Two under Two

Today was a Monday Monday.  The kind of Monday that makes Garfield throw his blanket  back over his head.  Unfortunately, as a mother of four, two of whom are under the age of two, I didn’t have the option of crawling back under my fluffy comforter this morning. 

The trouble began last night when L’il Britches decided that sleeping for more than two hours at a time was somehow out of fashion.  Also on his “out” list was going immediately back to sleep when I nursed him.  So for every two hours that I slept I was up for 30-40 minutes feeding the baby. 

Then our morning began at the usual time and we had school and chores to do.  Unfortunately, Sunshine was over-tired from a trip to the aquarium over the weekend and skipping too many naps.  So instead of playing quietly while the older kids and I did our school time, she cried.  Over everything.  Over nothing.   Typical toddler inconsolability.  It is very difficult to explain division to an ADHD child with that kind of noise going on in the background.  If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to come over and try sometime.

 Amazingly, though, by about one o’clock everyone had been taught, fed, read to and put to bed (or seated on the couch for quiet time).   And I got a chance to type up this blog.  So, overall, although it is challenging, having two under two isn’t impossible.  This is good news for me, because we just found out that in a few more months we’ll have three under the age of three.  Another little blessing is on the way sometime around Valentine’s day.  Phew.  I think I’ll head over to Amy’s Humble Musings for some encouragement!

Our Little Cowpokes

Little Drummer Boy

I just have to report that my husband’s amazing musical gene-ious has been passed on to at least one of our children.  DH was giving Bud a drum lesson in the garage yesterday afternoon while we were all playing outside.  Soon, we all stopped what we were doing and started listening, because our little six year old who can’t even reach the pedal for the bass drum, was keeping a steady beat with both hands and was able switch from snare to tom while continuing with the cymbals.  Just in case you aren’t sufficiently impressed, let me tell you that I cannot do what he did.  My husband, who claims he “doesn’t know” how to play drums (i.e. taught himself what he does know), has given our son enough instruction (and genetic disposition) to be able to play surprisingly well.  We were all quite impressed and look forward to encouraging his skill.  Everybody needs to know they’re really good at something.

So Much to Blog, So Little Time

It has been so long since I’ve posted.  If you saw my previous post, you know why!  Adding our fourth child has been so much fun, but also a really big adjustment.  I feel like I am going ninety miles an hour all day long and only getting half of my work done.  There have been times in the past few months when I could have blogged, but I opted for other activities, like blowing raspberries into Li’l Britches’ tummy, or snuggling up with hubby on the couch to catch a little chuckle from Letterman.

I have had several things to blog about, and I don’t know if I’ll get to any of them.  One event in particular stands out.  DH and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary in March.  He decided it would be fun to go on a nice sunset dinner cruise.  It was so wonderful, with a seven course French meal, we felt a little out of our class.  It was funny though,  because people kept implying that we were so young.  We were told there was “non-alcoholic” champagne.  Some lady asked if we were going to prom.  Another couple thought we were on like a high school date.  We just had to chuckle.  8 years and 4 kids later, we must still have either a very youthful appearance, or else our inexperience and uncertainty shine through as if we are teenagers.   Since I just turned 29, I’m going to vote for the former.

 Speaking of my birthday, this year’s birthday was wonderful.  In fact, I’ll have to make a new post for it.  Of course, it may be three more months before I get around to it, but we’ll see.    In the mean time, Sunshine is standing up in her high chair with oatmeal in her hair and Bud and Missy are ready for school.  My days are full, and my cup runneth over.

Blessing Upon Blessing

I am so excited to announce that our newest blessing has arrived, healthy, happy and much loved.  Li’l Britches decided to stick with the family tradition of laboring on the 1oth of the month.  So, January 1o when I went in for my OB appointment with the midwife, my water broke and the adventure of birth began.  Labor went well, slow and easy for the first several hours, then fast and furious for the last hour or so.  At 4:35 he arrived weighing 6 lbs. 12 oz. and measuring 19 inches in length.  He cried for about two minutes, then opened his gorgeous eyes and studied the world around him.  He was so quiet I kept asking if he was o.k. 

