What an amazing three weeks! What a flash they've been! With the combination of sleep deprivation, an energetic almost-three-year-old, Christmas, and a brand new baby.. we've had an exciting three weeks!
It's been amazing to watch our family grow from a family of three to our Family of Four! Olivia has taken the roll of Big Sister with such pride and compassion. Any peep out of Baby Brother and she is the first to say, "Oh - we need to check on him!" "Is he ok?" She has been so interested in him - "Are his eyes open?" and wants to help do ABSOLUTELY everything. We hear "I wanna help!" multiple times an hour! Thankfully, she is a gentle helper and takes instruction well as she offers assistance!
A few things I want to remember ....
Things Olivia has been saying lately:
- As Justin arrives home from work - "So, how you been doin, Daddy?!"
- When asked just about any question, her response often begins, "Hmmm, how about..."
- When she is asked to do something that she is trying to postpone, she says, "Not quite, yet! Almost!"
- She randomly will wake up after sleeping 12 hours straight and say "Oh, I'm tired, I didn't sleep too well"
- After watching Justin come rub the top of my shoulder for about 10 seconds as I was cooking (or as I call it, Slaving Away in the Kitchen), she said her shoulders were sore too. We laughed as Justin asked her if it felt better, as he rubbed her shoulders and in a very VERY grunty moaning voice, she said "Oh no, my back is still sore, need a little more, Daddy" HA HA.. I guess just maybe she listens to my every word! (Note to self = be careful what I say!)
- When someone arrives to the house, she will proudly introduce her baby brother.. "Look!! My baby brother" As she holds out her arms and displays him.. (think Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune) Sometimes it ends with "Ta Da"
She loves:
- to take big girl bubble baths in Mommy's big tub.
- to use Daddy as her personal jungle gym and play a bit more rough that what I've been physically capable of doing the past few months.
- helping do anything I'm doing: dusting, laundry, cooking, changing diapers, etc
- finger painting, coloring, legos, riding her bike, baths
Ethan is still quite little to have much of an update! But, he is such a great baby boy! He rarely makes a peep - we've only heard him cry a handful of times in three weeks and I think the longest streak was about two minutes. He eats well! Loves his baths! Turns his head toward his big sister's voice! He nurses every three hours beginning at 7am all day (I wake him up most the time to eat...) and has been sleeping as well as can be expected at nighttime! The past three nights has only needed to eat once in between his 10pm and 7am meals! It is nice to get a 3 hour stretch of sleep in at a time for this momma.. looking forward to sleeping all night again :) We like our sleep around here! He is a growing boy... Already outgrown the newborn diapers and clothes. (Too bad I had literally just purchased 3 new size newborn outfits and then 2 days later realized he was ready for size 0-3 months!)
As I grow into my new roll as Mommy of two.. I remind myself to truly be present each moment.. take each teaching opportunity in stride.. keep in mind that my big growing girl is not yet three years old although she is so mature and intelligent.. count my blessings for two healthy beautiful babies.. and capture the thoughts of looking ahead and rather find the treasure in each day..
One day, my babies won't be babies and I doubt missing sleep will be on my mind...
This is so, so sweet. You'll love that you got all this written down. I'm shocked at how much I've forgotten until I go back and read bits!
ReplyDeleteAh I love that post. It's so important to write down all those funny things that our kids say so we can remember! :)
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