#survivaltips

Here's another post on how we get things done around here.  Just to clarify, this is not parenting advice...just tips on how we make it through the day with 3 small kiddos.  Some day I'll look back at these posts and laugh at the fact that just walking across the street was a difficult feat.  You can find my first #survivaltips post here (on how to cook a meal with no boiling water, no knives, no handwashing while wearing a baby in an ergo...fun times).  Today's topic is, as mentioned above, crossing the street.  Or the parking lot.  Really, just getting in and out of places in general.  I know this seems trivial, but the most stressful part of my day is often getting in and out of the car and in and out of school/church/stores, etc.  Here are some things that make the process smoother for me:

1. Giving the kids specific directions before we get out of the car always makes things go better.   For example, if we are just running into target to grab toilet paper, this needs to be explained before we walk past the princess toys and the legos or there will be a melt down.

2. Giving them something to do works better than telling them not to run out or to wait for me.  Everyday while I get E out of her car seat, I tell the other two, "Backs to the wheel".  This means for them to turn around with their backs touching the car.  It helps them focus on something instead of thinking about how much they want to run away.  I may or may not have a "backs to the wheel" song to the tune of "everybody move to the back of the bus".  Outkast.  I'm cool like that.

3. Practicing when I know it's not dangerous also helps.  If I absolutely know there are no cars in the parking lot and no cars coming, I will let them practice crossing the road and walking without holding hands.  This is mostly for H right now because W doesn't usually hold my hand in the school or church parking lot (because I only have 2 hands). If we go to a store with a busy parking lot, I try to get a cart before I get them out of the car or have W hold H's other hand.

4.  Sometimes getting everyone in their carseat is just a free for all.  Teaching them to buckle their top buckles has helped, but one of them will still often hop in the front or lie in the floor board...it's definitely a work in progress, especially when it's 5:00 and everyone's hungry and tired, including me.  The concept that hurrying into the carseats will make supper come faster has not sunk in yet.

All these little things remind me of how far they have come.  Even tackling these little obstacles is a victory, but sometimes it's hard to remember to celebrate one child learning to buckle a seat belt when another is currently beeping the horn or eating cheerios out of the depths of the carseat.  I'm trying to notice when they get better at things and encourage them in even these little victories.

more reading and watching

Here are a few things I've been reading lately:

A Christian commentary on "The Overprotected Kid"

TIHIF (every Friday)...you're welcome.

Love this series by Andrew Peterson!! The fourth book should come out sometime this year (I think?), so now would be a good time to read the first 3! HJ just finished reading the first one to W, and he loved it.  He keeps making comments about Fangs and Janner like everyone knows who they are.  And, if you haven't ever listened to Andrew Peterson's music, it is wonderful.  You will listen the first time through and think, hmmm, that was good.  Then, you will listen again and really hear the words and think, wow, that's really good.  And, each time you listen you'll catch another reference to a book or scripture until you are just amazed by his writing.

Stop it!


Happy weekend!

another birthday

 This girl also had a recent birthday.  Can you believe she is one?  This year has flown, but it has been a good one.  E is such a sweet girl.  Since becoming mobile, she is into everything.  She just started walking this past week.  She is especially fond of breaking into the pantry and finding food, trying to eat her siblings' markers, and splashing in the toilet.  In other words, she keeps me on my toes.  

Here comes my documentation so I won't forget these things.  Feel free to skip to the pictures:

She is saying mama, dada, haza (hazel), "eat it" (to all foods), that, bye-bye, and I feel like a few more that I can't think of right now. She waves and gives the sweetest kisses ("mmmmm-ma").  She sleeps like a champ (like she has since she was five weeks old) and eats more than W and H combined.  She is such a happy, busy little lady.  She is starting to play more with the big kids, or at least she tries to be in their business all the time.  We are so thankful she is a part of our family!  We love you, sweet girl!

tgif

a few things I've read and watched this week:

beautiful video on foster care...
ReMoved from HESCHLE on Vimeo.


#lololololol...





thought provoking article on childhood play (definitely not from a christian perspective, but still interesting)...
The Overprotected Kid

Have a great weekend!

two months later...

