Ready for Baptisms

Godmother:

Godfather:

Now we just need to set a date. We're thinking late September or early October, but only because we don't want our So Cal relatives to fry in our 100 degree heat. We'll have the baptism at our church here and then a party at our house. More information to come at a later date.

Now Zoe still needs to be baptized and isn't yet because her Godmother was only recently allowed in public without a surgical mask (and we weren't doing it without her!) We're planning a separate baptism for Zoe in San Pedro probably later this summer but need to check the schedule of her island hopping Godfather first. It's going to be a little weird baptizing a three year old, and scary for her, so we are scaling down that event to just a service at Chris' mother's much smaller church.

Laundry

Do you ever get the feeling you're being watched?

I can't seem to get anything done without an audience these days. Even laundry is a group activity. I had a pile of it on my bed this afternoon and, of course, John Patrick woke up from his 45 minute nap and asked to join me. Then Athena meandered away from her quiet time activities because, you know, she has to be where he is.

They were so cute I had to take pictures, although they didn't come out like I had hoped (think breezy, laughing commercial for fabric softener or something). John Patrick ends up looking scared in some of these pictures but he adores his sister. His face lights up when she's around.

Will this love affair last forever? Or just until he starts walking?



Zoe was snoozing the afternoon away so she missed this photo session, but even if she was awake she has not wanted me to take photos of her lately.

The New Normal

I found an old never published post, that made me laugh. I sound so terrified and overwhelmed and scared. It must have been the sleeplessness. The vast difference between then and now really struck me because now life with three is our new normal. Getting all three changed, fed, dressed and out of the house is an everyday activity and quite routine.

I've now know just how easy it is to give three children a bath at the same time and that it's okay to let one cry while you are tending to another. And along the road I've learned a few things, like

• always have sippy cups filled with water, milk or juice ready to go in a low level of the fridge so that your little ones can help themselves when you are nursing
• when properly incented, your potty trained child will sit for hours reading books to the potty training child while she waits for something to happen
• teach the older ones how to give the baby a bottle while in the car
• an at home playdate with one or two well behaved friends is the best activity because it allows for tons of playtime while not disrupting the baby's schedule
• do a little bit of laundry everyday (rather than ALOT of laundry once a week)
• it is possible to nurse a baby and put shoes and socks on a two-year-old at the same time
• sleeping counts as "me" time as it's pretty much the only time I am without babies (but, hey, at least I'm getting sleep)

People keep asking me how I'm doing, or how I'm able to manage, but it's no longer a big deal it is just what I do. Everyday. Sure there are moments of pure chaos, but for the most part that is fleeting. There is also so much love and joy.

Chris and I couldn't be happier walking through life with these three. I can't wait to see what the next day, month and year will bring.

When is love...

too much?

The Sweetest Thing

Chris is away on a business trip this week and both girls saved part of their dessert cookie for Daddy. They only got one cookie each tonight and they really love these cookies. It was Athena's idea and then Zoe quickly followed (although hers is the smaller piece). They made me promise to give them to Daddy when he comes home on Wednesday.

I'm trying really hard not to eat them (because they are very yummy cookies).

What is so funny?

Do you see anything particularly funny about this? Because John Patrick thinks it's hi-LAR-ious. Every time he lays on the couch or on our laps and catches sight of it, he coos and giggles and squeals with delight. I've laid on the couch in the exact position he usually is in and don't find it particularly entertaining. I must be missing something.

Look Who's Talking

A couple of weeks ago we caught the tail end of the cinematic classic "Look Who's Talkin' Too" (the sequel even, not the first one). The girls thought it was hysterical, babies talking, truly a masterpiece! Ever since then, Athena and Zoe think its the funniest thing when we make John Patrick "talk." They say "What's he saying?" about a hundred times a day and we'll have to quickly come up with...

"Hey! You! Fetch me a fresh diaper, fire in the hole!"

"Hmmm...interesting. Tell me more about this “puppy” you speak of..."

"Gah! That's not a REAL puppy!"

"Uh...Can you please help me find my contact lens?"

"What you lookin’ at?"


"I never noticed that sconce before. It’s pretty."

"Hmm...this horse smells curiously of peppermint..."

Sum Sum Summertime

Summertime finds us with all the girls programs ending last week and nothing planned yet to fill our days. Their Mon-Wed class ended for the summer and their full-day Tues-Thurs "school" went into summer session ($100 fee per child requested), while I was looking for cheaper/better daycare alternatives to keep them busy while I work.

So, I'm quickly perusing the "Family Fun" magazines looking for summer activities, but everything is so expensive (gym classes $125 per month+ $50 fee) and or time consuming (swim classes everyday for two weeks) or just right for one but not for the other (ballet classes for 3 1/2 to 5 year olds)- I haven't found the right fit yet.

