Aedan: 41 Months, Week 2
Owen: 0 Months, Week 4
Our weekend continued on in a fairly normal fashion with church on Sunday morning and then family time and nap time. It was a beautiful day outside, so Ben took Samantha on another bike ride around campus that afternoon. Who knows how many more days like this we will have, for we have had an unseasonably warm fall so far.
Owen is funny how he will sleep in so many different positions. He must have fallen asleep in my arms and then when we went downstairs to bed, I just laid him propped up against my pillow to continue sleeping while Ben and I put our laundry away. He was pretty comfortable laying like this for awhile.
Here is a video and picture of Owen after nursing him that morning. It's fun to see close up shots of his cute little face sometimes. I think he's such a cute little guy.
Owen has gotten into a fairly good routine of eating, being awake and alert for awhile, and then needing to take a nap. But he has also reached the point where he doesn't fall asleep quite as easily if you just lay him down on the baby chair or in the swing. However, what I've found works really well is if I wrap him up in these large muslin blankets, like he's swaddled, keeping his hands wrapped up so he doesn't startle and flail and wake himself up. After I swaddle him up, it doesn't take much time of holding him and rocking him or simply walking around the house with him as he quietly dozes off. Then, it is is easy to put him down in the swing for him to continue his nap. Here is my little guy sleeping peacefully.
That afternoon I took Owen to the walk-in clinic to see what we were supposed to do about his ever-worsening diaper rash, as well as the bleeding that he experienced over the weekend. They told me to keep using the Nystatin cream, but to use a prescription butt paste rather than the Boudreaux's Buttpaste I was using. I felt very tired and rather emotional that afternoon and found myself almost crying while talking to the doctor and then on the way back home. I felt so bad for Owen, that he was still so tiny and had this horrible diaper rash that probably hurt pretty bad. I was frustrated that I took time to go to the walk-in clinic when they pretty much just told me to keep doing what I was doing. Then, that evening when Ben went to fill the prescription, we discovered that Owen still wasn't listed on our insurance and the butt paste was $60, which we weren't willing to spend. My suspicion was that the Boudreaux's stuff was making it worse, so I decided to continue using the Nystatin cream in conjunction with the A&D ointment we were using, and then go from there.
Tuesday was Ben's early morning meeting, so I got in the shower by 6:30 so I could be ready before the kids got up and could help Samantha get ready for school. I tried to make cinnamon rolls because I thought it would be relatively easy, and I knew the kids would like them and eat them well, but Owen woke up right while I was making them and wanted to eat, so I left them in the oven too long and burned the cinnamon rolls. I was able to just cut off the burnt bottoms and the kids still liked them, but I made Owen very upset for awhile as I was desperately trying to get breakfast on the table so Samantha and Aedan could start eating while I continued to nurse Owen. However, he was not happy that I wasn't picking him up to feed him right away. It was a bit of a hectic, stressful morning, and Samantha had to be told multiple times to do things she knows she is supposed to do, but we got everything done and she was on time for school. It was one of those times when everyone needed something at the same time, and I was so very glad I didn't have to do this morning routine by myself every day.
After getting back home, Aedan and I finished getting ready and I fed Owen again before we left for MOPS. I was really looking forward to MOPS that morning. I needed some time away with other moms. Monday was a long, stressful, emotional day where I felt like I never had enough time, was failing as a mom, didn't spend enough time with any of my kids, and felt overwhelmed by raising a newborn along with two other kids. Adding a third kid is definitely challenging, and it's hard to compare whether going from one to two or two to three is harder. Part of what makes things harder for us right now is having a school aged kid that has to be up and to school at a certain time, meaning there's no such thing as lazy mornings anymore if you've had a rough night. Also, this is the first baby we had born in the middle of a semester, so life it just much busier for everyone, Ben included, meaning he can't be around as much to help me. This transition is definitely hard. I know it will get easier. I know this is just a phase were Owen is very needy and not following much of a set schedule. I know all these things in my mind, but it doesn't make the day-to-day grind any easier. Each day just comes barreling along and sometimes I feel like I hardly have time to eat, go to the bathroom, and take a breath.
Tuesday night we decided to move small group to our house because the other family that usually hosts was having a rough day with kids' schedules and being busy. Luckily, on Tuesday afternoon Owen fell asleep after I fed him and I was able to wrap him up and put him in the swing to sleep. Aedan talked for awhile in bed, but quieted down after I went in there once. The boys both sleeping at the same time gave me the chance to get everything picked up and cleaned up for small group that evening. However, after awhile the batteries died on the swing while Owen was still sleeping in it, so I moved a chair next to it and gave it a tap every once in awhile to keep the momentum going while I got some work done on my computer. After a stressful day on Monday, it was nice to have a quiet, relaxing Tuesday afternoon.
