Happy 2019!

Another Christmas has come and gone so fast that I'm left spinning in a pile of new toys and clutter. It's a new year and I'm starting it off with a new mantra: minimalism. Not like crazy levels where I only own 3 shirts and 2 bowls. The kind where I'm going through every corner of my house and purging. Not saving for some yard sale I will never do, getting rid of it. Donating some, tossing others. I have been following a minimalist blogger for about a year now (Allie Casazza) and she said something the other day that made so much sense. In different words she basically said that the waste doesn't happen when you get rid of something, it happens when you buy something you don't need. So I'm trying to let go of things that I could potentially sell for a few bucks and saving my sanity (and safety... no creepy internet buyers coming to my house!). It's been a wonderful week and I can already feel less stressed!

I have a few other new years resolutions. The past few years have been survival mode, but I'm feeling like I actually can have some goals for a change. Reading more (especially the Bible), playing the piano more, spend less time on my phone, lose a few pounds, yell less at my kids, finally wean my daughter (yup, still nursing). We'll see how much of it actually happens, but it's nice to have a focus for the year.

Another big thing this year is working on my growing little business. My mother in law and I started a little side business selling signs and decor that has done pretty decent this last year. It was nice to have extra money coming in around the holidays, but we're at a point where we need a better plan and vision for our little business. I have a degree in business but motherhood has made me forget any former life... all my brain is filled with now is seemingly useless information... which kid likes his pb&j cut what way, which kid likes what cereal, which kid prefers the green bowl and which cup Hadley will drink the most out of... you know, that kind of stuff.  But I think a little research and some advice from friends and family who own their own businesses, I think we could go a little farther and really bring in some extra money.

So lots going on in my mind lately. And as always, a lot going on in my house as well. The boys  are as crazy as ever and my daughter is getting sassier by the day. They are all so sweet, though! All of them will randomly tell me the love me and I get more hugs than I can stand in a day. Tucker, especially, just loves to hang on me. Hadley, of course, is still nursing and still not sleeping great so I spend a lot of time with her. She's got some spice but oh man, what a sweetie lately. Her version of "love you" sounds more like "la oo" but it's the best thing ever. She knows it makes me melt.

Life is kind of wonderful right now. I really am loving being a stay at home mom. God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams and every day I try to be grateful for being able to stay at home. My hubby works his butt off for our family and I do my best to not take that for granted. I remember the point when I couldn't stay home with Easton and my heart just ached every day that I had to leave him. Even though the days get monotonous and I spend most of the day doing things that I will need to redo tomorrow, I am learning to find joy in it. I get to spend every day with the cutest little people ever in our snug little warm home, and I get to do it in leggings (praise the sweet Lord!).

Not sure where I was going with all of that, but anyway it's an update. Just so I don't ever forget the little details, I'll end with my favorite things about the kids right now:

Easton- he is turning into quite the little leader, even making Kindergartener of the month in his class in November! He is dad's little buddy, at his side any chance he can. He's still my best helper too, even though he's at school most of the day. He enjoys school, but says "it takes too long to come home" and that he misses me (awwwwww).  He's already talking about wanting to be 6, and then 7, and then 8 and I just want my little 3 year old Easton forever! But I love watching this kid grow. He's already starting to read and loves to learn. He asks a million questions and soaks it all in.

Maverick- well, he's still trouble. We're learning what works with him though. He responds much better to praise and will act better if he feels that we are happy with him. We also were gifted a punching bag for Christmas and it helps him get some of his crazy out, haha. He went with me to the grocery store the other day and it seemed like he was having the time of his life.  He definitely is better behaved with a little more one on one time. He loves power rangers and dinosaurs and is by far my best eater. He is his father in every way and it's hilarious to watch Jeremy interact with his little mini-me.

Tucker- this kid is build so athletically but would rather sing and snuggle than use his muscles. He is a total ham and likes to be goofy when everyone is watching. He plays well by himself and doesn't get as bored as his twin. He tells me he loves me probably 30 times a day. He still is a crazy boy though, jumping off the top bunk bed onto his brother's bed and climbing everything. He's always hungry but picky, so that's fun. Not ten minutes after finishing his cinnamon toast crunch, he's asking for a snack. My grocery bill will be insane when he and his brothers grow up a little more.

Hadley- this girl. She is my mini-me. Jer always used to call me a sour patch kid (first they are sour, then they are sweet), and she is the same. She demands to nurse and throws an absolute fit if I don't let her, then will unlatch to say "la oo!" (love you) and I immediately forget her hissy fit. It's her way or the high way (supposedly I'm the same way, but I don't see it ☺). She is literally the best though. So cute and sweet and smart and adorable. She is saying so many words and is already so interested in the potty! She loves all babies and stuffed animals. We got her a little pink shopping cart for Christmas and she pushes her little babies around and gives them their bottles. She wants me close at all times, even at night. She has to be holding my hand to sleep and it's a pain but something I will miss so badly some day. She's still a little peanut but finally starting to fit into 18 month clothes and she's finally eating more. I put her on our home scale yesterday and she was barely over 22 pounds. Oh, and my new favorite thing... she likes to try to talk to my google home. She will go to the counter and start yelling "google! google!" Man, I love that little girl

Kids suck the life outta you but bring so much joy. I love this life!

