Summertime Fun with Nana & Papa

The girls have been itching to get to Old Orchard Beach for a while now, but we've been waiting for the 'perfect' time to bring them! Since Mairead has had a tough last few weeks behavior-wise, we told her once she started to listen better, we'd be able to go.

Well, last week her behavior was not good at all, and I was at my wits end with her...wait, we were at our wits end. My mom had spoken with her and told Mairead if she got a day where she got all 'stars' then they would drive up and take the girls.

Finally on Saturday, Mairead had a great day! It was like having the old Mairead back. She listened. She did everything she was supposed to do, so she was able to tell Nana & Papa she was allowed to go because she got all 'stars'! The girls woke up on Sunday knowing Nana & Papa were coming to take them to Old Orchard Beach for the day. Lilah was so excited! As soon as she woke up she kept repeating "I ready to gooooo! I ready to goooooo!" and Mairead kept asking "When are they coming? Are they here yet? I want to go to Old Orchard Beach!" They were obviously so excited!

My mom kept sending photo texts to show us what a great time they were having together!

Here is Nana and the girls!

Papa Steve & Mairead

Mairead & Lilah

Mairead

Lilah

Even though Lilah went to Old Orchard Beach last year, she was just 1.5, so she really didn't enjoy it, and was spooked by some of the rides....but not this year! The girls had a blast! Of course doing anything with Nana & Papa is special, but, this was something they had been really waiting to do this   summer!

Not good enough...

Do you ever feel like no matter what you do or how you do it, just isn't good enough? Today is one of those days. I try to be a hands on, fun mom and sometimes I just feel like that isn't good enough, like my kids want more and more....and more. This whole parenting thing sure does wax and wane. One week the kids are remarkable and then next...not so much. I don't expect a lot out of our girls, I really don't.

Today, I woke up and the girls did really great. Good listening all around. I thought today we were starting anew. They had made a mess in their playroom, but that's okay, they were having fun! Then, we met friends at Fort Williams where they have a playground. The kids played for 1.5 hours. They seemed to have had a blast. When we came home, I made lunch and I asked them to pick up their toys before they ate. It is one of their "jobs" on their chart - they have to pick up toys before or after lunch and again after dinner. Do you think they did it? Nope. I asked them again. And again. And again. After three times, they lose their star for that job. Mairead was being fresh, spitting and plain old inappropriate behavior. I gave them lunch and one more chance to pick up. Nope. So, Mairead lost all but one of her toys for rest. She protested and protested hard, but she has to realize that if she can't pick up her toys, she can't go on to make a mess out of the toys in my bedroom (she rests in there because Clara naps in her room). Am I being unreasonable with this?

I feel like I do so much for our girls during the day. I don't mean things like make them breakfast or clean up or things like that, but fun things. I make sure we're with friends, head to the beach (several times per week), park visits, shopping, etc. I am constantly pushing things aside [chores, housework, projects, etc] because I want our girls to have fun and not be bored. They are only little once...

Then today, and what seems like every day this week, the girls just can't listen. Can't take care of their toys. I'm frustrated. I know I have to continue being consistent with them, but I feel like a broken record. I have a bag full of goodies they picked out the other day at Target for when they get a day with all stars (meaning completed their tasks without problem). They will get M&Ms for every star on their chart. I know I have to stick with it, today is just the third day of this, but I am doubting myself. I hate when I doubt myself. I don't like to yell at them, and lately, I feel like I've been yelling too much. I even downloaded a "bell" application on my iphone to get their attention because I thought it would go better.

(See the jobs on the left. Stars = completed without problem. Circles = had to ask more than 3 times and no M&M given for task. X = did not do. For every star = M&M and all stars they'd get to pick out prize in bag) 

I know they understand the concept because they do so well with bringing their plates to the sink and their trash into the trash can, hanging their bath towels, putting their clothes in the hamper and shoes in the basket. They do all of that and do it well, but, when it comes to cleaning their toys, they just don't care. We have toys in the garage we have taken away. So, what do we do, take away more? Take them all away?

Seriously! This has been a tough week with the girls. I don't know what more to take away from them. Tonight, we're supposed to head out to dinner with friends from Kevin's work, but honestly, they don't deserve it - but what do you do? Keep loving them and maintain consistency. I know that is key. They'll get there.......and in the meantime, I'll have a few beers tonight at dinner! That should help :)

Happy 10 Months, Clara!

This morning, we came downstairs and did our typical morning routine. Then, it hit me. Today is July 20th. Today, Clara is 10 months old. It hit me like a ton of bricks. 10 months seems so big - it just doesn't feel like it has been 10 months since she was born into this world. I look at her and she amazes me each and every day. Her personality is just blossoming. She is certainly a fiesty one! As the day passed, I would just look at my little baby and stare at her in amazement. She has grown so much. It's pretty emotional, I mean, when did she change? Did I miss anything? Don't get me wrong, I think about this with all of our girls, but today, it was about Clara. I thought about her 1st birthday party. Next month, we will start planning her first party. Sending out invitations for the big celebration. Mairead has been counting the months, and I know she is looking forward to celebrating her little sisters first birthday. It will surely be a special day...but for now, I am going to enjoy our little baby Clara.

For being just 10 months, she has brought so much to our little family. She has two big sisters who love and adore her. She is starting to melt her daddy's heart, just like her sisters have done. Each month that goes by, she conquers so much. Last week, we were at swim school with the big girls, and Kevin walked in, and Clara says "daaadaaaaa" quietly. It was as clear as day but so incredibly sweet. Two nights ago, she took her first steps. Three-four to be exact. She continued to do it a few times after, and has done it a few times since. She's on her way to being able to do a better job keeping up with the big girls! She loves to be at the beach. She loves watermelon, especially at the beach. She loves pirates booty. She loves food. She can scream with the best of them. She knows what she wants. Did I say she knows what she wants???

She has really turned a great corner with sleeping at night! She has been sleeping until around 5am, sometimes later, too. She is just turning into a big girl. Tonight, while I was putting her to bed, she was nursing, and caressing my arm with her hand, looking so relaxed. It was so cute and I had my cell phone with me, so I had to snap a photo of her enjoying some milkies before bed. She is still nursing about 6-8 times a day and eating breakfast and dinner. She has been demanding to eat during lunch, so lately, she will have a snack with the girls during lunch. The girl likes to eat! She even likes Lobster - who doesn't? Looks like she will follow in her sisters footsteps.

