Simon Smiles

Simon first smiled the day before his 1 month birthday (Jan 13).  We've even had the joy of a few giggles.  Sometimes he will crack a half smile on his left cheek.  It's awesome.

Why I don't clean my home anymore...

As I was diligently cleaning one room this was happening in another...

When I saw the disaster I almost yelled, "What the $%&@?!"  But I didn't.  I bit my tongue, laughed and grabbed the camera.  Isabella sweetly proclaimed they were making me a birthday cake.

P.S. This happened a few hours ago and there is still a path of floury footprints leading to the bathroom.

P.P.S.  Don't ask how this could happen since we only have 2 rooms in this tiny apartment...I don't know...I have a newborn.

When life gives you snow...

go play in it!

Loitering on a Central Park bench.

Somehow she got a lot of snow in her boots early on.  Our usually very enthusiastic "snow angel" was not so happy today.

Right Now

Making the most of this winter wonderland.

More fun...

Isabella painted snowflakes with watered down tempera paints.  They turned out beautiful.

Oliver must be teething.  Everything is in his mouth lately and he's very emotional.

Isabella loves to "nurse" Simon.  She is a huge help in so many ways.

My loves.

No comment.

Mimicking Michelangelo

With the temperatures today topping in the teens we stayed in all day.  We made forts, read lots of books, baked cookies and muffins, and had a great time.  My personal favorite activity of the day was teaching Isabella a bit about Michelangelo.  After looking at some photos of the Sistine Chapel we taped paper to the underside of the kids' table and went to work. 

Attitude of Gratitude

Today I am so grateful for a warm, heated home.  As we came home from church this afternoon the bitter winds bit us to the bone.  It was so luxurious to walk into our warm apartment.  

Growing up our home was only heated by a wood burning stove in our family room.  Even though it was California (northern!) it was very chilly most or the winter and that stove took a while to warm up the living area.  As I walked into our apartment today I thought how nice it is to not have to gather and chop wood, build a fire and wait for our home to warm up.  I feel so rich and blessed!  (Dad, thanks for building such wonderful fires in that wood stove.  I still remember your "newspaper logs".)

I just checked the weather and it is 17 degrees outside.  With the windchill, it is 4 degrees.  Lovely!

Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.  ~Sarah Ban Breathnach

It's 3pm and I'm still in my p.j.s

Yes, that is right.  It is 3pm and I have not gotten dressed yet.  And, no, it is not out of laziness.  Quite the opposite.  My hands have not been free for one moment today.

Before anyone knew I was pregnant with Simon I asked a friend (an amazing mother of 5) which was the harder adjustment: going from 1 to 2 kids or 2 to 3?  She quickly responded, "2 to 3!"  Then she gave me some advice.  She said make sure you do two things everyday: 1-make sure you feed your kids and 2-make sure your kids know you love them when they go to bed at night.  If you do those two things you'll have had a good day.  If you do more, great, if not, not a problem.  After that simple advice she tearfully explained that the 16 months when she had three little ones at home (before her oldest started kindergarten) were the best 16 months of motherhood for her.  She was so focused on her little brood and such joy came from that simplicity.

I have taken my friend's advice very seriously.  I still get laundry done, make meals, and shower (most days).  But when things get a little wild, or three wee ones are begging for my attention I feel comfortable and confident dropping everything.  (Going with the flow is not something that comes naturally for me.)  The dishes are rarely 100% done and that's okay.  Those dishes won't change and will still be waiting to be cleaned no matter what happens.  But my three children, they won't stop changing!  It has been almost two weeks since my mom left and I've tried too keep our days very simple.  And, so far, the simplest of days have been amazing and wonderful.  Do I dare say the best days of motherhood, so far?  Perhaps.

P.S.  I'm typing this one handed while holding Simon in the other.  Him and sleep are not cooperating today.  And that's why I'm still in my p.j.s at 3pm.

I'm the luckiest!

I am completely in love with this little man!

Sledding!

