Bundle of Megan Joy

A Few Pictures

My cousin Kevin married his new bride, Hannah on Sunday, May 27th. It was a great picture-taking day! Here's me and my family. Jack is in orange and Ben is in blue. Megan fills up that hole in the middle nicely, don't you think?

My sisters were SUCH a great help! Ellie cared for Megan the whole day, giving her up only for me to feed her a few times.

 Me and my two third borns, Marissa and Miss Bright Eyes.

A Wonderful Evening

Andy's cousin, Leah, had her baby girl this morning! Ella Grace was born on 5/25/12, weighing in at 7lbs, 9 oz and 20.5" tall. Leah did a phenomenal job and they're both recovering very well. Andy let me visit with them tonight while he drove around the block a few times with all three kids. So sweet. They were very upset, though, that they couldn't come up to see the baby. I promised them we'd have a playdate soon. I love the fact that Megan and Ella are only seven weeks apart!!

Scott and Leah are going to be GREAT parents!

 Such a sweet, sweet bundle.

On our way back from the hospital, we stopped to eat dinner at the marina. The kids and I watched the birds and boats on the water while Daddy got our food. My boys were in heaven! If we let them, they would have chased down every single robin, seagull and squirrel around. They did try.

 This is how Megan enjoyed the majority of the night. Asleep! At 7 weeks, she's becoming quite the chunker! I.love.it.

 "Ben, YOOK!" Jack says to his brother, pointing another seagull.

 Daddy and his boys, after a walk down the marina. Excuse the limited background. I was on the bench feeding the baby and couldn't get up to get a better view. Cute, nonetheless!

So grateful for these beautiful Buffalo nights and a family to share them with!

Retail Therapy

I took this cell phone picture at Delaware Park's playground to commemorate my very first outimg with all three kids... to somewhere other than playgroup or MOPS!

We started at Target, ate lunch at the cafe and then drove to the park to enjoy the playground. I felt like Super Woman! It's especially nice to be able to enjoy take my kids around while also letting them enjoy themselves. It's just wonderful.

Now I'm getting really ambitious. I've already invited a few friends to join us at the zoo tomorrow!

Thank God for healing!

Funny story. I was pushing all three kids around Target - the boys in the two-seater and Megan in the basket, sitting in her car seat. A girl about my age, shopping with (who I assume was) her mom, whispered to her mom and said, "Look, twins! And gosh, she's got another one in the car seat." I'm sure she didn't realize I could hear her, but it did make me chuckle. Did that seem like too many kids for one woman to have? I wish I was a fast-thinker; I would have loved to have said, "Yeah, and I've got seven more in the car!" HA!

Five Weeks Later

This morning, all three kids had their appointment at the pediatrician. It was Megan's one-month appointment and the boys' three-year appointment. We had been talking up the idea of getting shots, so the boys were actually disappointed they weren't scheduled to get one today! Dr. Pepe amused us, however, by giving them each a fake shot and then a real Band-Aid. So sweet.

Jack and Ben continue to hover around the 50th percentile for both height and weight. I was surprised, though, to learn that Jack is actually an inch shorter than his brother. I should have asked for them to be measured again, because I still don't believe it. But the boys were fantastic, very obedient with directions and interested to learn what Dr. Pepe had to say about their growth. When she asked what their favorite food was, Jack said, "Broccoli!" and Ben said, "Cheese!" Yup, that sounds about right.

Megan, just more than five weeks old, tipped the scales at 11 pounds and 7 ounces. Not bad, mommy, not bad! That's the 75th percentile for height and 95th percentile for weight. I don't think my boys have EVER been in a high percentile like that - chaulk it up to yet another difference in having just ONE baby versus two!

I have had all three kids on my own for a few weeks now, but I feel like we're just starting to find our groove. Our new routine. Megan is a wonderful eater (as evidenced by her progress today) but it takes a while for her to eat. Those are the times when the boys tend to find trouble. Last week, they flooded the bathroom with water from the sink and the other day, they threw the entire contents of their bedroom into the hallway. Nothing horrible, but it does make extra work for mommy! The hardest part lately has been the fact that Jack is regressing with potty training. Thank God, he's only PEED in his pants versus poop; and it's only when we're home. But I am so sick of doing laundry and changing sheets, it's ridiculous. He normally goes in his pants (getting his sheets wet, too) just before naptime. Sometimes multiple times. They say it's because of stress, the new situation, and you should simply change his clothes without emotion or fanfare. Then go crazy praising when he does go on the potty. So that's what we've been doing. And it's been a week. It's only been about once a day now, but even that feels like too much when he's rarely had an accident before since the beginning of February. We're getting there.

I, personally, have been feeling a TON better. Recovery after the cesarean felt a little tougher this time, probably because I've pushed myself to get better faster than my body was ready. But I'm finally feeling stronger. Much stronger. I've taken the kids out on my own, but only to playgroup and MOPS. Those are the only two places yet where I'm comfortable being able to feed the baby knowing the boys are safe. And I actually have energy during the day to clean! It really is such a joy. It had been so frustrating to watch the mound of clothes get higher and higher, only to feel pain and discomfort when I'd try and put a load in. Now, when the mound of laundry is getting higher, it's because I'm too lazy, not too uncomfortable! ;) And I'm making dinner again. I am so so grateful to have joined the land of the living. It feels like it's been a long time!

The other big change around her is the fact that Andy and I joined Weight Watchers. This Sunday will mark Week Four. I still can't believe my husband was the driving force behind this decision, nor can I believe he's continued to show so much initiative! He's lost more than 11 pounds so far and I'm only ten pounds from my "before baby" weight! It is tough to know how much weight I've lost because of Weight Watchers and how much I've lost because I'm breastfeeding, but either way, I'm still losing! I feel great. It does take a lot more effort to plan and prepare meals, but I am so proud to be making such a positive change for me, my husband and my family.

And so we continue on! Three kids, three and under... and still surviving. I'd say that makes for a Mother's Day worth celebrating.

The Boys' Birthday

Jack and Ben turn THREE on May 5th! We celebrated their birthday with family this past week. So proud of my little men.

You've gotta take advantage of every opportunity to take another family photo :) Ben's on my lap and Jack is holding Megan. I am sooo in love with my little family!