The perfect fall weather continues, so we spent much of the day outside. After we got Caleb on the school bus this morning, Daisy, Lily, Eli and I walked Daisy up to preschool.
The sun always shines in the little ones' eyes, so I tried some sunglasses on Eli.
He looked adorable, but he was totally unimpressed.
Daisy walked the whole mile to preschool, and then we turned around and walked home. When we were less than 1/4 mile from home, Lily suddenly demanded, "WALK! Walk Bob!" So I unbuckled the girl, and she walked beside me the rest of the way home.
She refused to walk in front or behind; she had to walk next to me. Funny girl.
When we got home, I found that Eli was sound asleep. Sweet baby! Except that he was due for a real nap, and instead he decided that his fifteen-minute stroller nap counted as a real nap. Not fun, baby!
Since he wouldn't sleep, I decided to feed him. Today, we tried (whole milk, organic, unsweetened) yogurt.
Don't let the face fool you. He loved it.
Need proof? I made a video.
Also adorable was Lily, who decided to start drinking out of an open cup today. You can actually hear her 20 seconds into the video above saying, "Drinking big girl!"
She was so proud of herself for drinking like a big girl!
Goodness, this girl is sweet.
Then it was time to go get Daisy, and lunch, and naps, and then my mom stopped by, and the kids played in the kiddie pool all afternoon. It was a perfect day!
Even better, I got to visit my old chiropractor (my headaches have gotten out of control lately, so I decided it was worth it to visit her) and then a Mom's Night Out with my MOPS girls. All in all, a great day.
Eli is a legitimate sitter now, and getting more mobile by the day. I've mentioned before that he is now inchworming, and I think he may actually crawl!
What? You want to see a video?
Since he moves in incremental distances (you know - like an inchworm) videos can be kind of slow going. But thanks to my handy-dandy iPhone6, I created a stop-motion video for you.
Daisy had a toy broom that Eli was really interested in, so we used it as a carrot to get him to move. I promise I wasn't poking him with the broom, as it may appear in the video.
In related news, Eli is now stable enough as a sitter that I can let him play in the family room with the kids while I make dinner.
He clearly understands the enormity of his newfound freedom. Of course, once he becomes more mobile, I reserve the right to revoke that freedom without warning.
But for now, he's pleased to imagine that he's one of the big kids.
Chris handled Eli tonight so that I could read with Caleb and Daisy and then go to the gym. I came home to find this:
Eli sleeping in the Ergo, Daddy focused on a work project.
People, I was even able to shower.
I have a good, good husband, and I am so thankful for him. This season of life can sometimes get discouraging - I mean, we used to be fun! But even though it's not flashy and exciting, times like this remind me how deep the love and commitment is that Chris has for me and for our family. We are blessed. And maybe one day, we will have fun again. For now, a trip to the YMCA and an uninterrupted shower is enough for me.
First we went to church this morning. I left Eli in the nursery, where there happened to only be two babies this morning. Amazingly, Eli chose to snuggle up with his helper and go to sleep. That's a first for him! It was especially great because it meant that he was in a good mood for our trip to Costco after church.
At Costco, Chris put Lily in the cart, then asked me if Eli might be ready to ride in the cart, too. At first I told him no, I was happy to wear Eli. But then I thought about it. Daisy is now too big to ride in the cart (her long legs get tangled up when we try to put her in the seat), so Lily would be riding alone in the double cart. So we tried it, with my ring sling as seat padding, just in case.
Eli loved it!
OK, actually at first he was really skeptical. But then Caleb stepped up and grabbed the cart handle, and Eli was suddenly all smiles. He loves his big brother!
And Lily was so, so happy to have her "Ee-yi" right next to her.
At Costco, we ran into my friend Jessica who was picking up a birthday cake for her daughter Stella's party, which we would be attending in just an hour or two. She mentioned that Stella's party was supposed to be a fiesta, so when we got home from Costco I went digging through a pile of novelty items from my childhood that my mom unloaded on me gave to me last year. Happily, I had already washed them. Even better, I quickly found what I was looking for: one of three matching outfits my sisters and I got on a family trip to Mexico when I was maybe six years old.
