Balance

Last school year, I worked 2 days a week at Brookey's small Catholic school teaching kids who needed a little extra help. I absolutely loved my job. However, I questioned my ability to to be sane enough to handle actually going to back to work with three kids.

If you asked me one month ago if I was going to go back, I would have said NO WAY, no how. I know people may see my situation from afar and think: "She works TWO days!! How can she not go back???" In my experience, most all of those people do not have three relatively young kids! I just could not fathom the craziness of having to balance everything I do at home PLUS trying to be coherent enough to teach two days.

Well, over the past month there have been several amazing things that have fallen into place (many of which I cannot explain except chalk it up to God's grace). So all the details aside, I am going back to work 2 days a week!! I almost feel like the decision was made for me in some strange way. All the stars just aligned and both Scott and I were amazed at how things just came together.

I did a "test run" of the whole going back to work situation last week when I had a few meetings to attend at school and it actually felt amazingly liberating. I could actually drink my coffee in peace, uninterrupted!! I got to socialize with my amazing friends/coworkers who are all awesome. And the best part--all my kids were happy as clams to break free from Mommy for a bit. I couldn't ask for a better situation--doing what I love, working at my kids' school, having amazing people caring for my kids and I get to use my brain a little :)

So right now, I feel like everything is in balance. I absolutely could not do anymore than 2 days and keep everything in balance the way I want it. Family ALWAYS comes first, no matter what. First and foremost I have to be able to have the energy to keep my family first. Things will be crazy, things would be crazy if I didn't work, too! Even crazier, I think!!

School starts tomorrow!! Bye bye summer....it was fun while it lasted...home with 3 kids all summer. Doesn't get much crazier than that!

Family Vacation to Tahoe!

We just got back from our very first "vacation" as a family of five! We went to Tahoe (stayed in Squaw Valley) and had the most amazing time. Honestly, MUCH better than I expected and the whole trip far exceeded my expectations in just about every way.

Sarah was a little angel and Brooke and Will had an absolute blast at the resort. The worst part of the vacation was the fact that we didn't have the foresight to stay longer!! We could have stayed another 3 days at least! Oh...and the laundry Monday morning....oh, the laundry....

The view from our room at the Resort at Squaw

The waterslide was definitely the highlight for all of us! Buddy even went down all by himself...not bad for a kid who got kicked our of swim lessons last month!!!

The beach at Sand Harbor in Incline Village. The water is so clear and amazing (and cold)!

Two of my friends happened to be staying there at the same time so Brookey got to play with her school friends! Here they are making S'mores.

Sarah was clearly unimpressed with the lake. She closed her eyes and passed out about 10 seconds later!

Me and Sarah at the beach/park in Tahoe City

Scott and crew in Tahoe City

The girls had to take a self portrait!!!Smile, Sarah!

We had silly fun in the photo booth at the arcade! Clearly, we don't know how to use a photo booth!!

So much fun--can't wait to go back!!!!!

Will You Accept This Rose?

I needed an excuse to get some of my girlfriends together so I threw a Bachelorette Finale party last Sunday!

We chowed down on Chocolate and Champagne cupcakes from Sift (Cupcake Wars Winner!!) that they customized to fit the party's theme. Each cupcake had an edible long-stemmed rose on top. So cute!

I also made the night special for the girls by customizing a "date card" for each one of them. When they RSVP'ed to the party, I secretly contacted each of their hubby's and asked them to plan a special "date night" for each lady. During each commercial break, I presented each girl with a personal date card and long stemmed rose from their hubby. They were so SHOCKED. I can't believe all of their husbands kept it a secret and I was able to pull it off. Needless to say, I have already gotten a few texts from my friends out on "dates," cashing in on their date cards.

Such a fun night!!!

Cupcakes, champagne and long stemmed roses..what more do we need??

Tiger Jr.?

Ok, HORRIBLE analogy! Maybe Nancy Lopez, Jr :)

Brookey went a Jr. golf camp last week here in Hiddenbrooke. I am shocked she even wanted to go, but I have to say I was quite pleased! We went to Play it Again Sports and bought her a putter and she was super excited about the camp before it started.

Quite frankly, I thought she would HATE it after the first day. Two hours at the driving range just hitting balls...and I didn't expect her to even HIT the ball!! She's had never even picked up a golf club before.

Well, low and behold, she absolutely loved it! Her coach said she did awesome and actually hit the ball straight and far (i guess "far" for a 6 year old).