Clara loves to dance! She loves music. During naps and night, she listens to music, and every time I bring her into the bedroom to sleep, we will stop at the music to dance a little bit. When I stop, she shakes her head and dances some more! Talk about cute. I can't even describe how cute she is! We are so lucky to have such a sweet, beautiful baby girl in our family. She brings us so much joy! Each month, she just blossoms even more! The thought of life to come with her brings a smile to my face. Happy 10 months baby girl....time has gone too fast, but at the same time, I can't remember a time without you! xoxoxoxo

Knock your Sox off fun!

I am a New Englander and I love the Boston Red Sox! I think there is nothing like walking into Fenway Park. I just love everything about it. There is one think I like more though...walking into Fenway alongside my hubby (and no kids)! And on Thursday night, we were able to do just that!

I had bought tickets for two Sox games from a former co-worker back in the spring. My parents took the girls (all three!) and we were off! This was the first time we had left Clara during dinner and bedtime so I was unsure how it would all turn out. I pumped some milk the few days leading up to the game so my mom would have something to give her before bed. Thankfully, she had been taking a cup without any problems for the past few weeks so that made me feel better. I am the only one who has ever put Clara to bed up until now. So, I apologized to my mom and off we went on a date into Boston to watch the Boston Red Sox!

It isn't often we get to leave all three kids for more than an hour or two at a time, so this was a real treat! Kevin and I drove into Boston. It was great. No requests for Raffi, no whining....nothing! We had peace and quiet for just a few minutes and it was enjoyable! When we got into Boston we had a beer and just enjoyed some adult time. This year, I was able to indulge! Last year when Kevin and I had a night away, I was big and pregnant with Clara, so no beer and limited junk food for me! This year was different though. Cold beer and yummy food! Can't beat that, especially on a beautiful summer night.

Our seats were pretty good, too! Since the Sox were losing, we snuck up closer to the field, and it was great. Since we had an hour drive back to my parents, we left in the 7th inning. Clara had gone to sleep easily for my parents, but woke up and was having a tough time going back to sleep, so we thought we might as well leave so we don't get home too late! The big girls were sound asleep and Clara was, too.

It was so nice to have a real, fun date! I mean, we get to go out frequently, but it is generally for dinner and then we're back home! This was actually a blast and even though the Sox lost, it didn't matter to me one bit. It wasn't about the sox, it was just about having some time with each other! Thanks to my parents who tackled all three girls so we could enjoy without worry!

Thankfully, we have tickets again in September, and I can't wait to do it all over again!!!

Clogged Toilets aren't fun to unclog!

I absolutely do not try to embellish on how great our life is. I try to keep it real and when it comes to raising three little girls, it very rarely gets boring around here. Most days are great and some days, well, aren't so great. Remember in my last entry how I talked about some days I think it would be better if I went back to work as a nurse??? Well, yeah, today was one of them!

It started off fairly good. The girls had a squabble over a new tea set a friend brought them yesterday, but the problems were easily fixed. After that was squared away, the girls played so nicely together. They picked up their toys before they took something else out. I even told them if it continued, they would be able to get some of their toys in the garage back.

Once I got Clara to sleep for her morning nap, the girls quietly watched 'Angelina' on the couch while I showered. We were heading over to the neighbors to play. Once we were all ready, I told Lilah to go potty. She obliged and went. She got off of the potty and flushed the toilet. I didn't realize the toilet had been flushed several times, then, all of a sudden, there was

water everywhere. And other contents that will go unmentioned. Yep. You know. 

Mairead had gone potty earlier and used a bit too much toilet paper. She says "Mamma, I used a lot of toilet paper!" You see, she's been wanting to be independent while using the potty, especially after going poopy. Most of the time she gets it, but when she asked me to help her wash her hands because there was poop on them, I should have known something was up.

So...by the time I really realized what was going on, there was about an inch of water on the bathroom floor and with ummmm other nastiness. I shut the water off and tried to keep three curious blonde haired beauties out of the bathroom. Not as easy as you may think. What was even harder was finding the plunger. You would think it would be in an easily reachable location, right? WRONG. You see, I don't use a plunger, but Kevin does [often], and well, he's a man and has a hard time putting things back in the same place each time or maybe telling me where an important item like the plunger could be found. Of course when I called him, he wasn't answering. Any. Of. His. Phones. Yep. There is gross water seeping out of the bathroom, three curious children who are really wanting to know what this plunger is and how it is used. Then, after 15 minutes of searching, I find it in a bathroom tucked way behind in the cabinet. Um yeah, that's a great place. The plunger was smaller than the hole, so getting a good suction was tough. Each time I stuck the plunger in the toilet, nasty water bellowed out onto the floor. YUCK. After about 5 minutes of trying to get the toilet unclogged, I finally did it. I never thought unclogging a toilet would be that tough - and for the record, that was my first time ever having to unclog a toilet! I'll leave that duty to my husband who is an expert!

I won't go into the other details of how the remainder of my day went, but, I am sure you now get the gist of it all! And I'm just glad the day is pretty much over...

Ahhh....life just never gets boring, does it? That's okay though, boring is boring!

Why don't friends with kids have time?

Being a stay at home mom is definitely a full time job - actually more than a full time job. In my "past life" I was a nurse - a L&D nurse to be exact. It was great and some days I miss it. I miss making a difference in the lives of others, but, when it was my turn to have babies, I couldn't do both the way I wanted to. It was a tough decision, but I had to choose my child[ren] and family, and in the end, I left my job to be home with Mairead full time. I don't regret it one bit.

There are days when I couldn't imagine working and missing out on what my girls accomplish each and everyday. They are only little once and for me, I couldn't miss out on the days I cherish so much. I love teaching them about life. I love teaching them about the little things. I am sometimes jealous of those woman around me who are able commit themselves to their family AND their career at the same time.