I got a little behind on posting for W's birthday, but here we go.  W turned FIVE in January.  I can't believe it.  The past five years have flown by.  Our little family has grown and changed so much, and so have we as parents!  More on than below, but first a little about the birthday boy.

This year has been a big one for him.  He has really become so independent (which gives me hope that we won't always be in the toddler stage).  He loves to listen to chapter books, draw characters to cut out and play with, build with legos, and dress up.  He is a serious guy and asks about a thousand questions a day.  He has a true sense of fairness and compassion for people that we are starting to see.  I know God will use him in big ways!  He loves his sisters fiercely, and he and H are the best of buddies (which is great except when we are trying to get them to go to sleep in the same room #impossible).

Getting his clues for his scavenger hunt on his birthday...it lead to his new lego table (which was previously his train table).  He loves all scavenger hunts, maps, adventures, etc.

Realistic view of what your birthday party looks like when you're the oldest of 6 cousins

Blowing out the candles of our cake (I had a birthday, too, but I won't mention my age).

Attempted family shot...no kids looking at the camera.  Nice job.

Birthday morning...a little help from baby sis

I think each time your oldest has a birthday, it makes you look back over however many years you have been a parent.  I can't believe I have been a mom for five years, and I also can't remember a time when I didn't have all these littles running around.  Parenthood can be tough, but it is also so wonderful.  If I have learned/am learning anything over the last five years, it is not to judge.  Having three kids is teaching me that every kid at every stage is so different.  What was difficult with one may be a breeze with another.  One may sleep through the night/nurse/potty train/give up the paci/obey/share so easily, so you think it was you that did it so successfully, and then you try the same thing on the next child and fail.  There are so many times that I wish I had encouraged a new mom, instead of just advising.  We are all trying hard, and my kids are teaching me so much about grace toward others and myself.

For the last five years, I've been stumbling through and learning to be a parent.  But you know what?  W loves me unconditionally.  He extends forgiveness every time I mess up.  When I lose my temper, when I'm impatient, when I am tired of answering five-year-old questions, he loves me.  God is teaching me about grace through his sweet five-year-old heart.  I want to love as freely as him.

Happy Birthday, to the one who made me a mama!  You are so very loved!

part time

I'm thankful to be home with these girls a lot more now that I'm working part time.  W is in JK, so he goes to school even when I'm off.  It is definitely an adjustment, and some days I feel like I'm trying to work 2 full time jobs instead of being part time.  It is such a different pace after being in such a goal-oriented situation (med school and residency) for so long.  It is hard for me to not measure the success of each day by what I accomplished.  It is hard for me when the house is messier and there's more laundry at the end of each day than when I started, but I am praying that God is accomplishing his work in these little hearts (and mine as well).  

princess dominos: 

feeding her babe while I feed mine (please ignore the mess:)

baby e...turning one next month!

Happy Friday!

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

#survivaltips

I was thinking that if I do keep blogging, I want to add in a few things that help us get through the week.  I'm sure this never happens to anyone else, but there are days when it is nearing six o'clock, there are multiple bigger children whining and a baby crying, and something has to be done about dinner.  Before kids, I either cooked or we went out.  We didn't really eat dinners at home that weren't "cooked".  Now, sometimes I have to throw something together that previously wouldn't qualify as a home cooked meal, and that is ok.  You have do to what you can to do to survive some days.

So, here is a meal you can make in ten minutes even if you have a baby in an ergo (no boiling or draining water, no dishes to hand wash, no opening the oven).  Boom.  Amazing...and the kids will love it.

Microwave (Kraft) Mac and Cheese:

-put the pasta in a microwave safe bowl (pyrex)

-barely cover the pasta with water

-put four slices of butter on top of pasta

-microwave on high for 6 minutes

-add the cheese and a little milk (I don't measure)

-stir

While the M&C is cooking, I cut up whatever fruit we have in the frig and put it on plates.  If we're out, applesauce or mandarin oranges.  If we're out of that, sorry kids, we'll be healthy another day.  Then, I put hot dogs in buns and roll them each in a paper towel.  Microwave on high for 20 sec per hotdog.  I try to get the whole wheat buns and pasta to be a little healthier. Sometimes.  Also, my biggest OCD tendency is that I am terrified of choking, so I cut all the kids hot dogs up.  I even still cut W's in half lengthwise.  HJ thinks I'm nuts, but oh well.

here we go...

