On our second snow day last week, the boys went outside. Since it was too cold for Anna, I stayed inside. Since I stayed inside, Mary Virginia stayed inside where she could maintain at least one point of contact with me. The boys were running around, criss-crossing the yard and going into our playhouse, so
Since Anna was born my exercise routine has been simple: round-the-clock breastfeeding, and hauling Thomas off high structures. Four pregnancies in six years has changed my schedule, my priorities, and my body. Right now I don’t have room in my life for much more than taking care of my kids and keeping track of who’s
Our first Christmas as a family of six was exactly as wonderful, memorable, and sleep-deprived as I expected. Reading the Christmas story before opening presents. The first peek at presents. Anna turned six weeks old the day before Christmas. Did you know that baby fussiness peaks at six weeks? Anna knew! We went to Christmas
Before Anna was born, I planned our Christmas card — a combo birth announcement/Christmas card with four kids in matching pajamas. Tom’s going to read that, wrinkle his forehead, and say, “You said you don’t have the brainpower to make a grocery list. But you’ve been strategizing our Christmas card for two months?” Yes, Tom,
If you’ve never heard of cord blood banking, click HERE for more information. When you’re expecting a new baby, it is remarkable how many decisions there are to make before the baby is even born. There are things like how to decorate the nursery, narrowing down a name, and figuring out if you’re the
UPS delivered my final package this morning. I did almost all of my shopping online this year, including stocking stuffers. I have only been in one store in the past month, and it doesn’t count because it was Target and it was mostly because I only had the baby with me and I wanted a
On the weekend before Anna turned one month old, we got a snowstorm. In the morning we had bacon and pancakes, then bundled up to go outside. Tom helped the kids make an adorable snowman family in our yard (Mary Virginia’s snowgirl is holding snowbaby, Anna) and then everyone came in and warmed up with
This is part three of Baby Anna’s birth story. If you missed parts one and two, you can find them here: Part One Part Two – – – When I gave birth to David, my water had broken a few hours earlier, and we walked into L&D full of nervous energy and an occasional contraction.
I sat down to write this, fully planning to end at the part where I’m screaming and Tom is asking if he can just go wait outside. But then I started writing and accidentally kept writing and now this is going to be a three-part story. But I promise I won’t drag this out until
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have four kids ages six and under, this is exactly what it’s like: Don’t touch the baby. Leave the baby alone. Give her some space. Back up. Let her sleep. You can hold her in a minute. She’s eating right now. Don’t touch her eyes. Don’t touch her