There are days when I wonder why I don't go back. Days are long. The whining kills me. I don't get much of a break. I repeat myself all day long. I break up fights. I am a maid. I am a cook. A referee. I guess you could say I pretty much do it all. Some days I yell too much. Some days I wonder if our kids will be okay - are we doing a good job as parents? But, at the end of the day, it is all completely worth it to me when our girls tell us they love us or do something to melt our hearts.

I always snicker at those people who do not know what it is like to stay home with children all day long. I know they judge. I know they talk behind [our] backs, but how much do they realize just how much is involved in raising children? Before I had children, I had a pretty good idea, but never really understood just how much was involved. I am sometimes frustrated with just how little I get accomplished on some days, and then, I read this article above. It's true. 100% true. I sometimes sit down at the end of the day, after the girls have gone to bed, and look around. I think "What the hell have I done? I feel as though I haven't stopped all day, but I still have so much to do..." - then I read this...

So if you are one of those people wondering what it is I do all day long - here you go!

So grateful for healthy children...

Some days I look at our three beautiful girls and think about how lucky we are to have them all here with us and healthy. There are so many things that can go wrong with a baby from the moment of conception all the way through their birth - and beyond. When our girls were all born, Kevin and I looked at each of them in amazement. They were perfect. From their ear folds to their tiny little toes. What a miracle it is...

With Mairead & Clara, I experienced 1st trimester bleeding. It was so scary and thankfully, it stopped and led to perfectly healthy little baby girls. That wasn't the only complication I experienced during my pregnancies. With Mairead (born at 37.0 weeks), I had preterm labor at 29 weeks and oligohydramnios (or low fluid), which ended up getting me induced at exactly 37 weeks. With Lilah (born at 36.6 weeks), I was found to have a dangerously shortened cervix (incompetent cervix) at 19 weeks and ended up getting an emergent cerclage. I landed myself on bed rest until about 34 weeks or so. With Clara (born at 36.2 weeks), I had first trimester bleeding and a subchorionic hemorrhage (small), then I got a preventative cervical cerclage at 13 weeks. Thankfully, my cervical issues stayed fairly stable (with one big drop at 19 weeks) and I was able to remain off of strict bed rest for my pregnancy. I did have some potential fluid issues and preterm labor at 34 weeks, but overall, it was a much less stressful pregnancy than Lilah's. I think back to my three pregnancies and think about how lucky we were to have ended up with three, healthy babies...born a little early, but healthy!

It isn't anything new when I mention thinking about wanting just one last baby. I've always been a lover a children. Always wanted children. A lot of them, actually. I babysat at a young age and spent summers babysitting children all the way through getting married. When I hear people say "you should stop, you have healthy children, why risk it..." it bothers me. I think no matter how many children you want, there is always a risk of having a children who isn't perfect. Maybe because I am a labor & delivery nurse by trade that I know not every family has a "happy ending" -  and even before I had a child, I knew my first may not be perfect. Why would this be any different with a 3rd......4th......5th.....? Having a child is a risk from the second you make that decision. There are no guarantees with life...unfortunately at any age. I try not to live my life with "what-if's" - it's just not for me.

I've been following a blog about a little boy born (Living with Three Hobbits and a Giant) with a severe heart defect who was not expected to survive, and is now one. He has conquered so many obstacles, surgeries, but he is a fighter! His parents seem to be such strong people, and when I read the blog this morning, I thought this topic struck me hard. You see, just last night, a few girlfriends of mine and I were talking about pregnancy, and this very topic that I've been discussing - not having more children because of the chances of "something happening"... I don't understand why people feel the need to give you their opinions and/or disapproval on having [more] children. I think the number of children a family decides to have is absolutely no one elses business. While some may choose to have one others may choose to have 19. If you can provide a loving, caring, nurturing home while being able to provide your children with everything needed to be a first class citizen in the community, then why not? What is the problem? I know some may think we are crazy for having three all close in age. It works for us. And while they wouldn't do it or have done it, that is no ones business but ours.

Of course, there are no guarantees in life. Ever. Of course no one goes into a pregnancy expecting an "unhealthy" child, so when it happens, most people are taken by surprise. Devastated. Shocked. Saddened. It can be life stopping. It's those people who take the positive end of the "shit stick" and make do - and the blog entry about talks about "resetting the bar" and how you lead your life after major life "disappointments". Do you sulk or enjoy the blessings you do have? I would hope that if I were ever in a situation like the family above, I would be a fighter. Of course have highs and lows and maybe more lows than highs...but I would make sure our child(ren) have the best possible chance for the best possible life.

Both Kevin and I have chosen not to have any genetic testing done with our children during pregnancies...it just doesn't matter. We have set out to have children, and if we are blessed with a child who needs extra help, then we will give that child everything he/she needs.

I am so thankful for everything Kevin and I have with our girls and I don't take even a second of it for granted because you just never know...

She WHATTTTT!?!?!

Nope! No need to adjust your screen...that is Clara (9mos) sitting on the potty!

Yes, maybe I am jumping the gun just a bit. But, let me explain... You see, Clara poops every morning, usually within 20 minutes or so of waking up. I would say it is very unusual if she didn't poop. Since starting solid foods and giving her two meals a day, her poops are.....well, nasty. Even if I didn't cloth diaper, I'd still think they were nasty. I know they are only going to get worse!!! Ewwwwwwww!

So, since she's an every morning pooper, I thought I may try sitting her on the potty when she wakes up in the morning. I kind of started it as a joke thinking it may work, but I never expected her to actually do it. Yep. You read that right. She really did poop on the potty. Not once. Not twice.....but FIVE times in four days. It's pretty amazing. The first day it took her about 10+ minutes to do it, and each morning, it has gotten quicker! This morning it was about 2-3 minutes. I even put her on after nap since she had an afternoon poop yesterday....and well, what do you know! She pooped! and Peed! Seriously! I think she is getting the hang of it, too. While she sits there, she will play with a toy, but when she starts to go, she will drop (or throw) the toy and won't take it back......then...what do you know! there is poop!