Having small group at our house was a little more cramped than at the Hill's house, but it worked out okay. We got the food set out and filled plates for the kids to eat first. Then, we sent the kids down to the basement to play while the adults ate dinner and started discussing the sermon. We had good conversation, and Owen did a pretty good job hanging out with Ben for awhile while I ate, then I nursed him, and stood up and rocked him back and forth when he got fussy and tired. The best part about having small group at our house was the fact that we didn't have to drive home afterwards, we could just start getting our kids ready for bed, meaning they got into bed earlier.
Most Wednesday mornings Aedan and I go to the library for story time. He enjoys going, and it's an easy place to take Owen and still have a nice place to nurse him while Aedan plays with toys and other kids. Sometimes there are even other moms that I know there that I can talk to. The hardest part is when we get back home and it's lunchtime and Owen usually starts to get hungry and fussy as well. I was attempting to get Aedan's lunch together quickly while Owen was hanging out in the blue chair. He wasn't very happy just sitting there, so I asked Aedan to come over and rock his chair for me, as a way to make his brother happy. Aedan gladly came over and helped me out by rocking his brother. It's cute because sometimes Aedan will say, "Sometimes I just feel like such a grown-up, being a big brother, and helping you when you ask me for things."
After getting back home, Aedan and I finished getting ready and I fed Owen again before we left for MOPS. I was really looking forward to MOPS that morning. I needed some time away with other moms. Monday was a long, stressful, emotional day where I felt like I never had enough time, was failing as a mom, didn't spend enough time with any of my kids, and felt overwhelmed by raising a newborn along with two other kids. Adding a third kid is definitely challenging, and it's hard to compare whether going from one to two or two to three is harder. Part of what makes things harder for us right now is having a school aged kid that has to be up and to school at a certain time, meaning there's no such thing as lazy mornings anymore if you've had a rough night. Also, this is the first baby we had born in the middle of a semester, so life it just much busier for everyone, Ben included, meaning he can't be around as much to help me. This transition is definitely hard. I know it will get easier. I know this is just a phase were Owen is very needy and not following much of a set schedule. I know all these things in my mind, but it doesn't make the day-to-day grind any easier. Each day just comes barreling along and sometimes I feel like I hardly have time to eat, go to the bathroom, and take a breath.
Tuesday night we decided to move small group to our house because the other family that usually hosts was having a rough day with kids' schedules and being busy. Luckily, on Tuesday afternoon Owen fell asleep after I fed him and I was able to wrap him up and put him in the swing to sleep. Aedan talked for awhile in bed, but quieted down after I went in there once. The boys both sleeping at the same time gave me the chance to get everything picked up and cleaned up for small group that evening. However, after awhile the batteries died on the swing while Owen was still sleeping in it, so I moved a chair next to it and gave it a tap every once in awhile to keep the momentum going while I got some work done on my computer. After a stressful day on Monday, it was nice to have a quiet, relaxing Tuesday afternoon.
Having small group at our house was a little more cramped than at the Hill's house, but it worked out okay. We got the food set out and filled plates for the kids to eat first. Then, we sent the kids down to the basement to play while the adults ate dinner and started discussing the sermon. We had good conversation, and Owen did a pretty good job hanging out with Ben for awhile while I ate, then I nursed him, and stood up and rocked him back and forth when he got fussy and tired. The best part about having small group at our house was the fact that we didn't have to drive home afterwards, we could just start getting our kids ready for bed, meaning they got into bed earlier.
Most Wednesday mornings Aedan and I go to the library for story time. He enjoys going, and it's an easy place to take Owen and still have a nice place to nurse him while Aedan plays with toys and other kids. Sometimes there are even other moms that I know there that I can talk to. The hardest part is when we get back home and it's lunchtime and Owen usually starts to get hungry and fussy as well. I was attempting to get Aedan's lunch together quickly while Owen was hanging out in the blue chair. He wasn't very happy just sitting there, so I asked Aedan to come over and rock his chair for me, as a way to make his brother happy. Aedan gladly came over and helped me out by rocking his brother. It's cute because sometimes Aedan will say, "Sometimes I just feel like such a grown-up, being a big brother, and helping you when you ask me for things."
Once I get Aedan lunch and tuck him into bed for nap time, I usually spend quite awhile on the couch with my other little boy. He often nurses for a long time in the afternoons when he has as much time as he needs and can nurse uninterrupted in a quiet living room. Here are some pictures of my little guy after he got a full tummy. We were just hanging out together, and I was taking notice of his cute faces, the way he stuck his tongue out, and the way his arms and legs move back and forth like he is riding a bicycle.