Luckily, until I figure it all out, we have free movies at the cineplex starting this week and splash parks and friends' houses and

a sprinkler Grandma Andree bought us this weekend

and watermelon in season

and this guy to hang out with...

Savages: A Field Journal

May 27, 2009: A crazy day, the savages were wild. I can only hope with a little rest it will be better tomorrow.

6:33 I am awoken by the smallest female, I'll call her subject Z, when I explain to her that, in the civilized world, "morning time" does not start until 7:00 and that now is the time to rest, she lays down on the floor next to my bed. I scoop her up and snuggle with her, rubbing her hair and talking softly. A nice way to greet the morning.
7:15 Subject Z, now fully awake, successfully goes on the potty. Meanwhile her older sister, Subject A, wakes up with a dry pull-up. There is much celebration and as is tradition in this tribe, both get to pick a prize from the magical basket....rainbow slinkys.
8:11 The littlest one, subject JP wakes up hungry. While I'm feeding him Z puts her whole mouth on him arm. After a lengthy discussion about what you can and cannot bite, Z declares "You can't bite babies but you can suck on them."
8:50 An incident occurs at breakfast. It is tough to tell who is to blame.
8:55 Z brings me a calculator and tells me to speak to the pizza man
9:19 Round up the savages to dress, brush hair and find shoes
9:40 To sedate subject Z, and buy some time, I put on Diego and feed JP
9:59 A is missing and abnormally quiet. I go to investigate.
10:02 Find A in her room with crayons all over and seriously contemplate changing plans and staying home.
10:19 A, Z and JP are fastened in to the transport and en route to a hot dog party.
10:35 Arrive at hot dog party and greet friends.
10:55 Z steps on a bee, I administer first aid, ice and kisses.
11:35 A leads a pack of little girls running from tree to tree on the lawn, I take a moment to enjoy her red cheeked laughing face with hair blowing in the wind.
11:46 Z is found covered in chocolate.
12:33 A ran away from me when I told her it was time to go.
12:39 Back in transport I had to pull over to tell A to keep her hands and feet to herself.
12:45 Now at home, A must spend some time to herself for running away from me and misbehaving in the car. Z, JP and I refresh ourselves with a change of clothes, diapers and washing our hands and faces.
12:53 A and Z look through the craft area to choose an activity. They chose oversized coloring books and big crayons.
12:55 I settle down on the couch for a long nursing session with JP.
1:01 Z peculiarly spits on her big crayons. Crayons are taken away.
1:20 JP falls asleep in my arms and I put him in bed for his afternoon nap
1:30 I gather Z's woobie and milk and lay her down for a nap
1:35 Got A settled for quiet time of a Calliou DVD and chocolate milk on the couch.
1:40 Some blessed “me time”
2:00 I crash on the couch and wake up drooling
2:35 A is awake and bored. I attempt a clean up and start to plan the evening meal.
4:11 JP wakes up hungry, I change him and commence the feeding
4:30 Z stumbles awake demanding milk and Diego, as is her usual routine
5:30 The witching hour, when dinner must be cooked and all the savages go wild. A and Z have fashioned their earlier presents into weapons and lash out at each other, then on their brother. Both are admonished and toys are taken away.
5:44 I hear a tribal beat and find A & Z using JP's belly like a bongo.
6:11 JP begins his hourly feeding evening schedule
6:15 A kicking incident occurs without the subjects knowing I was observing. Subject A did not tell the absolute truth about the incident and when being sent to solitary she dodged and evaded me. The punishment is escalated and she is sent to her room until reinforcements arrive.
6:17 Crying. Lots and lots of crying.
6:32 Reinforcements arrive and they are informed of the ongoing situation. They are dispatched to release A from her imprisonment after a long talk.
6:47 Dinner is without incident.
7:15 I pass on my supervision of the savages to the adult male and feed, change and bathe the littlest one, secretly whispering to him my plans to run away with just him. He kicks in his bath and stares deep into my eyes.
8:02 I hear distant screaming as I feed JP in a reclined position on the couch.
8:11 A and Z appear freshly bathed with wet hair and cute jammies.
8:34 I am summoned to the room for "Momma Song" a snuggle and a kiss, I ask both A and Z what they are going to dream about and tell them that I love them more than words.
9:05 All is quiet. Too quiet...

One Year

What a difference a year can make.

We moved here exactly one year ago.

A jam packed busy chaotic tumultuous fast paced crazy year that included moving to a new city sight unseen, celebrating a few weddings, announcing a big surprise, a trip to Greece, buying a house, the holidays, having a baby and here we are: a very different family than the one that arrived at our witness protection program apartment with ten boxes and three suitcases.

Last year, everything was new and uncertain now I feel like we are really settling down, making friends, reconnecting with old ones, growing roots and I can envision a lovely future here. It feels pretty good.