Life With 3 Kids....

I heard it all before I had our little girl, "Three kids is a nightmare" "You will never want to have another" "you thought two was tough? Three will have you crying." Well, we are 2 months into having three kids and both hubby and I have said that three isn't as bad as people made it out to be. Yes, my house looks like Katrina came through here, and maybe a tornado in the middle of the night. Sure, my hair is always in a pony tail and I have little to no makeup on and my kids are in comfy clothes (aka clean pj's) but I haven't pulled any hair out yet. I do have more gray but that's ok, that's what blonde highlights are for! Neacel and Brody adore their sister, and even when they are being rough with each other, they watch out for her. The only thing that has been tough has been all the crazy adjustments. A week after I had her, Neacel started soccer, a week after that, hubby started his internship, the following week Neacel started preschool and then each week it seems hubby gets more clients. Of course, its great but there is no consistency and that's what makes it tough in the beginning  I love my kids, I love their smiles and giggles but running here and there, and trying to manage a house is a lot. I just started with keeping my kids, alive, fed and happy. You can't ask for much more right? Now I'm adding the house, actually I'm procrastinating with all I need to do today. Perfect time to start blogging again huh? When my house is begging me to clean it.



A little about our newest addition. Macey Reese was born on August 8th at 1:38pm. She was 7lbs 10oz and 21 inches long. She has dark hair and her eyes are going to to blue. I can tell only because they are identical to big brother Neacel's eyes when he was a baby. Praying she gets his bright blue eyes. She is such a calm baby. So different from my boys. She always wears a headband, and yes at 5 days I painted her toenails hot pink and paint her toenails often. Don't judge! After 2 boys, I couldn't resist. She is sleeping around 5 hr chunks at night, which is the biggest blessing of them all. She loves the colors pink and purple, her favorite food is milk and she loves smiling and sleeping. What more could I ask for? I am so wrapped around her little finger, there is something special about the bond between a mom and her daughter. Even the boys are in love with her. Brody is always giving her kisses, and Neacel is always talking about how much he loves her and how adorable she is. They are amazing big brothers, and I pray that all 3 of them always have the love for each other that they have now.

These newborn pictures were taken when she was only a week old by a good friend. She also did the top picture of the kids all together. Amazing aren't they? Rachael Cook Photography does amazing work, so if you are in the Akron area or willing to travel then have her do some pictures for you. I couldn't be happier with all my pictures. Tough part is, I have no idea which ones to print and put up around the house.

People Manners

Neacel (my 3 year old) is a pretty good kid. He listens at times, and remembers his manners. Very smart and remembers a lot that we tell him. But there is one thing we have never needed to cover with him, comments about other people. With this being said, one of my worst nightmares happened yesterday with him.

Every Wednesday we go to Salvation Army to see what treasures we can find. It's in an interesting part of town, so you see interesting people. It is just part of it right? I have him in the cart and hubby is off with Brody looking at who knows what. We are walking towards the bathroom (because he if finally 100% potty trained!!) and there is a larger older lady that we are passing. As we get closer he points to her and says "Mom look at that fat lady with a big butt" I kept walking, knowing my face is turning every shade of red possible. I felt the heat on my face, I never in my life have been so embarrassed. I looked at him while walking and said "Neacel we never say things like that" he just kept starring at her. We got to the bathroom and I got in his face and repeated that we never ever ever say things like that too people. I could tell by him looking at the floor with a sad face that he felt bad, but then I realized we didn't say sorry or anything. I was in such a state of shock and panic that I had just kept walking.

After the bathroom I wanted to say sorry, I wanted him to actually, but I couldn't find her (being short makes it tough to find people in a store), and I didn't know if she even heard him. I should have looked harder to find her, I know I didn't give it my best effort but I will admit, I was scared. I felt horrible because I know if I was her, I would have been hurt. I couldn't believe that he had sad something like that about another person. I was angry, embarrassed and just felt sad for her because all we know is that she is a child of God, and that we all look our own special ways.I'm going to spend a day talking with Neacel about each of us look different and that we should never stare, make comments or anything other then smile at others. I pray this lesson sticks as well as others have!!!!