I'm not sure if there's anyone out there who will read this, but here we go.  2013 was a wild year, and I fell off the blogging wagon.  I keep going back and forth about continuing this blog or not.  I like looking back and seeing how things have changed and remembering things that would otherwise be forgotten.  So, I'm just going to try it out again and see how it goes.

Last year, I turned 30.  We had baby number three, I finished residency, studied for boards and took them (and passed, hallelujah!), HJ started a new job (same company), and I started a new job.  It was insane.  We are insane.  But, I am looking forward to 2014 as having fewer "new's" and more "same's".  

Here are a few other recent happenings:

H turned three! I can't believe it.  She is so full of life, spunky, and independent.  She loves all things princess and ballerina, and I am getting educated on the girly side of things.  She prefers to sleep in a tutu, too.

And E is now 10 months.  You would think that a third child would bring more chaos to your life, but she has brought only more joy!  She has been the easiest, happiest baby...such a blessing in a crazy year when I needed sleep to study for boards, and God just provided more than I could ever deserve or imagine.  She tries hard to keep up with her older siblings.  She loves to eat and be in the middle of any action that is happening.

 y

 W has gotten so big lately.  He is a serious guy, just like HJ.  He loves to read chapter books, build legos, and most of all dress up.  If we are at home, he is in costume...his new favorites are Max Steel, the Flash, and Triton (Ariel's dad in the Little Mermaid).  He will be 5 this month!

That's all for now...Happy New Year to anyone reading this:)

pictures

We were so excited to have Elizabeth Wiggs take some pictures of our family and some newborn pictures of Eliza yesterday.  She always makes things go so smoothly...which is not easy when you are trying to get a four year old and a two year to look at the camera and not squish their newborn sister.  Here is the link if you want to see some of the pictures:

http://elizabethwiggsphotography.com/blog/?p=4165

eliza's birth day

Eliza Grey was born at 3:32 pm on Thursday.  She weighed in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces.  She is such a joy already!  Here is her birthday in pictures:

almost there

My inservice exam (kind of like practice board exam) was on Thursday.  I breathed a sigh of relief, and then I was ready to have the baby.  I realized that I had been telling myself for months, really since I found out that I was pregnant, that I had to make it through the inservice before I could have the baby (as if I could control it).  So, as soon as it was actually over, I just assumed I would immediately go into labor.  You would think I would have learned my lesson by baby number three.

So, I'm still pregnant.  And, I have two little people to keep me very busy in the meantime.  I keep wanting to post on our wonderful potty training success with Hazel, but then she has an accident so I have to put it off.  She has actually done very well...she hates to be dirty or wet, so that helps.  I really think the key in potty training is just to go to underwear as quickly as possible (during the day that is)...it is just really difficult to be motivated to run to the potty (for me or for her) if I know she has a pull-up on.  The bad thing about potty training girls is the public restrooms...it is so much easier with a boy.  I think we touched every surface in the Target bathroom the first time we went to the potty there.  The last 6 weeks were our first 6 weeks without someone in diapers (I'm not counting pull-ups), since William was born.  And, now we are buying size 1's again.  I didn't even bother with the newborn size diapers this time...I'm not sure how accurate the ultrasound weight estimates are, but if they are at all close this baby is going to be big.  I embarrassed to even say how big the estimate was this week, so I'll just leave it at that.

I have had these lyrics from Sandra McCracken on my mind this week as we wait for another little one.  I think I may have posted them when we were waiting for Hazel, but they are such a good reminder to me to rest in God.

I was made in a hidden place

There from your love I could not escape 

If I tried 

In wonder and in a trembling state 

We wait to meet this child 

I can not see with human eyes 

The secret plans you have devised 

My heart is full as I contemplate 

The frailty and the fullness 

Oh I marvel at Your goodness to me 

How soon the fog will lift 

We will hold her like a gift 

But for now I rest in this in-between 

And the heavy clouds of this waiting season 

Knowing that you are as close as the clothes I wear. 

