"Good Days and Bad Days and Going Half Mad Days."

(PS- that's a line from a Jimmy Buffett song, "If the phone doesn't ring, its me.")




Anywho, that pretty much sums up my life at the moment!
 
It's been a long, long, long time since I've just posted about our normal day to day happenings.  I think its time for me to delve into some of the madness that's gone on in this family over the past few weeks.
 
Apparently by the time you deliver your 3rd baby, people think that you're a baby whisperer- like a knower of all things baby, and therefore do not need any help.  This is both true and not true.  Yes, I know how to breastfeed, change diapers, burp, swaddle, bathe and comfort a newborn... BUT I do not know how to breastfeed, change diapers, burp, swaddle, bathe and comfort a newborn while I have a 4 year old (almost 4) climbing on the counter trying to pour her own cereal and a 2 year old (almost 2) throwing a fit at my feet because I can't hold him while feeding the newborn.  Does this make sense?

Three kids, has been the definition of a juggling act.  It's a very delicate balance that I have yet to completely figure out.  I have faith that I will figure it out eventually, but at the moment, I feel like a chicken with its head cut off, running from "crisis to crisis" (by "crisis" I mean, Maeve can't get her Ariel costume down from the closet, or Henry can't manage to cram all his trains into their carrying case), all the while, trying to keep Stella on my boob.  If that's not a juggling act, I don't know what is! 

Now, the title of my post is good days, bad days, half mad days... let me explain:

Good day:
-kids are fed a healthy breakfast; eggs, milk, some cereal.
-kids are dressed
-we make it out of the house to run an errand or two.
-kids take naps
-I get a minute or two to pick up the house, make it look decent...
-dinner is cooked
-bedtimes go smoothly
-I get to lie in bed, completely undisturbed and watch some reality tv.

Bad day:
-kids eat goldfish, juice and some cereal for breakfast
-kids are in diapers/panties
-we make it outside (in the backyard)
-1 out of the 3 kids take a nap
-I get to wipe off the kitchen counters and maybe run the vacuum through the living room
-dinner is take out
-bedtimes are comparable with WW2
-I get to lie in bed watching cartoons with Maeve, while getting my hair brushed with a barbie brush.

Going Half Mad Day:
-breakfast?  Ehhh... "grab one of those cookies and find your water cup from yesterday."
-kids are in diapers/panties for most of the day...
-our activities for the day are playing Little People while watching "Finding Nemo" for the 100th time.
- naps?  what are those.
-the house is comparable to a house one might find in a disaster area of some kind- like Joplin, MO.
-dinner is a free for all- goldfish? SURE!  Chex mix?  Why not!  Fruit snacks?  Yeah!  That's a fruit, right?
-bedtimes are non-existent.
-I resort to lying on the couch because then I can reach each kid pretty quickly as the screams and cries sound off.  Maeve- "I NEED WATER SO BAD!"  Henry- "MAMAMAMAMAMAMA!"  Stella- "WAHHHHH!" (aka feed me now).

Yes, yes... this is how I would describe the past couple of weeks being a mom of 3.  Since I have gone through this whole adjusting period of adding on a child to the family before, I am confident things will get better!  One day, I will look back at our "going half mad days" and laugh- I'm sure of it :)  I'm trying to take things in stride; Ya know, not sweat the small stuff... such as Henry dropping his sandwich on the floor and then eating it... or Maeve forgetting to flush the potty after a poo poo (YUCK).

The school year has started down here, which doesn't mean much for us since Maeve isn't 4 yet.  But I have enrolled MaeMae in some activities.  She's (obviously) taking ballet- two classes a week, along with a tumbling class.  And I'm looking into some kind of a musical activity for her... either piano or violin.  I was also thinking about getting Henry into some kind of a music/play time class.  That poor kid needs something to get his insane amount of energy out!  We'll see what I can find...

Oh... and to end this post, I'm going to participate in the papermama's photo challenge -this week's theme?  "Favorite photo from August."

How could I pick anything BUT  this photo?

