Adjusting to Life with 3 Kids

We have been loving every minute with little Henry, but of course we are tired from lack of sleep and from wrangling 3 kids age 3 and under anywhere we go! Emerson and Genevieve have actually been really good since we had Henry, but they are still toddlers and of course still need attention. It’s definitely been harder on Vieve having the baby here, because she isn’t our baby anymore. She is having a hard time not getting all the attention that she used to, but she’s also been really sweet to Henry. Whenever he cries she finds his pacifier or blanket and brings them to me, whenever I’m holding the baby in a blanket she wraps her dolly in a blanket and comes to sit by me, and she loves to hold Henry. She will hold him for 5-10 minutes (which is an eternity in toddler time). Here she is holding H:

Here are some other things we’ve been up to:

Trips to the park and lots of walks.

Lots of kite flying! Every day it’s warm E wants to fly his kite. His friends love it too. 

Lounging at home.  

This is how I feel when I’m up at night with the baby and dead tired the next day. Bleh!

Lots of hanging in our backyard.

Learning how to get around with 3 kids. So tiring! This was the morning we first had to get E to preschool, and we made it on time. Small miracle!  Just to get out the door we have to: get everyone fed, kitchen picked up, clothes on for the day, hair brushed, teeth brushed, rooms cleaned, diapers changed for Vieve and Henry, Emerson to the potty, shoes on, snacks for our outing, coats on, baby nursed, and in the car seats. Needless to say by the time I finally sit in the car to drive it feels like a break.Dress-up. Every day E dresses up as something different (Buzz Lightyear, firefighter, Spider-man, a Knight, superhero, Captain America).     

Some friends have been helping take E for play dates. Vieve has loved the one-on-one time. We play bubbles, color, dance, sing, paint our toenails and she helps me clean. Love my little girl.

Play dates with friends. It’s hard for me to get out but it keeps me from feeling cooped up. We meet at parks or at the church and bring scooters, bikes, and toys for the kids, as well as lunch or snacks. Check out all these cute toddlers and their newborn siblings.

Getting back to the gym. Going back after being pregnant is such an uphill battle but it feels so good to get hard workouts in. When I was at the end of my pregnancy my doctor didn’t want me working out because it was giving me so many contractions, so I’ve been craving some sweat sessions! I’m really really out of shape and have a lot of weight to lose, but it feels good to be at the gym again. Lastly, Mitch has been so helpful. He has been Mr. Mom so many days as well as working Dad. He takes the kids out on fun adventures, takes care of me, and is pretty much a rock for our little family. So lucky to be married to this guy!

Every day when he stayed home to watch the kids, the week we had Henry, he made me lunches in bed including delicious smoothies for breakfast and lunch every day. I am really tired each day but feeling very blessed we are all doing well.