped his hands and said "good job!".

He throws my discipline right back at me and I regularly see my "mean mom" self through him. When he is doing something wrong and I tell him no, he tells me no right back and claps his hands once. Not in a defiant way but telling me that he already knows it is wrong. (I usually clap my hands once to get their attention and say "no!"). Sigh. It is humbling to be a parent. And I usually need it, thank you Max.

Max has worn the pictured shirt several days in a row. I tried another shirt and he cried and cried until I let him change. I offered other shirts since he had just worn the brown one and nothing would do but this one.

If anything ever happens to their blankies or bears we are toast. Massive meltdowns and hysteria will ensue. I love that they love them.

The past week has been nice and relatively smooth. Phil has returned to school, I have been organized and the house has remained tidy. My meals are planned through the end of the month and that alone smooths the way. I haven't been brave enough to take all three kids on a retail errand(s). Multiple stores mean multiple unloading/loading, not sure it is worth all the hassle. Now I just need to figure out how to carve a good solid hour of "me" time to exercise and get ready all the way each day. So far it has been elusive; when Max and Kate nap Rhett will be awake. I am too tired to get up early and Rhett has claimed the early hours of the morning already. By the end of the night I am wasted and it doesn't get done. It has to happen in the morning or not at all. And not at all is winning. Phooey.