picture this...

Connor decided he'd have nothing to do with a nap this afternoon, so while Lucy and Jack slept, I played around with the camera and Connor.

I love these pictures!




Connor is just beginning to give us smiles and big open mouth looks ;-)






Now, this picture below is an interesting look because Lucy had the EXACT same "porpoise lips" when she was little.









I LOVE the sweet, delicate nature of this one...he was looking straight at me.

end of season sales

It seems people who love to shop get most excited when a new season of clothes is put out for sale; I'm the opposite. My favorite time is when a season has ended, and the clearance sales are taking place.

Because at no other time would I buy these fun boots which were $120 at the beginning of fall/winter.


And I bought them for only $31, Isn't that such a steal? I love it! I originally wanted this color shown above, but they didn't have my size 10, so I ordered them in chocolate brown, which will actually hide dirt better anyway ;-)

Now, I know we don't have to breakout serious snow boots like these that often in Alabama, but hey, it did snow here at least three times last winter, right? And they will always come in handy in Steamboat.

And I don't put any shoes on my feet unless they are super comfortable, and these being Aerosoles, fits the bill! I also ordered some knee-high brown suede boots, that were also regularly $120, for $55.

Super fun shoe shopping!

"I Win!"

One of Jack and Lucy's current "things" is that they battle back and forth over who wins. And it's really senseless things that you can't even be a winner about; like who wins while they're eating cereal for breakfast - what's to win? or when they're swinging on the playset ;-)

Sometimes, however, they do try to win with typical things like being the first to get to the toilet to go potty or who can reach the car first.

Well, they don't know it, but Connor gets to claim that he's the winner, and here's why. Last night, he slept 6 straight hours - 10pm until 4am - at the age of five weeks. Neither Jack nor Lucy could claim this victory until they reached six weeks.

So, on behalf of Connor, I'll say a little, "Take that "too-much-toddler-love big brother" and "smothering-with-constant-kisses-never-give-me-enough-space big sister". I win!"

First Day ALONE!

Well, despite my best attempts to put this day off, it has arrived: my first day all alone with all THREE kiddos (and did I mention J & L don't have school today ;-(

Now, before I go on, I must point out that Connor is nearly 5 weeks old, and only now am I on my own. This is due completely to the selfless efforts of:

1) My mom, who so generously took this semester off from school so that she could be here to help out. She keeps everything moving smoothly, tirelessly taking night time feedings, tending to the laundry, dishes, and constant mess that seems to follow the older two everywhere.

2) Barbara, my too-good-to-be-true mother-in-law who took some time off of work to come and help out. She's a saint, there's no better word to describe her. She actually likes changing Connor's diapers ;-)

and of course,
3) Jason, who happily took off work whenever I asked him to so that he could stay home and help. I know some people may be thinking, "wow, who wouldn't rather be home than working, but considering what the "conditions" were like at home, some men would have been itching to get back to work.

So, it's nearly five o'clock - when Jason usually comes home - and I've made it. Jack and Lucy are still napping, in fact. All three kids went to sleep at 1:00ish, Connor sleeping until 3:50. I was able to swing a Tae-Bo workout and shower and brief shoe shopping on shoes.com (didn't find anything ;-( all before Connor woke up. If I can swing all three kids sleeping each afternoon, I can totally survive this transition ;-)

First thing this morning, I got some super sweet, quality snuggling time with all three kiddos. Before I had Connor, this was a special time of day for Lucy and I. (Jack always slept much later, and never had any interest in being still, especially in a bed. ;-) As soon as she woke up, she'd make a beeline for our bedroom, and sometimes she'd be able to even get in the bed before I'd wake up. She was content to snuggle for a good half-hour; I loved this sweet time. And I completely expected I'd have to give that up once Connor was born.

But, this morning, I found out I might still be able to sneak some snuggling time in. Even Jack joined the fun, although most of the time I had to hold his little hands together in mine to make sure he'd stop touching Connor's face so much ;-)

It was a 'Good Morning' indeed:

connor at one month old

How fast the time flies!












Is that a baby smile? ;-)

look what connor found

Both Lucy and Jack were thumb suckers from early on, but not quite as early as Connor is turning out to be. Last week, he found his thumb ;-) He hasn't returned to sucking it often, but I'm guessing that will change once he gets more coordinated.






