Whole new league!

Almost everyday I go out, someone says, "How do you do three kids?" I guess being the oldest of three, I never thought that it was that big of a deal. I had wanted at least three but never gave any thought on whether it would be harder and that I would get so many remarks!
I love having three. I am more organized, I plan more, I have to stay calm more and I think I have more patience. (Now if there are those that would disagree, please let me live in my own world, I like having this confidence!) Now that I've had time to be a mom to three, I almost think it's easier than two. Someone always has a friend. Michelle and Carolyn can play for hours with each other and not get bored. When Michelle goes to Kindergarten next year, Carolyn will have Leah to play with. I am glad that they have choices! I loved having siblings, maybe not at the time but looking back anyway! They played dress up, I played cars, we all played together.
I cant imagine having only two kids now that I have three and I am so thankful to have them all. I am glad that people think I'm super mom because I am outnumbered. Hey, I've been outnumbered since the day I had kids. I love being a mom, even when I want to go into witness relocation and change my name. I don't know about having more kids right now, but I'm glad that I'm one of the few that has many children, I think it has helped me grow as a person and I have learned to love like I never thought I could!

Christmas Picture Day!

Talk about an adventure! We took our Christmas card picture the other day and it was pretty funny. I am so pleased with how it turned out but I realized that getting 5 people to cooperate, especially when 3 are children, is a Christmas miracle!
I found that getting everyone dressed in pajamas in the middle of the day brought many questions, "Mommy, why are we getting ready for bed? It's not time to go to sleep. The sun is still out!", and then, " Mommy your silly, we can't wear our jammies in the daytime."
Of course, doing Christmas pictures before Thanksgiving entitles me to questions about decorations coming out early, "Is it Christmas yet?", "Why are we getting the little tree out, I want a big tree like last year!" After MANY questions and a mostly satisfied audience, we set about getting a photographer. We decided that the best way to take a picture of all of us was to give no notice and just start shooting. We grabbed Brian's mom and all sat down in front of the fireplace and little fake tree and said "Start shooting!"
To get all of us looking at the camera at the same time was funny. Being a mom you are constantly trying to get the kids attention while at the same time posing for the picture so that if there is a moment that the kids are looking in the general direction of the camera that we can get a good shot. Of course, the dogs wanted to be in the picture but they don't show up, their black! They are never interested in sitting in our laps until we don't want them too. Getting kids to sit still is fun too. If one is in a good mood, then another is in a bad mood. Poor Leah was woken up for the picture because we had for the most part, happy big girls. Spontaneity was the most beneficial action for us, we couldn't have planned it any better.
I am thankful that we have a family picture, especially since I am hardly ever in a picture. I think most moms can relate. At least I know I have one picture a year that I'm guaranteed to be in!

Girl Talk

Talking, always talking! I have never heard a voice so much in all my days! Michelle and Carolyn talk nonstop from morning to night! I don't even know what it is about so much of the time! All the sentences run together and if you aren't following closely, you will miss the change in topic!
I don't remember talking this much when I was growing up but then, I only have brothers and they probably never listened.
I laugh at them because they will talk your ear off if you are right there but they will grow silent when asked to get on the phone to talk to someone. They have to have the audience physically there for it to be worth it. I've determined that they will both be in public speaking some day. Most definitely Michelle, she'll be a negotiator. Carolyn I'm not sure yet. She definitely can stand firm in what she wants!
I should enjoy that there is only two voices for now, Leah is only cooing right now. My sensitive ears are going to need to be primed for another voice to come into the loudness that is our home! I'm sure she'll have no problem finding her place!

Blessings!

The girls and I went on our first road trip this past weekend. I am truly blessed! The girls were really wonderful both ways and I was so thankful. Leah hardly cried at all and Michelle was such a great help! Whenever Leah would cry, Michelle was ready with the pacifier! Even without naps, Michelle and Carolyn were very well behaved! God was really looking out for me. We had such a wonderful weekend too. I hosted a baby shower for my best friend who is having her first baby in November and then my mom and I took the girls to the pumpkin patch before we came back home. It was funny because all of us could not get in a picture together, much less all look at the camera! Too back I don't have photoshop! I could get a great picture that way!!!!
The ride home was great as well. We had a little trouble once we got within an hour of home but I am so thankful that Mommy stayed sane! I am relieved that we will not be having another road trip until mid November. I want to rest up between now and then!!!

