Sunday, January 25, 2015

Mini Mommy

Julie was 3 1/2 when Johnny was born. She was completely in love with her new baby brother. She was also extremely jealous. I'm not even sure she knew it, but she just didn't know how to deal with the new addition to our family. The spring and summer after Johnny was born were pretty miserable for Julie. She seemed sad and angry. Even though she loved holding her baby brother, she was pretty unhappy.
 
Having Josie as a baby sister has been a completely different experience. In a way, Julie has morphed into a little mommy. She loves rocking and cuddling with Josie and she doesn't mind changing diapers. She is the one who wants to calm Josie when she cries and she gets upset if she can't hold her or carry her.
 



This is how Julie and Josie spend a most of our weekends.

Not only as Julie been amazing with her baby sister, but she has also become more responsible in other ways. She follows directions, walks the dog and cleans up without being asked, doesn't talk back and hasn't had a single meltdown since her sister came home from the hospital. She's just a happier girl.

She's completely smitten with her new sister and life is good.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Bed buddy

 
I swore I would never do it.
But this is how I spend most of my nights now.


I know the dangers of co-sleeping and I definitely don't want to share our bed with munchkins forever. But I just can't help it with this little girl.

Maybe it's because she spent a week in the NICU and I feel bad for her or maybe it's because she's my last baby. I just don't mind cuddling her all night.

Today she's six weeks old. Some nights she spends in her bassinette but most nights she's in my arms or right by my side. And I secretly love it. I don't mind feeding her in the middle of the night or rocking her to sleep.
She's warm and snuggly. And there's nothing more beautiful than a peacefully sleeping baby.

This is just the thing that I was so against with Julie and Johnny. I never let them sleep in our bed...maybe a few times when they were sick. That's it. I just never wanted to start the habit.

With this one, I know she's our last. Never again will I be able to snuggle my little newborn and comfort them to sleep. No more middle of the night feedings or swaddling or rocking and swaying.

This is it. This is my last shot.
So, I'm going all in.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Family of 5---we're doing it!

Dare I say that life with three kids isn't so hard? (I'm sure this blog will be a jinx.)
I know we're only one month into our new life as a family of five but this three-kid thing isn't as difficult as we thought. And it's not as crazy, hectic or stressful as people warned us about.

Maybe Scott and I are still running on adrenaline or maybe we're just completely smitten with our new baby girl Josie, but seriously this life is do-able and actually enjoyable.
I'm thinking maybe we timed this third kid thing just right. Julie is 9.  Johnny is 5. There's been minimal jealousy or acting out and both older kids are dying to help with the baby. They fetch diapers and pacifiers. They feed bottles and rock her. They sing and read books to their sister. They clamor over being the first to hold her and run to her at her first whine or cry.
Baby Josie has got it made. And, honestly so do we. (For now at least.)

Part of this whole thing is probably the fascination with a new baby--kind of like a new toy or puppy. She's completely adorable and sweet and easy to love. Maybe having three kids will sink in once she's moving around and throwing tantrums, or when the novelty of having a baby sister wanes.

Right now life is pretty sweet. I think I'll just take it all in and enjoy.