Li’l Britches and I came home the next evening and we’ve been working on adjusting to life as a family of six.  So far, so good.   We’ve been so blessed by our church family and our military family both as meals have been provided nearly everyday since he was born.  The only thing that is missing is being able to share our joy with our family.  Emailed pictures and phone calls are poor substitute for the grandparents and aunts and uncles who wish they could be here with us to celebrate.  We are looking forward with much eagerness to our return to the mainland in August.  In the mean time, pictures and phone calls will have to do.

New Names

First off, let me answer the “Question of the Day.”  No, I have not had this baby yet. 

Ok, now that we’ve got that out of the way…I think it is time to get the name situation straightened out.  For the purposes of this blog, I’ve been calling my youngest, Baby.  However, any day now (hopefully), Baby will no longer be the baby of the family.  So, I’ve decided that from now on she’ll be called Sunshine.  Her new favorite song is “You are My Sunshine,” and she has brought so much laughter and light to our family, that I think it is appropriate. 

When this new little guy finally decides to arrive, he’ll need a name, too.  So I’ve decided for various reasons, to call him Li’l Britches. 

Now, if only he would decide it was time to meet us…

Expecting

All of us who have carried babies to term know that the last month is the longest and slowest, with the last two weeks being even slower and longer.  And so it goes.  I am eager to meet this tiny boy who has grown in me for the better part of a year.   I wait for signs that labor is approaching.  I try to remember the sequence of events from my other labors, but I get muddled.  Not that it will matter.  The baby will come when he is ready and not before –  no matter what I do.  I think that is what is so frustrating.  I just want to do something to get things going.  My laundry is done, my floors are clean, my bag is packed…I am ready.  But still I must wait.  So, I’ll do another puzzle.  I’ll wait a while longer.  What choice do I have?

Basking in the Joy of Pregnancy

Just wanted to share a photo from the maternity photo session I did this past week as a gift to my DH for Christmas. 

A Bouquet of Thanks

Each year at Thanksgiving, I try to make sure that the kids and I do a project of some kind that shows what we have to be thankful for.  It is appropriate that Thanksgiving comes on the cusp of Christmas, because we need a reminder of what we already have during the season of “And this year I want….”  This year, I was looking for ideas on-line and came across this one at Kaboose.  We had so much fun tracing and cutting out the leaves and gluing them on the little popsicle sticks.  This was a super easy craft for the craft-impaired (namely, me), but most of all, it got us thinking about all the wonderful things we have to enjoy and to remember to thank the Giver of All Good Things.

Home Cookin’

Ah, comfort food.  Holiday recipes.  Traditional meals.  I love this time a year when all the favorites, the tried-and-true, and the nostalgic food is being served.  Of course, it isn’t great for the waist-line, but then this year I don’t have to worry about that, since our soon-to-arrive blessing gives me an excellent excuse to eat. 

While it hasn’t been hard to think of yummy holiday goodies to make (spiced nuts, Chex mix, Texas sheet cake…), I have been having a bit of trouble in the regular meal planning.  When it is time to go grocery shopping and I sit to make my list, I think of the things we’re out of, I include the chocolate and the flour and the sugar for the “goodies”, but I can’t seem to plan a menu for the week.  It’s like having “Chef’s Block” or something.  And it isn’t for lack of thinking of the situation.  I feel like all I have thought about lately is, “I don’t know what to fix for dinner!”

Well, when in doubt, I try to go with something easy, something comforting, and (if possible) something healthy.  Today for lunch, I decided on this lovely version of Chicken and Dumplings that I have adapted from several other recipes.  When you can’t think of what else to make, and you only have a few ingredients, this works well.

 Amanda’s Chicken and Dumplings

• 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs (or a 2-3 lb. chicken, whole)
• 6 cups of water or more, to cover chicken and make stock
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 stalks of celery
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 3/4 tsp. nutmeg
• Salt and pepper to taste

Place all ingredients in a stock pot and simmer until chicken is tender (about an hour or an hour and a half).  Skim off any fat or “scum” that rises to the top.  When chicken is cooked, remove from broth and shred or cut into bite size pieces.  (If using a whole chicken, remove chicken from bones.)  Return the chicken pieces to the broth. 

For dumplings:

Beat one egg until light in color.  Add one cup of flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 tsp. of pepper and 1/2 tsp. of sugar.  Mix until a dough forms (will be very sticky).  Drop dough by half-spoonfuls into the simmering broth.  Let cook until they hold together on their own, about 2-4 minutes.  Ladle into bowls and serve.