On Thursday I had plans to go over to my friend Kristen's house for a play date. Her son, Owen, is the same age as Aedan, and they get along well and play together at church. We thought it would be nice to get them together to let them play while Kristen and I got the chance to talk and get to know each other more. Well, that morning Aedan woke up with a little bit of a cough/cold. My Owen was also sneezing and coughing some, especially after nursing or upon waking up. I messaged Kristen to see if she still wanted us to come over, and she said it was fine. I wasn't able to take a shower that morning, but I knew she wouldn't care. It was so nice to be able to talk to another mom in a personal, one-on-one setting like this. MOPS is fun and there are so many moms there, but sometimes it is a bit overwhelming to me and it's hard for me to make small talk with people or get to know people in a large group. Anyways, the boys had a fun time playing together. I was able to nurse Owen and hold him while he napped, and it was just a good, relaxing, rejuvenating morning for me. We will have to return the invitation and have them over to our house soon.
Owen had to nurse again before leaving Kristen's house, so we got home later than I would have liked, meaning we had a rushed lunch and getting ready for nap time. A lot of times when we have time like that, Aedan just gets too wound up to sleep so he didn't nap that afternoon.
I feel like I don't talk much about Samantha on this blog now because she is at school every day and honestly, we don't get much feedback on how she's doing at school and she often doesn't have much to say about her day. We are happy that she is going to second grade math and doing an advanced level reading group. She gets an occasional point taken off on Class Dojo, but she gets many positive points every day. Samantha doesn't get homework, other than reading, which she does every day without even being asked. The hard part is that we never remember to write it down on her reading log. I look forward to seeing her every day when she gets home, and I miss my days with having her around the house. It seems like so long ago that it was just her and I together at home, and it's strange that she won't really remember those times with me before either of her brothers came along. I find myself feeling very sentimental lately, thinking fondly of the past, and sometimes feeling sad that these moments are passed and I will never experience them again. However, at the same time, I look forward to all the times we have in the future and the awesome privilege I have of watching her grow up, learn, and discover who she is.
Samantha is a good kid and definitely makes good choices most of the time, but we heard some news on Thursday that made us a little disappointed. I messaged Mrs. Gillett about how Samantha was doing with her bathroom issue. She responded back saying that things were going better, but that Samantha was caught goofing around in the bathroom that day. I told Ben, and we decided that we would talk with her that night. She had to write apology letters to Mrs. Gillett and to the girl she was goofing around with in the bathroom. We know that she sees a lot of misbehavior at school and that it sometimes goes uncorrected, but we want to make sure Samantha knows that that kind of behavior is unacceptable to us and that we expect better from her.
Thursday nights are always a welcome reprieve after a busy Tuesday and Wednesday out of the house. Here are Daddy and Owen hanging out together. He's a cute little boy, even though sometimes he looks like a grumpy old man.
Owen had to nurse again before leaving Kristen's house, so we got home later than I would have liked, meaning we had a rushed lunch and getting ready for nap time. A lot of times when we have time like that, Aedan just gets too wound up to sleep so he didn't nap that afternoon.
I feel like I don't talk much about Samantha on this blog now because she is at school every day and honestly, we don't get much feedback on how she's doing at school and she often doesn't have much to say about her day. We are happy that she is going to second grade math and doing an advanced level reading group. She gets an occasional point taken off on Class Dojo, but she gets many positive points every day. Samantha doesn't get homework, other than reading, which she does every day without even being asked. The hard part is that we never remember to write it down on her reading log. I look forward to seeing her every day when she gets home, and I miss my days with having her around the house. It seems like so long ago that it was just her and I together at home, and it's strange that she won't really remember those times with me before either of her brothers came along. I find myself feeling very sentimental lately, thinking fondly of the past, and sometimes feeling sad that these moments are passed and I will never experience them again. However, at the same time, I look forward to all the times we have in the future and the awesome privilege I have of watching her grow up, learn, and discover who she is.
Samantha is a good kid and definitely makes good choices most of the time, but we heard some news on Thursday that made us a little disappointed. I messaged Mrs. Gillett about how Samantha was doing with her bathroom issue. She responded back saying that things were going better, but that Samantha was caught goofing around in the bathroom that day. I told Ben, and we decided that we would talk with her that night. She had to write apology letters to Mrs. Gillett and to the girl she was goofing around with in the bathroom. We know that she sees a lot of misbehavior at school and that it sometimes goes uncorrected, but we want to make sure Samantha knows that that kind of behavior is unacceptable to us and that we expect better from her.
Thursday nights are always a welcome reprieve after a busy Tuesday and Wednesday out of the house. Here are Daddy and Owen hanging out together. He's a cute little boy, even though sometimes he looks like a grumpy old man.