What would you do in that situation? I pray that I never ever have to deal with that again.

Golf Cart and a 3 year old

Let me start this by telling you about my oldest, Neacel. He is such a ball of energy. He is interested in everything and loves to learn. He has the sweetest smile and bright blue eyes that make you melt. You can't let those things fool you though. He can be a stinker at times!! (PS, the picture is from out family pictures taken by Katmarval)

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to go hang out with some friends from church. I was so excited because we were going to an indoor soccer field that my friends brother in law runs. The kids can run and run until they are content. Well, the play date was going great. Everyone getting along, my boys using all of their energy having races with the other kids and playing the kid version of soccer. Then the brother in law who runs it, who I'm going to call "M", came in and said he was going to put the kids to work at another field. So we all go over there and he has them picking up garbage off the field. Of course it became a contest to see who could get the most, and everyone won! Then "M" was taking kids for rides on the golf cart around the field. Neacel was loving it! The look on his face said it all. I was so glad that he was having fun and that I was getting to know another mommy in the area. (I haven't had the best of luck with meeting friends who are people I can get along with, its sad but so many people are caught up in a worldly things...and I'm not like that at all).

Well, at this point all of the kids have had rides and "M" is out of the golf cart talking with family. Then the golf cart is moving towards me, I'm holding my 1 year old and then realize my 3 year old is driving the cart. I panic, I grab on the best I could and yelled at him, hoping to scare him enough that he will take his foot off the gas petal. My arm starts hurting from holding onto a moving golf cart so I let go. Neacel crashes the cart into the corner of a wall, right be the goal net. I panic over a few things, is he ok? Is there damage to anything? Crap, we are never going to be invited again! I was so embarrassed but so worried about Neacel. (this is curious nature for him, he loves to see how things work, and once he knows, he wants to try) He gets out of the cart and looks and "M" and says "I'm really sorry" and comes running to me crying and shaking.

Part of me is angry, the other part is worried about him. So we make sure he is ok and he is just feeling horrible. Crying and kept saying sorry. I decided not to punish him, the fear was enough at that point. OH and my 1 year old....crying and freaking out too! He got scared over me yelling and running after Neacel. Luckily, everyone and everything was ok. Thank goodness! All day yesterday Neacel kept talking about how he crashed the "car" and that it scared him. All day I'm thinking, we are never going to be invited to another play date there, or if we are, Neacel won't be getting golf cart rides!

On a funny note....this morning, Neacel was playing with bouncy balls. Then he puts them in him under roo's (underwear) and says "hey mom look! Now I have 4 balls!" Oh dear that child is the reason I have so much gray hair at 25! I love this kid though, he keeps life exciting and fun! Never a dull moment with Neacel around!!!

"But Daddy Isn't Home"

Neacel loves to watch certain shows in the morning, and is very picky about those shows. Well, yesterday he had a morning show and then had his 3 year check up. My husband took him while Broden and I went grocery shopping (truly a nightmare). Well, when I got home, I needed to put all the groceries away, make lunch for the kids and my husband. So I turned on a quicky show for Neacel. Hubby tells me that he has watched enough today. So off it goes. After hubby left for school about 15 minutes later Neacel goes and turns on the tv. I told him to turn it off. He responds with, "But daddy isn't home and now I can watch tv" I then explained that mommy and daddy are a team, if daddy says no to something then mommy agrees and the other way around. He then stomped off saying "I'm not happy about this. I don't like this rule." He was so mad that I was supporting what hubby had said. Oh well kiddo. Tv is ok in moderation and if it's the right shows. Neacel LOVES Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and pretends to be a pirate daily. Yesterday he found "gold balloons" and Broden was nasty Captain Hook Broden, he dug at the carpet with a shovel and counted to 10 when he found the "gold balloons" which was nothing more then a bouncy ball. He also loves Little Einsteins, and so does Broden. Other favorites are Mighty Machines, Max & Ruby, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Chuggington. Kid's love TV and movies, it's a fact. We just have to make sure what they watching and educational and not full of garbage!

You may ask why I picked that certain picture of him even though it has nothing to do with tv? This is the same blank stare he gets when one of his shows are on, nothing else matters!