3 kids, 3 things

How did this happen?  She started with her head in the center of the blanket and her feet near the RIGHT side of the picture frame.

*In no particular order:

1.  Gemma is a wiggler.  A wiggly, wriggly wiggler.  On Wednesday,  I left her on her blanket with some toys to look at while I fed kids and then chased them into clothes.  Gemma was very content for awhile and then started to complain (note: this wasn't crying.  She would squawk and then settle down.  A few moments later she would squawk again.)  I ran around and finished the critical tasks before going to rescue Gemma, taking possibly 3-4 more minutes.  When I came to get her, I found that she had scooted across the floor on her back 2+ feet.  She might have gone further, except her head was pressed up against the coffee table and probably why she was complaining.

2.  Amelia is finally potty trained during the day (also: HOORAY!) and she has been somewhat consistent with staying dry all night.  This means we are still using diapers at night until we are confident we won't wake up to a pile of wet laundry.  This is also new enough that we haven't set up the routine each night to make sure she goes potty right before bed.  We're working on it.

So, when she wandered into my room yesterday morning while I was feeding the baby, I didn't drop everything. Roughly fifteen minutes later, I chased Amelia into the bathroom and discovered.....we forgot to put a diaper on her at bedtime last night, my heart sank.  Luckily, she was dry.  Unluckily, she knows that she didn't wear a diaper last night and it might be a battle to get her in one tonight...wish us luck!

3.  We were driving to swimming lessons on Wednesday morning and William was reading the street signs to me.  We passed Oak Street, Elm Street, etc, etc.  We turned onto Main Street, which gave us the opportunity to discuss the definition of intersections and why streets go where they do. William announced the last street before the pool "Chestnut Doctor".

I was first reaction was to be impressed that he correctly read and pronounced Chestnut as I am certain this was an unknown word for him and the sign was only visible for a brief moment.  Without thinking, I automatically corrected him and the following conversation took place:

Me: That sign said "Chestnut Drive". 

William: No.  It didn't. It said Chestnut Doctor.  Dr. is a nickname for someone who is a doctor.  That sign said Chestnut D-R.  That means Chestnut Doctor.

Me:(...thinking...impressed by the logic......)

William: Right, mom?

Me: Weeellllll...See, sometimes things can have more that one meaning.  Dr can mean "doctor" or "drive" depending on the situation they are in.  If I see Dr. on a sign, I know it means drive.  If I see Dr. 

William: That is silly.  They should just use one nickname for one thing.  Why don't they do that?

Me: Hey look!  We're at the pool! (Or: I don't have a good answer, do you?)

*I started this post on Wednesday and when I went to finish it Thursday morning, it was gone :(  How frustrating to have to go back and retype everything.

A bonus picture of our smiling girl!  There are four people who live at this house that will now do utterly ridiculous things in order to see this gummy grin!

3 things, 3 kids

Sent from my iPhone

Shopping With Amelia

Uh oh!  Grandpa is alone with Amelia in the store....and our girl LOVES to shop for pretty things!  She tries to sweet talk poor Grandpa into a number of different things.

Things to listen for:
Amelia knows her size (fours and threes) - the way she says '4' is so cute!

Grandpa saying "Oh Golly"- nothing makes me giggle like my dad saying "golly"

At the very end:
G:  "I think I hear your mama calling"
A: "Oh no, not again!"

And my girl knows her mama wasn't going to go for any of the huge pile of clothing she had picked out.  That brings a smile to my face too!

William hits a home run!

Here is William hitting a home run during his Tball game several weeks ago.  Usually each batter advances one base after they hit the ball - because William was the last hitter in the line up, he got a home run every time at bat!

5 weeks!

Gemma is 5 weeks old today! I'm making it my goal to do the weekly picture for at least the first 12 weeks. We'll see if I can stick to it!

Gemma is starting to be so much fun! She is a wiggler and has started moving around, pivoting on her belly. She has no idea she is doing it, but she wiggles and wiggles until she has made her way to a new spot. She makes her move on both her front and on her back!

Gemma enjoys and occasionally tolerates tummy time. She pushes up on her arms and looks around. She loves to have company talking to her and tracks pretty well with her eyes, although they still cross sometimes!

Gemma is working hard at vocalizing. Her arms and legs will go and go and go. Suddenly everything else will stop moving and she'll push her tongue in and out several times before saying "goo". Or "gah!". It takes a LOT of effort on her part, but it is very cute!

The sleep continues to be hit or miss. Some nights she'll go 5-6 hours at a stretch and then the next she won't go more than 3. I'm ready for a little more sleep!

We did a cloth diaper trial this week an Gemma is still a little small for our diapers- which resulted in a mess. This means she is still in size 1 diapers. She is also wearing size 0-3 - but I've already had to put away a few of the outfits that were on the smaller size.

Amelia and William continue to find Gemma adorable and wonderful. Even when she is crying- they are so sweet with her. They pat her, sing to her, shush her, and delight in everything she does. They have been remarkably understanding and patient with Gemma and me! I just wish they'd use a little of that goodwill towards each other lately!

Helpful hubby

I have a helpful hubby- I'm a lucky girl!

Don't get me wrong, he makes me crazy on a regular basis. But, he has taken on most of the meal prep and bedtime routine for the bigger kids without complaint. This is the hardest time of day fir our family. Everyone is tired and less patient. The home stretch between 6pm and 8pm can be rough. His non existent free time has dwindled to using the restroom by himself and whatever quiet he can get at work. When he is home, he is a daddy on duty.

For a change of pace, I offered to bathe the big kids so he could have some baby time. He broke out our friend Mr Bjorne (name brand of carrier) and vacuumed. Can't be that, can you?

Swim time!

We are doing swimming lessons this week! What a great way to beat the heat every day! Except poor Gemma and Mama who just have to watch...