I didn't choose this photo because of the set up, or the composition or anything like that- I chose it because it's my STELLA BELLA BEAUTY.  Our newest member of the family, born in August, therefore my favorite memory/photo of August. 

quickie saturday morning post...

Yay for being a fave. in the paper mama's weekly photo challenge :)



And here's my entry for this week... "SUMMERTIME!"

This photo was taken in MI, a couple of weeks before we left.  I was looking back at some old pics this morning and actually got a little teary seeing the old house.   

Anyways, I'm planning on "snapping up" my Saturday today-  bigger post coming later ;)

Wordless Wednesday... the stuck at home edition :/

This photo cracks me up... its his path of destruction.  Hurricane HENRY!!

 In LOVE :)

P.S.- the reason there are 1000 pictures of Henry and 1 of Maeve, is because Maeve is in an "absolutely NO PICTURE TAKING" stage.  :(booo for that, huh? 

hello monday :) ...by numbers

• took a 45 minute "lunch time" swim
• went on a (60 min) grocery shopping trip
• changed (1) poopy diaper
• drank (1) sweet tea
• ate (2) bowls of Life cereal
• watched E.T. (2) times
• cleaned up a dog-chewed bottle of sunscreen (1 time... too many)
• have told Maeve, "I don't like the way you're acting"  (too many times to count)
• made (3) calls to (3) different doctors... (OB, pediatrician, general practitioner)
• tried on (5) different bathing suit tops
• texted Ryan (3) times
• thought (500+?) times how wonderful it would be if Lola decided to reside somewhere else... like a farm out in the middle of nowhere?
• have asked Henry (1000+) times "why?  why do you do that buddy?"  

And there you have it... my very exciting Monday :)

I always look forward to getting Monday over with, but even more so now because our weekends are just SO MUCH FUN, that going back to "normal" really, really stinks.

Yay for being halfway done with the day...

  

SHS...

It has been FOREVERRRRR since I've participated in Scavenger Hunt Sunday!!!  I'm excited to actually have photos to share today! :)

1.  Seeing Double

EYEYEYEYEYE!!!!  Two Henrys!?!?  I'd lose my mind ;)


2.  Black &White

I'm not sure what these things are- some kind of plant sprouting off the palm trees around here.  I think they're so neat looking :)

3. Bare

I was going to take a pic of barefeet- my fave :)... but we passed this awesome vacant farm/home/barn thing... it looks pretty bare, huh? 


4. Headlights

ummm... so I fell super short on this one...  just appreciate the pretty sky, ok? :)
5.  Reflections in Glass

mirrors/glass... same difference, right?

 Man... I really struggled this week!  Hopefully next week I'll feel more creative!

yay! :)

4th place :)

                                                                      and my entry for "Sweet"



Today's a big day down here... my mom is holding the first open house for her new studio!   It kind of blows my mind that we're really starting ALL over down here.  I remember when my mom started the studio up in our backyard (in Michigan).  And now here we are doing it again.... 

Along with the open house, I'm trying to get a menu together for the week so I can finally go to the farmers market and actually purchase something that we'll use!  I've been going to the market every Saturday morning, but haven't really bought anything (other than a tub of salsa) because I haven't actually cooked since we've been down here!   It's been a lot of take out, going out, and eating at my parents- which has been great... but I guess its time to get back to reality, and COOK.

Ryan is hoping to get to the beach sometime this weekend but apparently the weather isn't supposed to be so great.  It rained most of yesterday and we're starting off today with overcast skies.  The good thing about the weather is that even with overcast skies, its about 90 degrees- plenty warm enough to go to the beach!

Oh- and my last random thought for the day-  yesterday, I was seriously the dumbest person on the planet.  I had been planning on taking the kids to the pier to watch the shuttle launch but it was sprinkling and overcast.  I thought for sure they'd cancel the launch.  Instead of checking the news or my phone, we went to Hobby Lobby, and I assumed we'd watch the launch either tomorrow or Sunday.  Well, we all know that the launch went off yesterday- and we missed it.  The very last launch, and we missed it because we were in HOBBY LOBBY... ughhhh!  I am so ticked with myself!