Both Mairead & Lilah potty trained early. Mairead at 24 months exactly and Lilah about 20 months. Once they turned 1, we used to sit them on the potty before baths just to get used to sitting there. Mairead showed interested about 22 months and Lilah was a ripe old 19 months when she insisted on using the potty (and peeing in it!). It took Lilah a lot longer to get the hang of it than it did Mairead, but, I certainly didn't expect a lot out of a 19 month old wanting to potty train. I am guessing Clara will be younger, too, but until then, I'll keep doing this and getting her used to sitting there! She's pretty damn cute!


Don't get me wrong, I absolutely do not expect Clara to be potty trained anytime soon. All I am trying to do is limit the number of poop diapers I have to clean up! If she poops half the time on the potty, then I'm happy!

4th of July Weekend!

This years 4th of July weekend was probably one of the funnest (and action packed) we've had in a long time! To make everything even better, the weather was absolutely perfect. Seriously. It couldn't have been any better!

On Saturday morning, we kicked of the weekend by heading to Scarborough beach. We planned on getting there early ahead of the crowds because we knew it would be a bit crazy. The girls were so excited to go to Scarborough beach - they love playing in the waves! Generally, during the week, we head to Ferry since it's calmer and the walk tends to be considerably shorter. One of our neighbors (my running mate) was there so she spoiled the girls rotten and gave them lots of goodies! Clara snoozed on the beach for a while and we just enjoyed our day together! When we got home, we put the girls down for their rest/nap because we had to turn around and head to Portland for dinner and a sunset cruise around Casco Bay with friends!

Once everyone woke up, we met some good friends downtown for a fun night ahead - we started the night off with dinner at Portland Lobster Co..We had yummy lobster rolls and beer. After dinner, we ate some yummy ice cream and then boarded the boat for a sunset cruise on Casco Bay. The night was so perfect. Not too chilly. Perfectly clear. Just beautiful. The girls were so excited to go on a boat ride! Lilah kept saying "I ready to go on the boat!" and Mairead was very curious as to what kind of boat we were going on. It was fun playing tourist - we learned little facts about the area we didn't know about! Casco Bay really is a beautiful place. The islands were picture perfect New England. It reminded me of why I love New England so much.

On Sunday, we got ready for our third annual cookout. Our first 4th of July here in Maine, we celebrated with the Wallaces (the family we were with on the sunset cruise) and my parents. They, too, had just moved to Maine from Holland (though they are American) just a few weeks before we got here. Now, two years later, we celebrated with my parents and lots of friends we have met here in Maine. We are so lucky to have such great friends here. We all had a blast! We grilled out, drank a ton.....I made a mean "mamma's punch" and the guys drank lots of beer. The kids played on the waterslide and ran around. All of a sudden, it was 8pm and ready to head down to the beach to watch the fireworks. Time flies when you're having fun! We hustled and got everyone ready. Quick! Clara had just fallen asleep, so I had our high school sitter stay home with her so we didn't have to bother her. She had had a busy day and I didn't have the heart to bother her. So, she missed out on all the excitement of the 4th!

For the past two 4th of July's, we had trekked over to Portland to watch the 'big' fireworks, but this year, we decided to meet the Wallaces down at Ferry where you can see the Old Orchard Beach fireworks. Kristen had brought the fixins' for S'Mores and Kevin supplied the blow torch to make them! HA! Not to mention, I filled a gallon jug of "Mamma's punch" - It was hilarious! The kids ran around in the sand and waved sparklers. The sunset was amazing. Breathtaking actually. The fireworks were a decent distance, so I don't think they were quite as exciting for the girls as the Portland fireworks, but overall, it was a lot of fun!

On Monday, we headed back to the beach. It was HOT. Super duper HOT. Thankfully, the water was great and not too chilly - and by 'not too chilly' - I mean, my feet didn't get numb, but the water was still only about 60! It was a must to get in the water though! After the beach, we headed home for a quiet afternoon. Our friends followed us home and the kids had some time using the waterslide.

It was a great end to a perfect weekend. Really. The weekend was flawless. Everyone was happy. The weather was beautiful. And we had each other. I wish every weekend could be so perfect!

Confessions of a stay at home Mamma...

 Here are some more Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom.....

Life isn't always glitz and glamour when you're staying home with three small children under the age of 5.....you do the best you can, and sometimes....just sometimes you let things go.....but Shhhhhhhh don't tell anyone! ;)

I sometimes Let mairead hit lilah back - Lilah is always hitting Mairead, and 'time-outs' don't always work...maybe if someone beat Lilah up, she'd realize, it doesn't feel too good to be hit......Ok, maybe not the best idea....


The other day I ignored Clara, who was crying on the floor for me, but had to take just one more bite of freshly made cookie dough before I picked her up - but it was SO good....I had to take just one more bite!

Some days, I kind of enjoy watching Mairead & Lilah hit each other and duke it out - I don't always have to intervene, do I???


Sometimes I think going back to work would be easier, but then at the end of the day, I see my little angels sleeping and change my mind! They trick you like that!


I let my kids run around the backyard naked when it's warm out. They're only little for so long, plus, let's face it, by the time I go into the house, find the bathing suits and put them on the kids, they will have changed their minds about going swimming. So, I just let them run around naked.



Some days, I thoroughly enjoy having a strong adult beverage at the end of the day. It just numbs the chaos in my head.....just a little. 

Does NOT get excited about wiping stinky, poopy bums all day......though I'd much rather do that than change a poopy diaper! 


The other day, I set Mairead's rest timer for 15 minutes longer than usual....I just wanted that extra 15 minutes to myself! Some days 1.5 hours just isn't enough if you catch my drift!


Okay! Enough for today :) Don't worry, there will always be more confessions!

What are some of your confessions???

No one is immune...

Yesterday, we had a nice family day planned out...some time at the beach watching the girls play and just having fun together.....well, remember I what I said in an earlier post about plans? Yah, well, they don't always go as planned...

At 830am, I was minutes away from going for a run with my nieghbor when the phone rang. It was my mom. Kind of strange for her to be calling at 830am, but I didn't think anything of it until I heard her voice. I didn't like the tone of her voice as she said "Hey, Steph." - then she proceeded to say "Well, I think your father is having a heart attack." I replied "What!?! Dad???" Huh?" - You see, my dad is only 56 and is a workout addict. Since he quit smoking 4 years ago, he has used exercise to help his cravings. You may remember that he ran in the Father's Day 5K  with us last Sunday! He beat me and not to mention, that was his first 5K. He works out about 5-6 days a week or more - he may even do multiple classes in a day! Like I said, crazy. So, you can see why I was a bit shocked when my mom told me the news.