Just a funny pic here...I can't figure out if he's trying to show three fingers the European way or making a new war eagle cheer. ;-)

hey batter, batter, batter!

Jack's "Pockey" love

Jack has really gotten into hockey, or "pockey" as he calls it. We've had this Thrashers jersey since Lucy was born, and we're finally able to use it ;-)

My brothers, Brendan and Ryan, are both excellent hockey players, and have played the sport since they were young kids. Ryan even plays now for the UGA ice team. Anyhow, they've shown Jack how to shoot, and last time we were in Atlanta, Jack brought home some hockey figurines /bobblehead type things that he loves to sleep with.

Maybe he will be able to play 'POCKEY' some day! ;-)




And here's just a sweet picture I love that Jason took during bedtime last night...it's a little hard to see, but Lucy was all snuggly on one side, and Jack was all big grins on the other side. What a way to end the day!

little gym kiss

I love watching Lucy when she's at her Little Gym dance class. This afternoon, I stationed myself on a chair which gave me a view into the studio through the glass door the kids use to go in and out. (There are several windows you can use to look through and see the kids, but they don't see you, but she wanted to be able to see Connor, so I didn't sit behind one of those windows ;-)

Anyhow, such a sweet little thing happened during her class, I just wanted to share:

After Lucy danced her "freestyle" across the floor, she ran up to the glass door, waved to me, and then planted a big kiss on the door.

I had Connor, wide awake and staring at me in my arms, and my little girl kissing me through the door...sweetness squared! (door germs aside ;-)

What we've been up to...

like a typical baby, connor sleeps A LOT ;-)


Papa (my dad) flew in from Denver this past weekend to see us!



notice Lucy's "grumpin'" face ;-)

A happier girl!


Jack loved this play area of Kids' Space!



and he mastered this climbing part rather quickly...




Looking up at Lucy and Lady through the tire swing...




back at home...lots of love for little brother, connor!



Aunt Sarah and Baba came to visit last weekend as well! Aunt Sarah came all the way from St. Louis!




We've had so many family members come and visit and help us this month: aunt kay (aunt kk) was here in early February to help us prepare for Connor's arrival, my mom has been here several weeks now - she just went home today to enjoy some time alone in Atlanta - and Jason's mom, Barbara is coming at the end of next week to help us out for a few days. We are so, so, SO blessed with wonderful, caring family members who have put themselves out in order to help us! We are so appreciative!

Poor Jack...

Well, it's already happened...as a mom of three now, I've forgotten about one of my children.

Taking advantage of the daylight, we were all outside playing -Jason tending to his garden, mom rocking Connor, and me pushing the kids high on the swings ;-) - and as dusk began we all headed inside. My sweet friend Tiffany brought over dinner, and her girls were playing with us as well.

Jack grabbed some of his dump trucks from his room and asked to go back outside. So, I popped the door open, let him out and left it cracked for him. At this point, everyone else is inside, we're all chatting, hanging out. Eventually, Tiffany decided to head home, I needed to nurse Connor, and we started plating dinner.

While feeding Connor on the couch, during a quiet moment, I realized how quiet it was and asked, "Where's Jack?"

Followed quickly by, "Oh my God! He's outside!" I look out the windows...it's pitch black by now. Jason, or was it my mom, can't remember...opened up the back door and found Jack playing in the sandbox, driving around his dump trucks, perfectly content and happy.

I felt so horrible, I can't even tell you. I just kept saying, "Oh my goodness, I've forgotten about one of my kids, I've forgotten about one of my kids!"

Later during dinner, Connor was in his bouncy seat beside me. I leaned over and told him, "Connor, I promise I'll do my very best never to forget about you..."

I'm no "Super Mom," and sometimes I guess we just do the best we can... ;-)

Coming Home!

So, I'm backing up a little bit in the timeline, but I wanted to post these sweet pictures from the day we came home from the hospital.

Jason's mom, Barbara, was there to dress him in the little outfit I picked out.












When we got home, it was lots of love for Connor!







Baba had a celebration cake ready for us to enjoy!





We've been home almost two weeks now, and it is so wonderful having three kids and enjoying all the special things that come with having a precious newborn in the house!