Rainy Afternoons...

Margaret Mary's Birthday

Can you believe our little girl is three??? She's an outgoing little talker (she strikes up conversations with complete strangers, and says "Hi! How are you doing!" to everyone who walks by our front porch), a singer (she really sings all day long, about EVERYTHING), a dancer, a natural leader, a compassionate and caring friend, an imaginative movie lover who wants to be a "girl farmer" when she gets bigger. She's beginning to see the world with a more mature vision - one where she is not the center of existence (would that we all learn that) and is beginning to apologize (without being prompted too) when she realizes she has done something wrong.  She still loves to cuddle with her Papa, play "baby," count and color.

My favorite thing she does right now is when she comes up to the baby, looks at him, and says "awwww, he's so cute!" 

She is sooo good with Peter. Gentle and sweet.  

For her birthday, some friends at church made her a cake and we sang and ate together.  It was simple and sweet.  That afternoon, Papa took her to a ballet. When they were leaving the ballet, Margaret Mary sighed and said "This day has been AMAZING!" 

She melts my heart. Her Papa thinks she's pretty amazing too.

Transitions

 

How are we transitioning to a family of five? At six weeks postpartum, I still don't get a shower every day, but my teeth are brushed and I'm dressed 95% of the time. But in terms of transitions, I would say that it has been easiest for me. I have already had two babies before that like to be held all the time, so Peter's desires (to be held in the sling all the time) are nothing new. I have already had two under two, so the intensities of that challenge are not new. I am used to being outnumbered during the day time and already have lots of tricks up my sleeve to make it work. It's hard work, but its nothing new, and Catholics aren't scared of hard work (it has been redeemed by Christ!). I have had my moments, like the first day I took all three kids out in the car. I parked, got out of the car, opened up the door and saw all their beautiful faces and thought "Crap, how do I get them all out of the car?!?!" But I figured it out. The hardest part has been trying to figure out Peter.

What does he like? How much can he be pushed when its nap time. What does he need to be happy, what overstimulates him, etc.  I am happy to say that Peter seems to be mellowing out some and is really becoming a laid back dude.  Praise the Lord!!!

But having a third has been easier in other ways.  Margaret Mary and Henry play together so well that I am freed up to be with the baby. When Henry was born I had to constantly entertain Margaret Mary; now John Henry and Margaret Mary entertain themselves. The other day I was ordering something on the computer and Margaret Mary and Henry ran out of the bedroom giggling holding a blanket; Henry holding the front and MM holding the back. "What are you guys doing?" I asked. "Building a fort," MM yelled back as they ran into the living room. Too sweet.

I would say the transition has been hardest on Papa and the kids.  There aren't enough parents for each child, so often MM will see Henry and Peter being held and exclaim "someone is not holding me" and then get sad about it.  It has been hard on Henry cause he has to share mama now, and it has been hard on Papa cause he is outnumbered now. Before when everyone was home, he just had to deal with MM wallowing all over him. Now, there are two kids who want his attention. But, he handles it like a champ and I am so thankful to have such a talented, hands-on husband.  The kids really love Peter.  They fight over who gets to hold him next and get jealous when Peter looks at one of them longer than the other one.  Peter thinks Henry is hilarious and drops smiles like crazy when Henry is in his face.

I have talked about Peter being fussy but he really is a sweetheart.  He LOVES to cuddle and thrives on touch. When he is fussing in the car seat, I just have to reach back and hold onto his hand to calm him down.  After reading this, I can see why he feels at peace being on my chest all day. I love holding him; it feels so right. Yes, its hard at the end of the day when I ache, but it feels so right having him close when most of my energy is concentrated on keeping the big kids directed, safe and playing. I love the below picture of me. Yes, its cluttered, but it says so much. Me with the camera, Peter asleep in the sling, a half finished vacuum job in the background, our home altar....my life.

 Seriously, looking down at this little face all day is the best stress reliever.  They are only little once.
 I will drink it in!