Anyways, during her phone call, he was being admitted to the ER at the local hospital and being assessed. His blood pressure was sky high, had horrendous chest pain, was vomiting and was just miserable. Once they figured out what was going on, he was sent to the Cath lab and they found a complete blockage of an artery, so they placed a stent. He spent yesterday and this morning in the ICU, then they  transferred him to a regular floor this afternoon where he is thankfully doing very well. Hopefully he will go home tomorrow!

Of course when we got the call, I wanted to leave right away, but my mom asked us to wait until they had more news. Once he went to the Cath lab we headed south to be with my family. By the time we got there my dad was out of the cath lab and in a room. He looked pretty good actually. A bit groggy, but overall pretty good. I was so glad to see the girls were allowed in and that I think helped enlighten the situation a bit. The girls were so concerned about "Papa Steve" - they kept asking "Are you all better?" and Mairead was very interested in everything about everything. She asked a million questions and we did our best to answer each and every one of them. We told her Papa's heart got sick and he was in the hospital so the doctors could make it better.

After dealing with this over the weekend, it is definitely a lesson learned. What you do now can certainly come back to haunt you, especially if you have family history. I am so glad that Kevin and I have taken the initiative with our children as well as ourselves to lead as healthy of a lifestyle as possible. Exercising regularly is now more important to me than ever. Making healthy choices in our diet is more important - minimal processed foods, foods that are whole and/or organic. I have enjoyed shopping at local farms, buying local and visiting farmers markets. My dad may lead a healthy lifestyle now, but what he did in his 20s, 30s and 40s could have come back to haunt him...years of eating on the road, smoking, drinking and family history have all played a factor, and I hope to prevent this from happening to me in the future.

The fight to clean up...

Do you ever have some days where you don't know what to do next? or you want to have an anxiety attack just by walking around your house? or you feel that no matter what you do, your kids just don't listen???

Well, the last few days, I would answer the above questions yes and yes and ummmmm yes... I don't know what it is, but lately, I have felt like the girls have just taken a nose dive with behavior, especially putting their toys away. Their toys have been everywhere lately and no matter how hard we try to get them to pick up, they won't. The other day, I set the timer to 3 minutes and I told them they better start to pick up and if they hadn't, I would take a toy away. Sure enough, the timer went off and they hadn't picked anything up. I took a toy away. They squealed, but didn't freak too much. If and when they do pick up, they will start, but Mairead will start whining and say "help meeeeeeeeeee, you pick uppppp"....um no. You made the mess, now, pick it up. Of course, this prompts me to ask what she does at school "do you pick up your toys or does your teacher?" and Mairead responds "No, my teacher doesn't pick up after me, I have to pick up my toys". I know she can do it. Don't get me wrong, I spend a lot of time picking up and organizing their playroom, so it isn't like I don't help. I do. A lot. Maybe too much?

After spending THREE hours cleaning the house on Wednesday and paying a sitter to watch the girls, tonight was the icing on the cake. The playroom was a disaster. Toys were everywhere. We told the girls at dinner if they picked up their playroom, they would be able to spend a little time outside before bed. They went into the toy room and sure enough, they wouldn't pick up. They tried to get us to do it for them but we refused. Kevin even pulled the Santa card and gave him a call. Mairead responded "That's okay, I'll just get toys for my birthday instead" - HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously???? WHO is this child???  Kevin asked the girls one final time to pick up and they wouldn't, so that was the final straw for me. Kevin grabbed a few boxes from the garage and away went the toys. The girls were crying "don't take my toys away" and all sorts of other drama, but we did. We had to. We told them we would do this...We didn't take everything away. We left their dolls, their clothes and their dress up toys. The kitchen food, legos, spinaroos, doctor bag, barbies, dollhouses and various other goodies went away. OK, so maybe not the perfect approach, but it sparked some emotion, and obviously all the other threats were not working, so maybe this will???? I don't know. I've never done this before.

After baths, I laid down with Mairead and talked about why we did what we did. I had to let her understand that we have to take care of our things. Many toys in their playroom were given to them as gifts and if they want people to continue giving them gifts, they need to show them they can take care of what they have already. So, until they can show us they can take care of their dolls and dress up clothes, the other toys will remain in the garage. If they do well with clean up, we will slowly give their toys back, and if they don't, well, they'll start losing more.

I am also going to implement a "chore" chart for the girls. For Mairead, her daily expectations will be something like: Putting her dishes in the sink when finished, putting clothes in hamper, milk in fridge when done, shoes in basket and clean up toys. For Lilah, her daily expectations will be something like: Shoes in basket, clean up toys and clothes in hamper.

I don't know if any of this will make a difference, but I pray it will. I hope our girls will learn to appreciate the toys they have. They are lucky.

Anyone have any suggestions??? :)

What works in your house??? 

Just call me lazy...

Yesterday I made the plunge and started giving Clara breakfast. Yeah, she's 9 months old, and for the last two months or so I have just been making an effort to give her dinner every night with us. If you've been reading my blog, you may have read Babies & Solid Foods or Who says you have to go slow?. With all three of our girls, I have not rushed into giving our girls three meals per day, actually, the third meal (lunch) doesn't usually come into play until about 11-12 months.

Why? You ask. Pure laziness for the most part. Sure, breastmilk is Clara's main source of nutrition until she reaches 10-12 months of age, and she is gaining weight right on her growth curve. So why mess with that?

Honestly? It's just easier to stick the boob in her mouth when she's hungry. No food to prepare. No mess to clean up. It's 100% portable and it's quick and easy. The other reason is because it's just one more kid I have to feed and clean up, especially in the morning when things are a bit crazy. I have to get the two dogs out, make sure they don't join the neighbors for breakfast, feed the dogs, and prepare breakfast for the girls. Clara usually plays happily during this time and from time to time, will share my breakfast.