New Territory

So much changes with kids, and it changes fast. Little things they said or did are gone in a few weeks... phases come and go without warning. I don't know why it's hard for me to get on here to update (ya know, other than the fact that I have four kids and a home to take care of) but I long to sit and write each and every little thing my kids are doing. It's my only sort of pause button in this life of a mom. But life gets in the way, and save for some videos and pictures, little moments are gone in the blink of an eye. Anyway, enough being sappy.

My daughter. She's the reason I wanted to take a minute to write. I titled this post new territory because for this girl of mine often makes me feel like a first time mom with no answers. You know what she's not doing? Sleeping through the night. My boys were all successfully sleep trained well before their first birthday... we tried it, multiple times, it just doesn't work with her. I'm at a loss. Sometimes I spend hours in her room passed out on her floor by her crib, holding her hand in some awkward angle leaving my arm asleep from the shoulder down. It's comfy. (insert eyeroll) So yeah, that's been fun. Now that Easton is in kindergarten my alarm is ringing at 5:50am so I'm adjusting to around 6 hours asleep. I probably could get more if I went to bed at a decent time, but I'm binge watching Jane the Virgin and I just. can't. stop. Don't feel sorry for me! I will always look back at these nights of sleeping on her floor with fondness. I mean, how cute is it that she needs to hold mommy's hand?? I'll survive. There's coffee.

Ok so the second thing on the list of "new" to me is the fact that I, as of today, have nursed her for 14 months. She hates bottles, cows milk, sippy cups of cows milk, cows milk out of a straw (unless it's chocolate, lol) and honestly, she eats like a bird. So, she still nurses. Like a lot. Mostly it's just quick little 3-4 minute sessions. But there is no end in sight. This girl has been a momma's girl since day one and she ain't letting go easy. I always kind of rolled my eyes at extended breastfeeding, but, at this point, I'm too lazy and out of good reasons to wean. Whatevs, she likes it... it's free and good for her. I think 18 months will be a maximum, hopefully before then. I guess we'll see how it goes, but like I said, this is new territory! Easton nursed until 12 months, the twins made it to 14 months too, but that last month was only morning and night.

But time goes so fast. What's a few more months of sleeping on the floor and nursing? She'll get the hang of it. I will long for these days when she's a teenager slamming doors in my face and telling me she doesn't need me.

I'm going to just roll with it. That's my mom-of-four mantra lately. Are they fed, happy, loved, healthy? Yep. Anything else is just details. 💚

One Year.

Yesterday, my sweet baby girl turned one! I have no clue how that happened so fast and I'm not happy about it. I feel like last week she was this chubby, happy, little 4 month old who just smiled all day long. Now she's crawling around with her brothers, playing with toys, being loud and sassy and adorable.

This first year was absolutely wonderful, even though it was fast. My little girl has been my sidekick, my little bestie all year long. Whether I liked it or not, she went with me wherever I went (thanks to clingy-ness and refusal of bottles). Grocery stores, Bible study, Target runs, even date nights. I'm not even mad. Everywhere we went we would get stopped by random strangers commenting on her beauty!

I mean, they are right, right? 

We spend a lot of time together, for sure. She still doesn't sleep through the night, despite all my efforts and multiple attempts at sleep training. She just wants me close. We co-slept for the first six months so I understand. And to be honest, she's my fourth kid so it doesn't really faze me to get up three or four times a night. I've been doing it for five years it seems. Part of her attachment to me is nursing. I don't think we're going to be weaning any time soon. She still nurses probably 6-8 times in a 24 hour period. Usually not for long, but she demands it often. (She thinks she's in control... she kind of is...) She's eating food but never too much at a time. That girl LOVES bananas and most fruit. Blueberries, watermelon, cantaloupe are among the top favs. 

She loves to play with her brothers and she thinks she can keep up with them. If they go running down the hall to their bedroom, she's usually not far behind crawling as fast as she can. She can take steps, but it's not her preferred method of getting around yet. She's a bit wobbly still, but I'm ok with that.  

My girl is such a sweetheart. She can be a little dramatic and sticks her little bottom lip out so far when we say no. She will hug or kiss you if you say "awwww." She loves to play outside, especially in the sand. If she finds a dinosaur laying on the ground she will go "rawrrrr" in the cutest way. She likes to say "go!" and was saying quite a few words last month but this month she doesn't feel like it apparently. For a while she was saying "love you" and it melted us all. She does what she wants, though, she is the princess after all. We call her that, but her most popular nickname is still Nugget or Nugs. She answers to it and her brothers even call her that sometimes.

I wish I could sit here and write down every detail of each stage my kids are in right now. They change so fast. The cute thing they did last month is gone now, and the things they are doing today may be gone soon. Right now, Easton is obsessed with Sonic. He's registered for Kindergarten and has started to learn to swim without swimmies. Every time we get in the car he requests the song "Reckless Love." Maverick tells me "love you too" even when I don't say it first. He is still full of trouble but is much better behaved and loves to be silly. Tucker calls Hadley "Haley Laine," and has a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch every morning. He's goofy and always surprises us with how much he gets when we think he's not paying attention. All three of them like to put on capes and masks and shoot the bad guys with nerf guns. They will play outside for hours and be absolutely filthy and happy. They are sweet boys and take such good care of their baby sister. 

It's always chaotic, but I go to sleep every night feeling so grateful and joyful that they are my kiddos. God has been so kind to us.

Back to the grind, it's lunch time! 💚