Remember my post the other day about how hard pregnancy was??? I am already craving another little one!  Its amazing what six weeks, and an incredibly sweet baby can do.

First Smiles are the BEST!

Couldn't catch the big open mouth smile during the photo shoot, but Peter JUST started smiling today! Too cute!

how henry rolls

Hello There

Henry doesn't believe in personal space.

Her First Ballet Class

This morning Margaret Mary went to her first ballet class! It was so exciting.Yesterday we went to the local dance store and bought her things. As we were picking things out she said "This is an amazing day!"

She woke up this morning and ate all her breakfast because she wanted to have "enough energy for her dance class."  (I have to note that she has been begging for dance classes since she could talk. The girl LOVES to dance and spends 90% of the day dancing and singing). She carried around her little ballet bag with her leotard, tights, shoes and ballet skirt all morning and kept on asking if it was time to go yet.  She was all smiles getting dressed.

 

 

 

 

When I showed her how she looked in the mirror she said "OH WOW!"  (See her tiptoes in the bottom picture?)

At the dance studio, she sat a little nervously as all the big girls came in giggling in their ballet clothes.  Jason and Henry said goodbye and went to go have some boy time while MM and I made small talk with all the other moms and little girls waiting.  When her teacher came out she introduced herself to us and tried to take Margaret Mary's hand. This was the big moment - would she be too shy to really do it or would she join the class?  MM jerked her hand away, scooted close to me, and then as if she remembered she would have to be brave if she was going to be ballerina, reached out for the teacher's hand and followed her back to the studio. I was so proud! As this was the first class, I was allowed to go back too and watch (no pictures, sorry).

It was too cute. MM did REALLY well listening to the teacher and imitating all the dance moves. She stretched, plied, releved, danced on her tiptoes, skipped, hopped on one foot, and even finished up the class with some tap lessons (at which she did really well!). I was really impressed with MM's dancing ability! We didn't have any tap shoes for her yet, but we will def have to be on the lookout for some! My favorite part of the class was when she broke away from what they were doing, ran over to me and gave me a big kiss and then joined back in class.  It was a 3 year old way to say thank you.

When class was over, we went back out to the waiting room where Jason and Henry were waiting.  Margaret Mary told us "I tried really hard!" She really did so well.  We went to get pizza afterward to celebrate her first dance class and Margaret Mary ate sooooo much. We were shocked! 

(MM bowing)

Before I could ask her if she wanted to come back, she exclaimed "I want to come back here!" So sweet.

Thank you Papa for working so hard to provide things like this for our family. Ballet lessons aren't cheap, but I think provide invaluable instruction in gracefulness, beauty and poise (things very important for a little girl to have.) Plus, it is just so much fun!

Practicing her moves

On their way to a ballet. Speaking of which, MM has her first class tomorrow! Sorry for the short blog posts.  Peter is fussy in the evenings, and this is the most I want to type with one hand.  Good thing he's so cute!

What we found...

in Margaret Mary's purse. :) So cute what she packed herself for an outing.  Anytime we go somewhere, Henry grabs one toy car to take with him and is happy.  Margaret Mary isn't satisfied with one toy and will pack a purse so heavy she can't carry it (and then ask us to carry it for her). We always make her put stuff back, and the above pic is of her keepers. Too funny.

Another MM story.  Tonight I baked sweet potatoes for supper and when trying to get MM to eat some I told her it tasted like candy.  After a while she gave in and took a bite and then exclaimed "it DOES taste like candy!"  She then broke into a chant: "candy supper! candy supper!.."

Little Brother...

Big Brother...

 

and yes, Henry is almost always dirty, no matter how much I wipe him down. All boy.

Henry calls baby Peter "bah bah" and it has become quite the affectionate nickname for Peter around here.

another fail mommy/daughter picture

one day...one day...

Daily Walk

 Baby Peter got cold, and MM went and found this leaf to cover him up with to keep him warm. :) What a good big sister!