Well, yesterday, I sucked it up and started Clara with breakfast. She was psyched to get into her high chair and eat with the big girls. Honey nut cheerios & fresh nectarines. She was in heaven! So, breakfast it is for the next few months! She'll start eating lunch probably mid-late summer. Our little baby is growing up. It's so bittersweet!

So for now, it will be booby & big girl food in the morning!

9 month & 4 year old well check ups

Today, Mairead & Clara had their well child check up at the pediatricians office. I had completely forgot about their appointment and for some reason, it never saved on my phone calendar, so this morning I called to see when their appointment was. The lady responded "today at 4:30" - geez, so glad I called!

Mairead absolutely loves going to the pediatricians office. I don't know why, but she has really never had a bad experience with a physician thankfully. Mairead has never had a sick visit to a pediatrician. She has never been on antibiotics or anything. Should I knock on wood now that I have announced this to the public? Yes, my children have been sick, but I have a pretty high threshold for when I would take them in to be seen. So, in 4 years, Mairead has only had well child checks ups and she loves every minute of them.

Her stats are:
31 pounds (25-50%)
38.5'' tall (25-50%)

She's following her little ole growth curve just perfectly! She's a tiny little thing, but she's healthy. Perfectly healthy. Mairead loved getting her body checked out. "Are you going to listen to my ears next?" or "Are you going to bang on my knees now to make sure they're healthy?" or "Hey! Dr. Maggie, watch me jump real high. I'm super strong!" The doc asked her lots of questions and she had a blast answering each and every one of them! Then, it was time for a shot. She needs 4 vaccines before she starts Kindergarten, so we decided to do 2 now, and 2 next year. Mairead doesn't mind getting shots. No, really, she doesn't! When the nurse came in with the vaccine, she asked if I could give the shot because "it doesn't hurt when mommy does it!"- it isn't the first time I've given my kid a shot, and since they know I am an RN, I went ahead and gave it. Mairead didn't even flinch. Not a tear. Nothing. She was so strong! They can't believe it - they asked if they could video her so they could show other kids how brave she was.

Then, it was Clara's turn!

Her stats:
16lbs10oz (10%)
27.5'' tall (25%)

Clara is the size Lilah was at 12 months. It's funny because at 12 months Mairead was 15lbs10oz and Lilah was 16lbs10oz, so it looks like Clara will be 17lbs+ at 12 months (she's been gaining 1lb every 3 months). Clara is perfect developmentally - which we knew! Dr. Maggie had a blast watching her cruise around the room. She didn't get any vaccines today.

Of course, Lilah got a "free" check up - she told me she had a baby in her belly and needed her belly checked by the doctor today. Lilah even asked for a "shot in my butt" today. That definitely made everyone laugh!

Overall, a perfect doctor visit - three healthy children. Can't beat that!

Happy 9 months, Clara!

Whoa! Another month...and she just keeps getting cuter!

The big girls are on their way to get Chinese food with their daddy, so it is just me & Clara. I am here in our playroom, and Clara is exploring anything and everything around her. I am watching her play, and she just amazes me. She is sitting on her knees - aren't big girls supposed to do this? She looks so big, so mature. Her little baby look is disappearing before our eyes. I don't think I am ready for her to be a toddler yet, but as each day passes, I realize just how much more fun she is becoming!

The last month she has changed so much! I feel like I can't keep up with all of her changes. She is now crawling and cruising the furniture. She is Everywhere. She loves to explore the house and find new things to play with, like the stairs. She can now climb up the entire flight of stairs. I think that is my least favorite advancement! This month she started to sign "more", dance and my all time favorite - say mamma. Can a child learn anything more in a month? She has got it all covered!

She is still not the best sleeper, but she is healthy and happy, and that is all I care about. The sleep will come. I know this, but it doesn't make it any easier when she is waking up multiple times a night. I'm not sure what it could be - anything really...Teeth? Growth Spurt? Reaching new milestones? Well, we know she is learning so much, her little brain is overloaded with information. She'll get there, for now, I will enjoy her warm body next to mine when she comes into our bed in the middle of the night.

She loves to eat. Anything. I haven't started giving her anything but dinner, but I have to start soon. I guess I am just lazy. I mean, it's just another kid I need to feed, so for now, I'll keep it simple. Her high pitch screams for more food have not gone unnoticed. She will be our screamer. Can't wait.

Clara just keeps getting sweeter and cuter. We love her with all of our hearts, and it is so much fun watching her grow up with her big sisters. She is now so, so, so happy to be able to get into the middle of playtime with her big sisters! I don't think they quite realize what they are in for in the next several months, but for now, they are loving their baby sister!

An amazing daddy...

Since today marks 'Father's Day' (as well as Clara's 9 month birthday, more on that later...), I thought it would be appropriate to pay a small tribute to Kevin.

I don't think anyone starts off life (particularly men) with the intent to be an amazing father. I don't even think it is a priority of most men before they even lay hands on their flesh and blood and maybe I am wrong here, too...it's probably after the shock of actually having a kid is over! When I married Kevin, he used to tell me how he used to think he would never get married, or even have children. Of course, when he married me, he knew I was a lover of children, and wanted a bunch of them - I certainly wasn't shy about it. Thankfully, he changed his mind about children, and I am thankful for that!

When we were married in September 2005, we thought we'd get pregnant within the first year or so. What do they say about plans? Well, yeah...they don't always go as planned! I found out I was pregnant with Mairead within days of returning back from our honeymoon. What a surprise, a wonderful, surprise. Kevin was nervous, very nervous. I used to wonder if he was as excited as I was...and maybe he wasn't quite as excited, but I knew he was happy, and that's all I cared about!

When Mairead was born, I will never forget the look on his face. The tears. The amazement. The love. He was the first person to hold our sweet Mairead - actually, he was lucky enough to make the big catch. From that second on...he was hooked on his little girl. Daddy's little girl. Little did he know he would be blessed with three more little girls!

The first year brought lots of learning curves to this little daddy, but he tackled each and every one of them with pride and joy. Having such a supportive husband and daddy made everything perfect, well, maybe not perfect, but it was as close to perfect as you can get. He changed diapers, gave a mean bath, read books, snuggled and did everything he could to be an amazing daddy.