Now she's begging for more lessons, so we'll see. I'm just thrilled she enjoyed herself! :)

12 Weeks!

Ahhhh....12 weeks old! Almost 3 months. Depending on who you talk to, they'll tell you different things about when babies start to "settle" into the world and things get easier. A lot of people say this time is around 12 weeks and boy, has this been true for Sarah! We went through some rough patches with her reflux, growth spurts and just general fussiness for a couple of weeks (of course, it SEEMED like a couple of MONTHS!). But now, it seems to be smooooth sailing (until teething or the next growth spurt happens!!)

She's evolving into an amazing napper. 4 good naps a day and 9-10 hours without eating at night. Bedtime is 7pm and she sleeps until I wake her up at 7am. Although we do wake her and feed her/change her diaper around 10pm before we go to bed and put her right back down. This "feeding" worked SO well with Will and really helped cut out the multiple night feedings.

Now that I have the routine down it's about to all change when Brookey starts school. It's sometimes crazy having all 3 kids at home at the same time, but I AM NOT looking forward to school starting. I really like having my own schedule and not being dictated by bell schedules, homework, spelling tests, school projects and early bedtimes!! She starts in exactly one month, so I'll be enjoying it to the fullest!!

Some fun facts about Miss Sarah at 12 weeks:

1) She talks, A LOT. I swear I don't remember the other 2 "talking/cooing" as much. I feel like I can actually have a conversation with her!

2) She smiles, A LOT. I get many of those heart-melting smiles pretty much every time I look at her!

3) She loves sleeping on her belly. 

4) She pretty much only cries when she's hungry or if she's been awake more than 1.5 hours. Thank the Lord that I read Babywise and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child otherwise I never would have figured out the 1.5 hour thing!!! Learned that one with Will :)

I have big eyes--i don't miss much!!!

Mommy having some fun dressing me up

Sleep, Baby, Sleep

I tried not to have toooooo many expectations of Sarah when she first arrived. I knew as a 3rd child, she'd have her own unique personality and I couldn't compare that to the other two. However, I did have two "expectations" which were: 1) Sleeping through the night by 12 weeks and 2) Being able to put herself to sleep without having to carry her around for hours on end or have her only be able to sleep in her swing or something like that.These are two things I learned with Will that are vital to keeping a happy home :)

Of course Scott told me NOT to set ANY of these expectations because "you never know what kind of baby you'll get." Very true. Once 11 weeks rolled around I began to feel disappointed that Sarah was still waking at night, and not really seeming to move forward with sleeping more hours at night. In fact, she was regressing.

She turned 12 weeks last Saturday, so of course that little stinker decided to start sleeping through the night the Friday night before her 12 week birthday! She slept about 8 hours that night and it's been 3 nights and she hasn't turned back. Last night she slept almost 10 hours. Yep, she's the princess--making me wait until the very last moment!!! Love her!

2 Months Old!

Sarah Marie is two months old!! She's really settling in and becoming such a joy to our family. Here are some highlights from the month:

- Her 2 month stats: 12lbs, 3oz (75th %tile); 24 inches (75th %tile); Head 14.5 (10th %tile!!). She STILL has a small head!!!!

- We figured out our sweet little girl is like her sister and Daddy and has acid reflux. The Dr. said it may be a temporary inflammation since issues only cropped up after her 6 week growth spurt. At any rate, our sweet angel turned into a screaming, vomiting mess about couple of weeks ago. The Dr. put her on a low dose of Zantac and within 24 hours I had my baby back! It was amazing. So happy she's not in pain anymore.

- She had her first "extended" outing on the 4th of July. We spent most of the day at a friend's house, then watched fireworks at 9:30. She lasted the whole day without a peep, even being passed around and with kids screaming all around her. She even stayed bright-eyed through the fireworks, although at 9:45, enough was enough :) She had everyone convinced she is a little angel....

- Well, she may be a little angel but she is not an angel the same way Buddy was an angel. She actually has opinions about things and will squawk and voice her opinion if she doesn't like something. She's major drama and will stick out her bottom lip when she's upset. She also doesn't just fall asleep at the drop of a hat. She likes to be rocked and talked to and cuddled. But once she's asleep, she stays asleep. I'm really learning to appreciate her "style" and not try to compare her to the other 2.

- I think she's getting pretty close to sleeping through the night. Right now she wakes once around 3:30 or 4:00. She used to wake at 1:30 and that feeding has slowly been pushed to 2:00, then 3:00 and just gradually later and later. So there is definite progress. She wakes up between 6:30 and 7:00 in the morning, which is perfect for me.

Since we got the reflux under control, things are moving right along!!

She loves her brother and sister! Even if they are always bugging her!

Mommy's sad attempt to make me a girlie-girl