We usually do bath time on Thursday nights. Samantha had already taken a shower that morning because she had Picture Day at school, and I wanted her hair to look nice for pictures. (You can see in the picture that her hair is done in pig tail braids.) Aedan is fresh and clean as well with his hair combed "nice" and not "spiky." I decided to give Owen a bath, too, and Samantha and Aedan came into the bathroom to help me out for a few minutes before going back to wrestle with Daddy.
The last couple nights Owen has been doing this strange thing when I try to put him to bed. He will act like he's hungry and wants to nurse, but then he will fuss and cry and turn away, but then act like he is still hungry and wants to eat. I try burping him and switching sides, but sometimes he just continues to fuss and cry. When he does this, I don't know what I should do. I don't know whether he is just tired and not hungry, but then I don't want to put him down to bed without feeding him again because I don't want him to wake up sooner with an empty stomach. I was able to finally get him to calm down even though I was about ready to get Ben's help to get him to sleep if he really wasn't hungry. It's a strange and confusing thing when he does this, and I will have to keep thinking about why this behavior keeps happening, especially during this last nursing session of the day before bedtime.
Friday morning was another time I felt overwhelmed because I didn't get up in enough time to get ready and showered before the kids woke up. I don't like not helping upstairs with the kids, and I wasn't fully appreciating everything Ben was doing for the kids and me. Ben was up late Thursday night and was feeling stressed out with all the work he had to do, as well as having a paper deadline on Monday. I was eventually able to get showered and ready to go so I could get the grocery shopping done. However, we arrived back home late, just after noon, so I was still in the middle of unpacking the groceries, trying to get Aedan lunch, and knowing that Owen needed to eat soon. Samantha had a half day at school, so she arrived home right around that same time. Everything was crazy, both Samantha and Aedan were tired so they were making bad decisions. After a couple time outs and talking with both kids about their behavior, all the kids were asleep by 2:00, and then I could finally take a deep breath.
Before dinner on Friday night my parents arrived to stay with us for the weekend. They hadn't met Owen yet, so they were definitely looking forward to that, and Samantha and Aedan were very excited to see them pull into the driveway. After dinner we headed over to the Laker hockey game that we all had tickets for. My mom offered to stay back with Owen, but I didn't know how that would work with how fussy he can sometimes get at night lately, so we decided to all go together.
There were some ladies making balloon creations outside the arena, so at the beginning of the game, I took the kids out to let them get a balloon. Samantha got a butterfly balloon headband, and Aedan got an orange sword. They were pretty excited about their balloons, and they definitely know how to make silly faces! I love them and all their silliness. :)
Friday morning was another time I felt overwhelmed because I didn't get up in enough time to get ready and showered before the kids woke up. I don't like not helping upstairs with the kids, and I wasn't fully appreciating everything Ben was doing for the kids and me. Ben was up late Thursday night and was feeling stressed out with all the work he had to do, as well as having a paper deadline on Monday. I was eventually able to get showered and ready to go so I could get the grocery shopping done. However, we arrived back home late, just after noon, so I was still in the middle of unpacking the groceries, trying to get Aedan lunch, and knowing that Owen needed to eat soon. Samantha had a half day at school, so she arrived home right around that same time. Everything was crazy, both Samantha and Aedan were tired so they were making bad decisions. After a couple time outs and talking with both kids about their behavior, all the kids were asleep by 2:00, and then I could finally take a deep breath.
Before dinner on Friday night my parents arrived to stay with us for the weekend. They hadn't met Owen yet, so they were definitely looking forward to that, and Samantha and Aedan were very excited to see them pull into the driveway. After dinner we headed over to the Laker hockey game that we all had tickets for. My mom offered to stay back with Owen, but I didn't know how that would work with how fussy he can sometimes get at night lately, so we decided to all go together.
There were some ladies making balloon creations outside the arena, so at the beginning of the game, I took the kids out to let them get a balloon. Samantha got a butterfly balloon headband, and Aedan got an orange sword. They were pretty excited about their balloons, and they definitely know how to make silly faces! I love them and all their silliness. :)
Since we got back late from the game on Friday night, we got our kids in bed, played with Izzy for a little while, and then got ourselves to bed as well. Saturday morning we spent time just relaxing together. Samantha enjoys having time to be with Owen, since she misses out on a lot of time with him during the week while she's at school. Here is the proud big sister holding her little brother.
We had hot dogs and a baked good from the bake sale for lunch, and then the kids got their faces painted. Aedan was a green Spider Man, and Samantha got a butterfly painted on her cheek.
(Blog about October 8-14, 2017)
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