It fit Daisy perfectly!
I think the turquoise one was Jenny's?
After I got Eli down for his nap, I took Caleb and Daisy to Stella's party. Poor Lily was devastated to be left at home, but somehow her little brain decided that she would be going to Stella's party, too, when she woke up from her nap. I felt really guilty leaving her, since she and Stella are technically peers because they will be in the same grade when they start school, but nap time trumps all. Miss Stella hasn't napped for quite a while, but Lily desperately needs her naps!
Caleb and Daisy were clingy and shy at the party, but they enjoyed the birthday cake and the pinata!
Caleb took a couple of really good whacks; I think he would have split that thing open if I hadn't insisted he give another kid a turn!
We headed home to find a very-hungry Eli waiting anxiously for his mama. Chris and the older two played some more baseball in the back yard until Lily woke up from her nap, and then we all snuggled and rolled around in my big bed until it was time to go to small group. Jessica kindly brought leftover birthday cake to small group, so I made sure Lily got a piece after she'd eaten some dinner. That counts as a party, right?
There were several moments today when I thought to myself, This is why we had children!
And then there were several times when I thought, This is why I don't want to have any more children!
It really was a wonderful day, though.
We started our day with a family trip to a nearby park the kids had never visited before. At first they were distracted by the awesome playground, but when Chris and I finally lured them to the walking trail, the fun really began.
There were stone steps down to a path along a babbling creek. The moment we gave him permission to explore, Caleb took off running.
It is so much fun to watch him be a boy in nature.
This is who he was made to be.
Lily was adamant from the outset that she was going to ride on Daddy's head. You know she got her way.
And Eli was happy on my back! It was chilly this morning, and I tried my best to keep his arms tucked inside the wrap, but he kept pulling that left arm out. I suppose maybe it's like sleeping with one leg sticking out from under the covers?
Daisy loved this sculpture of a runner. (Power walker? The whole time I thought she was a runner, but now that I'm looking at the photo, she is very clearly a power walker. Boo! I was ready to save this photo for her high school years, when she will be a cross country star!)
I told Caleb and Daisy to climb up and pretend they were statues. This was how they posed.
Weirdest statues ever.
Daisy found a bush full of tiny daisies.
Can you tell she liked them? This is her "so happy she's shy" face.
And then the kids were off and running again. They did a great job of running ahead, then waiting for us to catch up, then running ahead again. It was fun for everyone.
Even Lily got in on the running ahead action!
(I think this was the first moment of the day when I grabbed Chris' hand and said, "This is why we had kids. I have been waiting for this moment."
And it's true. Seeing our children exploring independently and enjoying something I enjoy is so rewarding. The best part is that I know that as they get older, there will be more and more moments like this, where they can experience something I like on their own, and enjoy it in their own way. Hooray for children getting older!
Peek-a-boo!
I set up my camera with the remote to get a family photo, but Eli wouldn't cooperate. You can just see the tip of his blue hat over my shoulder. Still, I love this picture.
And this one is out of focus and Eli insisted on looking behind us, no matter which way I turned. So it goes.
Also, is Lily picking her nose?
Whatever.
After we walked the loop of the path, we rewarded the kids with more time at the playground.
This baby. Seriously.
Since Eli was already unwrapped from my back, I tried something with the wrap that I have been wanting to do forever, but have never done:
Wrap hammock.
I tied it to the monkey bars, and the three older kids all took a turn swinging in it. Heck, I even took a turn in it! It was really, really fun! (It's also a great way to break in a wrap and make it softer and easier to use.)
We stopped at the grocery store on the way home, and got home just in time for Caleb to change into his soccer gear for his second practice/game. His first game didn't go so well, so Chris and I were worried that he might freak out this time.
Our worries were totally unfounded.
How sweet is he?
He ended up scoring three goals and having a great time. Way to go, Caleb!
The afternoon was a blur, but after dinner Chris came to me and said, "You should probably come outside."
I went into the back yard and immediately turned around and went back inside to grab my camera. Chris was playing baseball with all four children.