Anyways, I hope you all have a great Saturday!  Post and pictures to come of the farmers market :)   

(not) wordless wednesday!

(get ready for an ALL over the place kind of post...)

Today I am a little over 29 weeks preggo. 

Happily, I measured RIGHT ON at my appointment this morning.  YAY!  I am hoping for another tiny baby girl... Henry was a whopper of a baby- but I consistently measured 2-3 weeks ahead from about 20 weeks on with him. 

Here are some lovely photos of the growing belly...

I am definitely getting too big.   I've thought this with both of my pregnancies... and yet, somehow, I keep getting bigger... and bigger.

I had my glucose test today... is it embarrassing to admit that I think the orange flavored stuff actually tastes semi- good? 
On a whole different note, we're right smack dab in the middle of moving.  It's quite the process, let me tell you.  My poor mom is down in Florida, scouting out an OB for me- the thought of her going to OB's and asking questions cracks me up... ;)  The big moving truck gets here next Monday... I'm ready to get the  boxes out of the house and into the truck.  My house is feeling more and more like a shell each day... sad :(

Henry is obviously oblivious to what is going on.  He just runs around with his choo-choo's (trains) and climbs in and out of boxes.

Maeve, on the other hand, is very pleased.  Although she doesn't understand dates or times, she does understand that we're packing and going back to Florida.  She keeps saying it makes her "heart happy."  :)

Oh- and remember that contest I entered WAY BACK WHEN???  I posted about it here!  Anyways, the places and all that were finalllllly announced.  I was told it would be in the paper over Memorial Day weekend, but it wasn't.  Instead I found it on their site.  The sad news is, I didn't place (no money... booo).  The happy news is, they did select my photo(s)- (I'm still unsure of WHAT photo or photoS have been selected?) to be hung in their new building.  So that's pretty cool I guess, right?

I think those are the updates I have for today...

Thanks for keeping up with our ever-changing, incredibly crazy clan! :)



 

SHS... finally!

Life has been nothing short of crazy-over the top- hectic!  I have missed out on SHS 3 weeks in a row now :(. 

These photos were taken in Florida (... so not technically taken this past week, rather the week before).  But I figure since I haven't used them in a SHS and they're new, they'll work, right?? ;)  I hope...


1. Lines

 Do you see the lines created by the sprinkler? ;)   I thought it was cool...



2. Fresh

My bug... getting blasted in the face with ice cold hose water- what could be fresher? 


3.  On the Floor

 A smashed ice cream sandwich... life with kids ;)

4.  Self Portrait

ehhh... I am not a fan of self portraits ;)  This was the best I could do ;)  29 weeks preggo!

5. Classic Still Life

This photo is definitely stretching it a bit!  Lanterns strung on the ceiling of an AWESOME taco shack...  They're non-living!  And relatively still!  Not so classic... but ahhh well :) 

SHS (Happy EASTER!)

Okay- you blog readers rock.  The comments you left on  Friday night's post truly, truly, made my day!  There were so many nice, loving lones of encouragement. 

Another {thing} I wanted to address/answer, was in regards to my painting post.  Someone asked me if I had figured out how or why my photos are showing up 3 shades darker on my blog... I still have no idea :(.  I have tried uploading them to photobucket first, still no luck.  I think its something to do with blogger- because they upload on facebook just fine.  So if someone out there is reading this, and happens to know the secret for pretty, colorful, blog photos, let me know!

And now onto SHS...


1. Reflections

self explanatory... my little guy and his reflection on the shiny slide :)


2. Guess What This Is

We saw these at a farmers market- I've never heard of them before!


3.  What's Inside?

The big question for kids today... "what's inside that egg?" :)


4.Playtime

I love swings... LOVE them :)


5. Lawn & Garden

okay so I wish I had a beautiful picture to post of our lawn and/or garden.  The thing is, we're terrible at maintaining anything outside like that... this tree is about the only living thing in the yard (besides some grass ;)...