These hours I will savor 

You surround me as I waiver 

Whom am I to know such favor 

I was made in a hidden place 

There from your love I could not escape If I tried

weekend nesting

I have been really wanting to re-do our bathroom for a while now.  I've been working really hard on it by pinning a bunch of things on pinterest, and then showing them to HJ and telling him how easy it would be to do all the projects I have pinned.  We looked at a bunch of different options for a new vanity top, but basically everything was super expensive because the space is 1 inch smaller than all the standard vanity tops.  And, those standard vanity tops are pricey anyway.

So, I first decided that I wanted an epoxy resin countertop, a la high school chemistry lab.  Then we thought about concrete (HJ didn't really buy that it would be super easy to make our own concrete countertops).  So, we ended up settling on a wood countertop, stained black, and sealed.  Here are the before's of the bathroom, and then some after shots of the vanity top.  HJ made the whole thing and the mirror frame himself.  He's handy like that.

The shower, bathtub, lighting, floor, and toilet are next on the agenda.  I better get to pinning.

Before

After

I'm pretty proud of those sinks...they were $44 dollars each from Home Depot and we got $50 off for opening a Home Depot card (which we won't use, but it was worth the discount).  They were supposed to be wall mount, but we used them as vessel sinks.  All the square vessel sinks I looked at were at least $200, so $50 total was not bad.

Now, I need to do some things that really need to get done like study for my inservice exam and wash some baby clothes.

thoughts to make your heart sing

                                              

In December, we went to the "Behold the Lamb of God" concert at the Ryman in Nashville for the second year in a row.  Sally Lloyd-Jones opened up by reading from her new book, "Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing".  We have been reading this to the kids every night, and last night we got to the section she used to open the concert.  I love the way she explains things in kid-friendly language without sacrificing the meaning.  As you can imagine, the kids always sit perfectly still and listen to the whole thing and then have a long meaningful discussion on it afterwards.  Just kidding...William does actually listen pretty well, but then he will come out with some question about transformers or some other unrelated thing right when you think you have made some poignant point.  And Hazel is doing good to sit still for even the first paragraph.

But, we keep on trying.  And, sometimes they say something that lets us know it is sinking in.

Here is the section we read last night:

God's Title

When someone important is being introduced, the announcer usually says, "Mr. So-And-So- Founder of This Extra-Important Company!" or, "Miss Something Else- Nobel Prize-Winning Inventor of This Brilliant Thing!"

Do you know how God likes to be introduced?

Our Almighty God, who sifted stars through his fingers, stands not with kings and princes, but with the weak, the powerless, the poor.

Because the people no one else thinks are important have a special place in God's heart. He hears their cries. He fights for them and defends them.

And one night long ago, in Bethlehem, he stepped out of heaven and became one of them

good eats

Among the many things I love about Memphis, the food is definitely high on the list.  We have a lot of it and it is tasty.  So, when we found this list of the top 100 best things to eat in Memphis on the I Love Memphis blog, we decided to try and eat them all.  We've only made it through 27 of them so far, but we knocked out a few more this weekend.  We've been trying to Instagram them all...just to document the process of us eating a ton of delicious foods.

Republic Coffee Cheese Grits

Soul Fish Pickled Green Tomatoes

Here's what we've had so far:

Fried chicken breast	Gus's
Guacamole	Las Delicias
Sushi	Gas Station
San Diegan	Brother Juniper's
Barbecue pizza	Coletta's
Capote cupcake	Muddy's Bakeshop
Joyce roll	Sakura
Twice-baked potato salad	One and Only BBQ
Barbecue nachos	Central BBQ
Chicken salad sandwich	Young Ave
French fries / sweet potato fries	Young Ave
Spicy crab soup	Ryu
Cheese grits	Republic Coffee
Pickled green tomatoes	Soul Fish
Ribs	Central Barbecue
Goat taco	La Guadalupana
Wings	Molly's La Casita
Burger	Huey's
All-in-one	Las Delicias
Pronto Pup
Lobster roll	Slider Inn
Self-serve frozen yogurt	Yolo
Reuben	Trolley Stop Market
Chili pineapple paleta	La Michoacana
Rib tips	Tom's Barbecue
Turkey leg	a vendor outside of a Melrose High football game
Blueberry donuts	Gibson's

My favorites are Las Delicias guacamole (we eat this about once a week), Muddy's (wish I could eat this once a week), and the Joyce Roll at Sakura.  We've added a few regulars thanks to trying these new places...La Guadalupana and Ryu Sushi.