Chris was pitching, Caleb and Daisy were taking turns batting, Lily was playing infield, and Eli was "playing" the outfield.
See? Daisy cracking a big hit!
Lily would run after every ball, and Chris would ask her to throw it to him. This was how she "threw".
(And yes, our grass is up around her ankles. Or mid-calf. Whatever. But this is the only spot in the yard where the grass is so lush and lovely and tall. Everywhere else doesn't need to be mowed at all.)
Boom! This girl (wearing a t-shirt that is her nightgown tonight) is a power hitter!
Look at how proud she is! I love this girl!
And then there was Eli, sitting in the outfield, playing with a baby doll that was mine when I was a child. I snapped this picture and then said to Chris, "Quick! Who else can I take a picture of? Bring me more people! This light is too lovely!
"Seriously, Ma?"
"Please don't take my picture, Ma!"
At least this one, in his Star Wars jammies, cooperated. Thanks, bud.
This was definitely another moment when I was happy to have children. It was so perfect. I know you want to see a video, don't you?
And then at bedtime, I got to read more from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe with Caleb and Daisy. It is our fourth day reading it, and we're reading about fifteen pages a day. They are so into it, and it makes my heart so happy.
Today was school picture day for Caleb. Since preschool, Caleb has chosen to wear a tie on school picture day. I think it is just the sweetest thing ever! (Aside from spring pictures this year - do you remember that unfortunate ensemble? I can't find the post right now, but it was priceless.)
True to form, Caleb wanted to wear a tie again this year. Unfortunately, he threw his last tie in the wash and it was ruined, and he had no more ties. Fortunately, Chris has quite the collection of ties, and he donated one to Caleb's cause. I trimmed about twelve inches off of it, sewed it up, and voila! a tie for Caleb.
I mean, seriously. Is this kid adorable or what? Yes, he had his shirt and tie paired with khaki shorts and running shoes, but still. He is so handsome, and I love that he loves getting dressed up!
After we got Caleb on the bus, it was time to get Lily dressed. Daisy wore her leotard because she had gymnastics today, so of course Lily had to wear her leotard, too. It didn't matter that she isn't old enough for gymnastics. At two, wearing the leotard is enough.
After gymnastics, Lily needed a quick wardrobe change before lunch.
She chose this shirt that my mom picked up for her at a thrift store; it says "Grandma's love bug". This was the cheesy grin Lily gave me when I told her we were taking a picture for Grandma. After, she asked, "Gam-maw happy now?"
Yes, sweetie. I'm pretty sure Grandma is happy after seeing this picture of you.
Then, story time and selfies on the couch.
These girls are so funny!
(Eli was napping in his crib.)
Daisy was exhausted, so I sent her to "rest" in her room, despite her very vocal protests.
Lily went down for her nap readily, but when I left her room I found that Eli was awake.
Bummer. This mama needed a nap.
No problem; I just pulled Eli into bed with me! I didn't get to sleep, but I did get to lie down while he rolled happily, nursed and didn't nurse, practiced his new sounds, and was generally adorable.
Hi there, handsome!
This boy. I sure do love him!
Since it's Friday, dinner tonight was gluten-free grilled cheese and a movie. Lily chose Alice in Wonderland, and the kids were all enthralled.
Today was pretty uneventful; Caleb and Daisy had school, Eli napped, Lily and I played... pretty much the same thing we do every day. After lunch I decided to try a new type of back carry that I've been hearing a lot about lately: the Uppy Scarf Carry. Eli was eating his lunch, though, so I asked Lily to try it out with me. She was so excited to be on my back!
Once I had it figured out, I tried to put Lily back on the ground, and she refused. Girl wanted to stay on my back, and was devastated that her turn was so short. I placated her by telling her that she could ride on my back when we went to get Caleb from the bus stop. Surprisingly, that worked. However, she spent the rest of the afternoon (except for while she was napping) asking me, "Get Bubby bus?" No, Lily, not yet.
Then it was Eli's turn.