Each year he grows so much as a father to our sweet girls. I know no matter what our children grow up to be, he will support them always - even if they aren't star soccer players. I cannot ask for a better father to our girls - he is everything to them. And me. 

Now, two more princesses later - make that three total - Kevin is a pro daddy to girls! He knows barbies. Princesses. Baby dolls. Dress up. Pretend. You name it, daddy does it, and does it with a smile. I know it's tough for him to be thrown in the midst of SIX females (3 girls, me and our two female labs), but he does a great job, and we love him so much. He provides each and every one of us with everything we could possibly need and works hard for it. I may give him a hard time about this, but in all honesty, he works very, very hard each and every day for us. His girls adore every piece of him, and hearing them yell "Daaaaddddyy!" when he walks in the door after work just melts my heart, and I know it does his, too.

Our girls cannot have a better daddy, and I am so lucky to have Kevin! Happy Father's day!

Just another day...Just another day in the Funny Farm.

It's no secret, I've always loved kids and I have always dreamed of having a household full of them. Sure, they're a lot of work, and can cause a lot of headaches, but, at the end of the day, I would choose to do it all over again. In a heartbeat.

Yesterday, I was on the phone with a good friend of mine. She was telling me she was in a bind for childcare today. I offered up my "services". She quickly thought I was insane, but when she didn't have any other option for her kids, she took me up on my offer! The girls were so excited their friends would be with us for the entire day to play! I was actually excited, too! When I woke up, I noticed Phoebe, our almost 7 year old lab, had a bloody neck. It was pussy and just painful looking. Every time she shook, blood splattered everywhere. Great. A houseful of kiddos and a dog that probably needed a vet visit! I felt so bad for her. She is usually so stoic, but today, she was sad. Who says dogs don't have emotions!


The kiddos (4.5yrs & 2) arrived right about 815am just as I was cleaning up Phoebe's neck. Before things got out of hand with the crazy crew, I sat them all down and told them the rules. Play Nice. Put away toys. No ransacking the playroom. No hitting. Listen. Share. And then, the kids were off. I had our sitter come over at 930am for a few hours just to have an extra hand. Once Clara fell asleep, I took Mairead and Sam (the two oldest of the bunch) to a local farm to buy some fresh strawberries, salad mix, tomatoes and eggs. It was a fun, quick trip! When we got home, we played outside until it started to rain. I was ticked. It wasn't supposed to rain when I had 5 kids to entertain! After some quick thinking, I thought it would be fun to make cookies. Of course, the kiddos thought that was a great idea!


Once all the kiddos were summoned inside, we got ready to bake cookies. I'll admit. Cookie-baking with 2 kids is much easier than cookie-baking with 4 (Clara doesn't count here!). Every other second it was something like... "don't put your hands in the batter" - "don't lick your fingers" - "keep your feet off the table" - "don't eat the butter" - "no, you can't have more batter" - "don't stand on the chairs" - Thankfully our sitter was still there to help contain the beasts! I really can't complain though - everyone had a blast!

While the cookies were baking, we made the hungry kiddos lunch! They all did great. Once they were done, so were the cookies, and boy! did they enjoy them! It was obvious by their chocolate covered faces. When lunch was done, the kids relaxed and watched a few minutes of TV while I cleaned up. They were tired! Jackie (2yrs) was sucking her thumb while wrapped up in her little blankey. So sweet. I put her down for a nap, and didn't hear a sound out of her. Then, Lilah crashed. Then, Clara crashed. Mairead & Sam watched Madagascar on the couch together for some quiet time.

I was so proud of myself! Three sleeping kiddos and two resting ones - all at once. And no tears. Wow. Maybe 5 kids isn't so bad after all! :) Honestly, it was great because the kids all enjoyed each other. Minimal tears - (only tears shed were those of my daughter!). No fighting. and lots of fun!

By then, Kevin was home in time to take Phoebe to the vet. She was miserable, and needed to be seen, so off they went. $100 bucks later. Two medications. Diagnosis: Massive Cellulitis.

Once all the kiddos awoke, we got ready and headed outside! Thankfully the rain stopped and the kids were able to let some energy out. Lilah of course had to go outside in her tutu with her baby stroller. Jackie followed suit with her stroller & baby. Mairead & Sam rode their bikes together!

Overall, a successful day with 5 kiddos under 5......and a sick dog. Just another day at the Funny Farm.....and you know what, I'd do it again!

Showering

I remember before I had children people used to say "wait until you have kids...you're never going to be able to shower" or "it will be midnight before you find a second to shower" - I would laugh inside because I need a shower  - kid or no kid, I would shower. I wasn't just going to wash my face, throw on sweats, and use my kid as an excuse not to take a shower or to get dressed. I needed to feel like a person, not a zombie!

Once Mairead was born, I lived up to my thoughts. When she was really tiny, she slept all the time, so finding time to take a shower earlier in the day wasn't too hard. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't just shower like I used to. I had to plan it, but, it almost always got done. Once she was a few weeks old, she took her first shower with me. When it was time for me to take a shower, if she was awake, she'd just come shower with me. I'd strip her naked, wrap her in a towel, and she'd sit in her bouncy seat while I washed my hair. Once I was finished, she came in and showered. She loved it. This was our routine every morning, and each month, she loved it more and more. Once she could sit and crawl, she'd play on the shower floor. Not only did she love the shower, but she loved the sound of the hair dryer. Once she hit toddlerhood, showering with her was a must. It allowed me to shower and not have to worry what she was doing, or where she was. To this day, she continues to shower with me on most days!

Lilah was the same, she showered with us at a very early age. Since Lilah was an amazing sleeper, she didn't shower with us in the morning as much as Mairead did as an infant. Once she hit the mobile stage, she showered with us more and more. Lilah was a crazy toddler, so showering with me was a must. I didn't trust her for a second!

Up until last week, Mairead & Lilah showered with me almost every morning, but as of late, Clara has been going down for a nap later in the morning now, so, I am now showering with all three of my girls! I am running out of room!!!!! Clara has showered with us since a newborn as well, but she hasn't had a ton of showers, but now, she is on the move, and I don't trust her being alone in a room while I shower for even a second! The last few mornings, she has been taking showers with us, and she is loving it! This morning, I got out while she and Mairead played in the shower together for another 10 minutes! That was just enough time to get dressed!