And then there were 3!

We've done it! Gone from 2 to 3 girls! Leah is one month old on Thursday! Things have really changed. Whoever said that going from two to three was simple obviously had at least a dozen kids!
We have been so blessed though! Michelle and Carolyn absolutely adore their little sister. She is a real live baby doll for them! Michelle kisses on Leah constantly and is always ready to give her a pacifier if she makes even the slightest inkling of crying. Carolyn wants to pinch her, she thinks she's so cute. Of course, she probably has when I'm not looking too! It has definitely been a beautiful thing to see the bond that they have already created in just a few weeks. I don't have sisters and I see how special that bond is. I will get to watch something that I never experienced myself and I am really looking forward to it.
Brian and I wondered God's choosing for us, why we were to be given three girls but every day I see their hearts and the love that they have and I know that we are right where He wants us. I know that we will have lots of drama as only girls can have, but I know that God will be right here with us, knowing that He has given us the tools to make it through anything!!

Traveling we will go!

So, who ever said that keeping children entertained for 10 minutes much less 10 hours in a confined space was easy, had to not have children of their own. We just traveled a total of 21 hours with our two girls, a pregnant wife and a husband who no doubt was wondering if things could have been different in life if he was living the single life! I know that I was trying because the girls were sitting next to each other in their car seats in the back of the extended cab truck, due to the fact that in spite of having a back seat, I can't truly classify it as one!
With a few injuries of pulled hair and scratched arms, we managed to make it through the trip. Funny though, I guess Brian was really thinking about the trip because yesterday he bought a new truck! A diesel that has a full back seat and the girls do not have to sit next to each other! Now, I know he technically bought it for our business but I doubt it would have even been a thought had he not just experienced kids in all their glory!
As we make yet another trip this weekend, know that we will be traveling in more luxury!! And will definitely be going a shorter distance!

To keep clothes on!

Carolyn cannot seem to keep her clothes on. No matter how much I encourage her to do so, she enjoys being the free spirit she is! As I sit looking at her, she has found a pen and her sister has so kindly assisted in drawing circles all over her, to match the lines that Carolyn put on herself! As I look closer, she has them on her face too! I don't remember doing that to my brothers when I was little but I'm sure that if I had access, it happened! I am thankful that the girls can get along so well and can use each other for entertainment. It makes things easier for me. Except that it provides more opportunities for conflict as well. I guess it's a part of being a sibling, a relationship with LOTS of ups and downs. I'm just thankful that they have each other!

Am I ready?

As I enter into blogging, I can hear the girls upstairs, supposedly taking a nap. Ha, ha, I have to say to myself. My 4 year old, Michelle, doesn't take naps anymore, well, not on purpose anyway. Not good for Carolyn, the just turned 2 year old, as she desperately needs them! At least for Mommy's sake! I have traveled up and down the stairs countless times, correcting them and asking that they please go to sleep. All I can think of each and every time I go up and then down is, God is readying me for number 3! I am planning to let the new baby sleep upstairs even if our bedroom is downstairs. I have not ever had the girls in our room at any time as infants and I am determined not to with this one too! Well, I guess I will be able to lose the baby weight fast if I'm going to be doing that!
Carolyn has ventured into the Terrible Two's very quickly. I think she started a little before that actually. She is really good at it. As those that have girls can attest, they have this shriek that is a sound I have never heard before. I have sensitive ears already and feel that I spend lots of days with a ringing in my ears. I pray that this will all subside before the baby comes. I think it's a little too wishful of thinking since Michelle decided to wait until after Carolyn was born to truly go through her terrible's and by then she was 3 and VERY good at it! Carolyn has been wanting to do everything early since she has a big sister to watch! She has decided within the past few weeks to be potty trained! She's getting better and better but I'm just not ready for her to be completely trained. Of course she waits until I have bought a brand new large box of size 5 diapers before she is totally opposed to wearing them! Thank goodness I will use them with the next one! But now I have to figure out if I have enough room in storage to keep them until baby 3 is in that size!!
My girls have been such a blessing to me and I know that God has reasons for the children that we receive. He wants us to have three girls and although it has dollar signs all over it, I am thankful that I already know how to be one! They are precious and I pray for them every day to be beautiful, inside and out.