We're hoping to finish the list in 2013.  Anyone want to join us?

birthday boy

This guy is now four years old.  It hard to believe he's gone from this...

to this in four short years.  

 This has been big year for him.  He started pre-school and soccer, and we went from wanting a Wiggles party last year to wanting Transformers.  That is quite the leap.  He is all boy, but also all oldest child.  He reminds me a lot of HJ...even his playing is usually pretty serious (unlike Hazel).  He loves for us to read to him and to tell him stories.  He has such a wonderful imagination, and he loves to dress-up.  He wears a costume at some point almost every day.  We did manage to talk him out of wearing his Optimus Prime costume to his birthday party.  

We are so grateful for the last four years!  William is such a sweet big brother to Hazel, and I know he will be to Eliza, too! 

Happy Birthday, Sweet William!

Things that are hard to do when your belly is huge...

1. Pee in a cup...this is a cruel joke they play on you at your every other week check-ups.  I'm convinced they have a camera in there just to give the nurses some daily entertainment.

2. Study...my inservice exam (practice board exam) is coming up next month, so I'v been trying to log some extra study time.  My textbook is too huge to put on top of my belly and awkward to put in my lap.  I try sitting at the table but then my back hurts...

3. Roll over in bed...I feel like I have to pull my belly across with my hands.

4. Get an almost four-year-old into a shopping cart...some of the carts are too big for him to climb in himself, but I have a contraction every time I pick him up.  Good thing my 2-year-old weighs about the same as a six-month-old, so she's still easy to pick up.  And, good thing my 4-year-old doesn't have to be picked up that often.  I had to pick him up from school with a fever one day, and he wanted me to carry him in Walgreens while we were picking up some tylenol.  I had to keep putting him down to rest and he would lie on the floor in Walgreens until I could pick him up again.  I'm sure it provided some entertainment to some midtowners.

5. Put on compression stockings...yes, I wear those.  Yes, I wear them with dansko's.  I look like Mrs. Doubtfire.

6. Shave your legs.

7. Park in small parking spots.  I may or may not have had to back out of a spot and find another one at the doctor's office when I realized I could not fit out of the door in the first spot.

8. Look in a microscope...not sure how my mom and sister did this but when I lean up far enough to see in the microscope I can't breath.

9.  Read to children in your lap...especially two at one time.  But, I still do it all the time, and hopefully they don't mind sharing space with their little sister.

10.  Sleep...so sad.  I'm just hitting the difficult sleeping time.  I usually end up sitting on the couch eating ice cream for about an hour every night around 2 am for the last week of pregnancy.  

Having said all that, I am thankful for two previous healthy pregnancies, and that this one has gone smoothly so far.  William said today that when Eliza comes, he will "read books to her all the time and hold her in his hands."  There are no small pregnancy inconveniences that can outweigh the joy of these hilarious and sweet kiddos.  I am overwhelmed sometimes, but it is a good kind of overwhelmed.  

weekend update

I am thankful for cousins who live close by and the children's museum on cold Saturday mornings!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

potty training, admitting defeat, and a new year

1. Potty Training, Day 3

Potty Training commenced on New Year's Eve at our house.  I thought since I had a day off it would be a good time to start.  Doesn't potty training a 2 year old while home by yourself with the 2 year old and a 3 year old while 31 weeks pregnant sound like a good idea?  It was pretty much exhausting.  The day started off with me showing Hazel all the wonderful treats she would receive if she stayed "dry and clean" and pee-peed in the potty...which lead to her lying on the kitchen floor crying because she wanted the treats right then.  Great start to the day.  But, she has actually done very well...she hates to be wet or dirty in any way (she cries if she even spills her drink on her pants), so that has helped.  We have eaten a lot of M&M's and had a lot of chocolate milk.  Her first steps were for a brownie, so chocolate seems to do the trick for her...every girl can be bribed with a little chocolate, right?