Showers for the girls in the morning aren't about them being dirty or needing a shower, but about keeping them safe so I can shower and get dressed! 

So, if you're strapped for time or afraid to let your kiddos roam the house while you shower, drag them in with you! They'll love it! If they weren't able to shower with me the whole "wait until you have kids...you're never going to be able to shower" may be true!

Close...

I think Lilah is close to being done with nursing...

I am not sure how I feel about it. It really is bittersweet. In a lot of ways, it is time. She is just days away from turning 2.5. It is more of a habit than anything. For a while now, I could let her nurse for seconds, tell her "okay" and she'll be done. No questions asked. For 2.5 years, I have nursed her before bed, almost every night. I think I can probably count on one hand (maybe two hands) how many nights she has not nursed before bed. How special is that? In the last week, I think she has nursed maybe twice before bed. I can easily distract her now if she asks. She will say "Nooky, please?", and I will say "Let's talk about the day" and she will start telling me all about her day. Most nights, she doesn't ask again and if she does, I will let her nurse. I know she will be done in time, and I really have no reason to force her to stop. It just isn't worth the tears to me. She sees Clara nurse, and I want her to be done on her terms. Not mine.

My nursing relationship with Lilah has been so wonderful. I didn't have that rocky period in the beginning like I had with Mairead. Lilah was a pro from the beginning. She loved to nurse. She loved to eat. It was the perfect combination. She was almost always a great nurser. Mairead could be tough if there were better things going on and Clara can be a pain, too - she is starting nursing acrobatics lately! Lilah just loved to nurse - no matter what! Lilah was so amazing about sharing her "nook" with Clara, too. There was never any jealousy when it came to nursing. There was plenty for each :)

Like I mentioned above, Lilah loved to nurse before bed. Once she got older, she didn't fall asleep nursing, it was just a nice way for her to wind down before bed. I'd rock her, sing to her and watch her nurse. With Mairead, she nursed every morning. She'd come into our bed around 5-6am, nurse and fall back asleep with us until 8am or even later. It's funny how kids can be so different. Each child had a different way of nursing that was more comforting for them. Mairead was a morning nurser and nursed until she was about 28-29 months. Lilah is a bedtime nurser.

I feel so lucky to have had such wonderful experiences nursing our children. I feel so fortunate to have given our girls such a great gift. I never would have thought I would tandem nurse my children. Never. I think back to what if I hadn't - I would have missed out on a lot of special moments with our girls.

While, it is sad for Lilah to be ending our nursing relationship, it makes me happy to have given her all the time she has needed. Having children close together can be tough, so, nursing our girls for longer than most gives me that special one-on-one time they may need.

...and she stands!

Oh! Boy! Clara is just changing so fast it seems. She has gone from sitting quietly on the floor to crawling all over the place!

Today, she stood for a few seconds all by herself! Where has my little baby gone? Soon, she'll be off running with her big sisters! I know she will be so happy to keep up with them. Watching her try to follow them all around the house is so cute, she just wants to be just like them!

As much as I have tried to prepare myself for Clara being mobile this early, it still doesn't seem real!

I am excited she will soon be walking, I really am...it is just easier in a lot of ways to have a walker. I am kind of sad that my sweet, baby Clara is growing up faster than I want her to!

Memorial Day Weekend Fun!

I would have to say that this years Memorial Day weekend was one of the funnest I've had in a long time! The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and we enjoyed every second of it!

On Friday, some friends came over with their three kids. We grilled chicken and had Pasta Ponza (one of my favorite pasta dishes). All of the kids played outside and had a great time together while the adults relaxed and enjoyed some good conversation. It was a great way to kick off the holiday weekend!

On Saturday, Kevin and I both ran. It was my first successful run with my new running shoes. I had to return my first pair as they killed my feet and I couldn't run in them! When I came home, I busted butt and worked in our front garden all day. We had rebuilt the stone wall in front, and we had bought flowers earlier in the week. I have to say it looks sooo much better than it did! Let me tell you though - I was hurting! Landscaping is a lot of work! It's tiring, too!

Saturday night our babysitter came over so Kevin and I could have a date night! It was a beautiful night. We started off our night at a local dive called the Porthole. We had some calamari and of course, beer. After we had a yummy dinner at the Old Port Sea Grill. The Mahi I had was awesome, but the Maine blueberry lemonade made with Cold River BLUEBERRY Vodka. If you like vodka, and you like blueberries -  you must, absolutely MUST try this! It is made right here in Maine. It's a potato vodka. Very, very yummy!

Sunday, my parents came up to spend the day with us. We started off the day at Ferry Beach. The kids played, swam (even in the 50 degree water) and had fun looking for shells. We enjoyed a yummy lunch and headed home to go kayaking! My parents have kayaks, so they brought them up so we could all go kayaking. We are lucky enough to live about a 5 minute walk from the boat ramp to the Scarborough Marsh/Nonesuch River. It is gorgeous. The weather was absolutely perfect. The dogs had a blast swimming and dock jumping, while the adults had fun taking turns with the girls in the kayaks.

When we returned home, we enjoyed some amazing blueberry vodka drinks while watching the girls play in the backyard. We had some yummy cheeseburgers and fresh salad from a local farm and finished the night off with some homemade organic gelato! Talk about a perfect day...

On Monday, the fun didn't stop! We started the morning off at dunkin' donuts and enjoyed the local Memorial Day parade! It's a short parade, only about 15-20 minutes. It's perfect for the kids because they don't get bored. After the parade, we went home and played in the yard before we headed off to meet friends in Portland for some lobstering in Casco Bay. We went lobstering last year with the kids and we all enjoyed it. Our friends invited us out, and of course, we accepted! Who would turn down a beautiful day lobstering???? The girls were so excited about going out on the Lucky Catch! It is a fun time for all. They teach the kids all about lobstering, and it is totally hands on! They learn how to bait the traps, measure lobsters, band the lobsters, etc etc - it's a blast, and a great learning experience for everyone. On our way back to the dock, we even saw some seals!

It really was a weekend filled with lots of fun, laughter and family time! I didn't want the weekend to end. It was the perfect start to summer!