He was only mildly impressed, but I was quite impressed with the carry because it is so different from all of the other back carries I do. There's no need to worry about getting a seat, because the act of wrapping creates it for you. My only complaint is that it's a cross carry, with a v in the back. I find that both front and back cross carries are challenging with babies who lean, so they require a bit more care.
After naps, it was time to go get Caleb from the bus. I remembered my promise, and Lily was so excited!
2 children
45 extra pounds
1 size 6 wrap (that was just barely long enough)
3 happy people
I call it a win.
We walked to the bus stop and back like this. When we got home, I tried to put Lily down and she would have none of it. So I put Eli in his bouncer and kept Lily on my back for a while longer. She was so, so happy, and once again I felt guilty that because of Eli, I rarely wear Lily. What a special thing it is to be able to make my child so happy just by keeping her close as I go about my normal tasks! She just wants to be with me, to do what I do, to see what I see, to rest her cheek against my shoulder and listen to my heart beat.
Goodness, I love baby wearing.
After dinner, Caleb had his second Tiger Scouts meeting. I was able to get his uniform this week and sew all of his patches on, and he has been dying to wear it. He wanted to wear it to school yesterday, and then today, but we managed to convince him that he was only allowed to wear it for officially sanctioned events. Tonight was finally the night!
You know I took pictures.
He was so happy and cooperative and proud. I can't believe I have a first grader who is a Tiger Scout!
(Can you see the little bit of Lily's arm next to Caleb? She totally wanted to be a part of this picture. Lily and Caleb have a very special bond, which often manifests itself in funny ways like that.)
This is his excited face.
Caleb and his "Nettie". For some reason, that's what he calls Lily.
Do you like her pink skirt/red shirt combo? She did that all by herself. There's also a red tank top underneath the red t-shirt, just to be sure.
Full-length view. I couldn't bring myself to pay for the navy shorts or pants, or the special Tiger Scout socks, but I think he looks pretty snazzy in his khaki shorts and his coordinating socks and shoes.
Then I asked Caleb to give me his best Tiger Scout pose. This is what I got:
I suppose that's pretty appropriate!
The whole time I snapped photos, Caleb begged me to make a video. So once I was satisfied, I switched my camera to "video" and got this:
I'm so glad I listened to my boy and took a video. I think this is pretty darn sweet.
While he was gone, I handled bedtime for the younger three. Daisy was in bed by 6:55, Lily by 7:15, and then Eli was a total jerk. I rocked and nursed him from 7:15-8:00, and then he screamed for 10 minutes until Chris got home. Caleb came home sweaty and happy, and we snuggled on the couch to read a chunk of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which we started last night. He finally got to bed around 9. He'll be tired in the morning, but it's worth it.
A few weeks, maybe a month ago, one of our neighbors set a whole bunch of gardening stuff out on their curb. Since my mother (hi, Mom!) is both an avid gardener and collector of all things free, I scoped it out for her, and ended up taking almost all of it. A few things I kept for myself, though. Among them were two bundles of bamboo stakes that were all approximately 8 feet long.
Then, a few weeks later, my mom saw a polka-dotted fitted bed sheet at a thrift store. It was too cute for her to pass up, so she bought it and brought it here. Unfortunately, it was a full size sheet. In our house, we have a king bed, a queen bed, two twin beds, and a crib. No double bed. But it was so cute that I knew it needed to be used somehow. In the meantime, it sat in a bag on my floor.
Today, both items finally fulfilled their purposes.
We built a teepee. We started while Eli napped, and finished things up while Lily napped.
Daisy was delighted.
She and Eli had serious - and secret - conversations.
Look at how happy they are! I remember how special and magical things like this felt when I was a child. I'm so happy to be able to build something like this, no matter how temporary it is, for my little ones.
Daisy spread out a "blanket" (really a twin bed skirt) on the floor of their tent, but somehow Eli found a leaf. He worked hard at eating it.
This is Daisy's "so happy it's ugly" face.
She was SO HAPPY!
At dinner, she told me I was the best cooker and builder ever.
And still, Eli worked on eating his leaf:
The kids were so excited to show Caleb their teepee when he came home from school. I suppose it won't last long outside, but we can just move it to the basement for the winter!