2.  Admitting Defeat

On the other hand, I am admitting defeat in the sleeping department for Hazel.  We have tried, for months now, to get her to sleep in a bed in the room with William.  It has become almost comically bad, and we are giving up.  We have read books on the subject, blogs on the subject, gotten advice on the subject...I really don't know what else to do.  She will not stay in her bed when William is in the room.  She is fine as long as he's not there, but if he's in the room she immediately takes all of her stuff (pillow, blankets, animals, books, water) and runs to his bed.  After Thanksgiving, we started putting her in the pack n' play in their room if she got out of her bed, but this hasn't helped either.  She also tries to take all of her clothes off and we have found her in the pack 'n play completely naked several times...she doesn't like to leave her diaper on if it's wet so she just takes it off after she tee-tee's...thus the need to potty train ASAP.  So, we are moving her crib into their room and buying a new one for the baby.  Maybe she will just sleep in her crib til she's in kindergarten.

3. A New Year

I'm keeping my New Year's resolutions simple this year.  There are lots of things I would like to get done, and I am definitely in full out nesting mode right now, but what I really want is to change what I do on a daily basis.  I even made myself a little list and put it by my bed to remind myself of these daily goals.  I want to get up earlier...HJ and I are both serious night owls, and we tend to stay up to midnight most nights.  We rarely go to bed before eleven.  But, I can study the Bible and pray with so much more focus in the morning. And, it really makes a difference to be up before the kids instead of rushing around like crazy to get ready for school and work once they wake up.  I also feel like my Bible reading has just gotten very routine...I want to read to learn and grow and pray trusting that God is good and has good plans for me.  As for being present, I am committing to putting the phone away when I get home...I'm embarrassed to admit how many times I am distracted during the short time I have home with the kids in the evening.  I want to love and serve them (and HJ) more selflessly. I know those are all things I should already be doing, but I am hoping putting them in writing will help me commit to doing them. Happy 2013!

naming babies and other thoughts

We are not good at naming babies.  I can't remember exactly when we settled on Hazel's name, but I think I was around 36 or 37 weeks.  I set a deadline for deciding on a name this time around because I wanted to tell our families over Christmas.  We get our moms a charm with the baby's initial for each grandchild, and I really wanted that to be part of the Christmas present.  And, now that the gift has been given and the name has been told...I can share it on the blog.

We have a list of about 15 girls names on my computer that I would add to every once in a while before we had Hazel.  (By the way, William is a fourth, so he was easy to name.)  Anyway, we have this list that we always try to pick a name from, but we can never decide on any from the list.  We narrow it down to about three names, and then we can't pick one.  Then, one day we hear another name (such as Hazel), and we just decided we like it and go with it.  So, that's what happened again.  We had it narrowed down to two names, but then we decided on a completely different one:

Eliza Grey

There are lots of reasons why we like it, but basically we like the meaning (pledged to God), it has a "Z" like Hazel, it has an "L" (which is a weird requirement that I have for all our kids' names...dont' know why), together the names represent two of our favorite books (Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice and Gandalf the Grey from Lord of the Rings).  I realize that I am showing what a nerd I am with these reasons, but oh well.

Here are a few pics...me at 30 weeks.  I'm not sure why my belly is such a weird shape in this picture...

Here are some kiddo shots.  This is just so typical...William making gun noises with his transformers, Hazel with her necklace, putting on my chapstick like lipstick.  Boys and girls (at least my boy and girl) are such different creatures.  I love their differences.

merry christmas

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross"

Colossians 1: 15-20

O Bright Morning Star, shine in our hearts this Christmas.

Awake our souls and break our chains, that we may fly to you.

O Age Old Gift sent down to earth, wrap us in your wings.

Gather up your scattered children, in comfort and in peace.

O Image of the Invisible God, firstborn from the dead,

Reconcile our hearts to you, and let us love you still.