Life these days...

Life with a newborn....wow. I forgot how demanding and exhausting they are. But they are oh so cute at the very same time. I have been walking around like a zombie, nursing every 3ish hours and cuddling this little nugget a lot. Apparently, I am the preferred napping spot (although she is finally getting accustomed to her bed-PTL!).

Our life is a 3 ring circus...or something akin to that. There are moments of peace and then moments of chaos, with the latter being most present. I find that either nobody needs anything, or everybody needs something at the same time.

My table is a constant mess of random toys, food, homeschooling materials etc... Nora has her own little imaginary world set up here each day with a variety of characters. I am so glad that she is so easily entertained and pleasant when she is stuck in her own world. 

This is kinda random too...but we got a fish. We acquired him a couple weeks before Enna was born. The kids were excited for about 2 days and then pretty much slacked off on wanting to feed him etc... They have bursts of interest so it hasn't been a complete waste of time to care for our new "pet."

Aidan is pretty obsessed with Enna. Nora is starting to love on her more now too. They love to talk to her now that she is more aware. They can be a tad overwhelming at times and I think she wants her space, but she seems to like them for the most part. She is starting to move her head in the direction of their voices, so she definitely recognizes them more and more.

All in all, it's busy around here. Hence, the lack of blogging, or even taking pictures. :) I hope to do some more writing as I find some here and there because I have been processing a bunch of stuff that I hope to write about soon.

Haphazard Homeschooling

So...Aidan started Kindergarten a couple weeks ago. He is going to "school" (enrichment program) 2 days a week from 9-2:15. The other days we are teaching him at home.

His first day went pretty well, but I was thoroughly surprised when he was less than excited (and even a little tearful) about being left at school. I thought he'd be jumping at the chance to be independent, but he clung to me and didn't want me to leave (probably a first for him). He was totally happy and talkative on the way home and just a tiny apprehensive the 2nd day. Since then, he's been totally fine. I think it's been really good for him and he seems super grown up now...except when he throws a fit about something silly (which is still kinda common these days).

I haven't been spending too long with him on the off days. It's been hard with a newborn. But we are getting things done slowly and I'm not too worried that he won't know what he needs to by the end of the year.

Nora wanted her picture taken on Aidan's first day. She looks so grown up too! I can't believe she turns 3 in just 2 weeks!

Enna Rhys- 1 month

Dear Sweet Enna,

It has been a little bit of a whirlwind since you came into this world a month ago.

You are so very precious to me and I am so grateful for the gift that you are. Your name (Enna) means "renewer" and Rhys means "enthusiastic." I am so excited to see how God uses you in the years to come.

This month has been an adjustment for us all. You have had to get used to being the 3rd baby and not always getting your every need met when you want. You have also had to go along with whatever plans we have for the day (you have even been to the zoo twice already!). While you don't seem to be the most flexible baby, I hope you adjust to our busy life.

You have the loudest cry/scream. That was one of the first thing I noticed when you were born. You are quite possibly a match for your older brother in that department, although you tend to give up on screaming a lot sooner than he ever did. You also have the cutest little lip quiver which accompanies the crying...but also happens when you are happy and looking around--cutest thing ever!

You don't  like the carseat, which is typical for a Simmons baby and scream/cry in the car most of the time. You don't really like to be tired either, and have a hard time settling down to sleep unless rocked, carried, shushed, patted, walked around, given a pacifier, or none of the above. :) You are not always very easy to figure out, but we are getting there.

You are an excellent eater and have grown so much this last month. You weighed 9 lbs. 5.5 oz and were 21 1/2 in. at your one month appointment. You nurse about 7-8 times a day (about every 3 hours). You wake up a couple times in the night to eat too, but I am hoping as you pack on the weight you will start sleeping longer stretches because I am so very tired these days.

You sleep on your tummy during the day (or in our arms) and we swaddle you at night and you sleep in our room/bathroom in the rock n play. I am ready to soon move you to your room at night though. Your naps are sporadic. Sometimes you sleep great and sometimes you are awake and fussy. There is really no way to predict what it will be. I think you and Nora must have some sort of secret club, because when one of you sleeps, the other doesn't.

I am really looking forward to getting to know who you are as you grow. Even though you've been fussy, you've still brought me so much pleasure. It is such a wonder to hold you and nurse you. I know that someday I'll miss all the extra cuddle time we've had this first month.

Love, Mama