We finally got a sled!  (Thanks Roseanna!)  And the kids (Daddy included) had a blast this morning.  We found the perfect hill for a 4 year old to climb up and sled down on her own.  Isabella ran up and sledded down at least a million times (I'm sure!).  Oliver is now addicted to sledding.  He squealed, giggled, and laughed the whole time (except when his mittens fell off).  He actually used the word "no!" when we asked if he was ready to go home and said the word "boots" today too.  So, I've decided sledding is beneficial for language development (at least for Oliver).

I was designated photographer, Simon carrier and speeding sled stopper.  Here are several favorite photos:

On our street, headed to Central Park.  Have a mentioned I love where we live?!!!

P.S.  I'm grateful for warm snow clothes for my kids (mostly from generous friends and family) so they can have so much fun in the snow without freezing!

Right Now

Simon: 1 month

It can not be possible that our sweet Simon is already a month old!  Time is flying all too quickly.  His face has changed so much: cheeks filling out, eyes open and staring.  Yesterday he smiled for the first time!  He has the most precious smile.

Simon is adored by Isabella.  She loves to help with everything and as I watch her closely I'm becoming more comfortable and confident letting her.  Yesterday as I was bundling up Oliver to go outside she gently put Simons socks and booties on.

Oliver usually does really well with Simon too.  He asks to hold Simon and will do so for maybe a minute everyday.  Oliver will help by pushing Simon's binky into Simon's mouth and carrying dirty diapers to the trash for me.  Yesterday Simon was laying on the couch while the kids were playing and I was doing a few dishes.  I turned around and Oliver was up on the couch, next to Simon, giving him tender kisses on his forehead.  Moments like that melt my heart.

Simon is such a sweet baby.  We all love and adore him and are grateful he is finally a part of our family.  I feel complete with him here as well as challenged to be a better mother.

Attitude of Gratitude

Words can't express how grateful I am that my mom came to help us
adjust to life with little Simon. She was here almost 4 weeks! The
whole time changing diapers, rocking a restless Simon all night,
entertaining Isabella and Oliver all day, braving the city on her own
to run errands, babysitting all three kids while Brian and I went on several
dates, and demanding that I sit and relax frequently.

Only my amazing, beautiful, talented, patient mom could do all that so
gracefully.

Thank you, Mom!

What a girl wants

Isabella has been asking again for a sister.  Fortunately, for her, she has two brothers who adore her.  Oliver only occasionally obliges her beautifying indulgences.

Right now...the photo

Right now

I am grateful for the joy and excitement snow brings to my little girl.

Attitude of Gratitude

This year one of my goals is to cultivate a constant attitude of gratitude.  I plan to write down at least one thing everyday that I am grateful for. 


Right now I am so very grateful for the amazing service and love the women at church have offered my family.  For over two weeks, during the busiest time of the year, over a dozen women have prepared amazing, delicious dinners and delivered them to our home.  All of these women are super busy with multiple children or working fulltime.  Dinners have been delivered in rain, knee-high snow and in the middle of the blizzard.  Their love and service have touched my heart and nourished my soul.  In addition to nourishing my family!! 


"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes it place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others."  ~Thomas S. Monson

Just because every post needs a picture.

Oliver: 18 Months

Oliver's 18 month birthday was December 11th; Simon's due date.  I had hoped to have this post up before now, but...well...things got busy.

Oliver is such a joy; so quick to laugh and smile.  He loves to pretend to cook in the play kitchen and spends much of his time there.  He has begun to ask to use the potty and actually did successfully once!  He loves and adores Isabella, mimicking her most of the time.  Oliver is quick to share, tease, hug and kiss.  The words he uses, that I understand are: mama, dada, Belllla (with a whole lot of tongue), juice, yes, cook, and cookie.  Otherwise he communicates very well with sign language and grunting.  He is a boy who knows what he wants and makes sure we understand him.  He is addicted to watching shows, loves the book "quiet LOUD", has great rhythm drumming and dancing, loves walking around outside and playing in the snow.

Oliver is very expressive, especially with his lips.  Unfortunately he would not make his "sad face" for the camera.  His sad face is adorable; so much so I have a hard time not smiling when he is sad.

Today

Today began a bit crazy.  At 9am both boys were screaming and demanding Mommy's love and attention.  Even with Grandma's extra hands, love and attention it was overwhelming.

But things got better...

We did some finger painting:

We did some sewing with Grandma:

And cleaned the kitchen: