Week 13: More zzzzz's please

The month of March has been rough for us in the sleep department.

The infant who drifted peacefully off to sleep is no more. Not at naptime, bedtime, OR in the middle of the night. She is not going down without a fight. Cue the crying and head shaking and rolling to kick the sides of the crib. Frank and I are obviously more tired nowadays compared to when we went through this stage with the boys, but it seems like it is taking forever.

Oh, and the boys... Since Daylight Saving started they have never been awake more than at bedtime. We moved their bedtime from 8 to 7 at the beginning of the school year because they seemed tired, but I think we're going to have to change it back for the summer. I don't mind that they are awake in their room (even if they get out of bed), but they have a tendency to wake Charlotte up just when she is finally conking out.

So we are hanging in there. We are planning for, and looking forward to, traveling to see friends and family, so that's been an area of focus. And just this morning I told Gabe "You know, you get to go to school in less than 5 months!" :)

Zach went to another birthday party for a classmate, at an indoor amusement park type place. The highlights seemed to be laser tag, air hockey and the roller coaster, which he got to ride with the birthday boy.

Gabe is very proud of his new accomplishment:

Making the baby food is going really well, eating it is going so-so. She seems to like pears, but sometimes it is hard to tell if she dislikes something, isn't hungry, or is just having a picky day.

Is anyone else watching Cosmos? Zach is in love with this show, which I knew he would be. I have really enjoyed the snippets I've seen so far...I'm looking forward to watching all the episodes at some point when I can actually hear the TV and not just the boys asking me questions.

Charlotte is seven months old now, only slightly bigger but a whole lot louder.

Week 12: Another week down

Again, it feels like just keeping everyone clean and fed is taking all our time and energy. Oh, and keeping the kids entertained...how could I forget that? Zach is into scrabble games with me and going to movies with Frank, Gabe likes his Kirby game on the Wii, drawing (especially with sidewalk chalk), and taking care of his monkeys, and Charlotte is content to sit and play and watch everything the boys do. She also loves avocado, is not a fan of carrots yet, and kicks non-stop in the bath like she is training for the Olympics. The photo of me and Frank was taken by Zach.

Week 11: Hot and cold

It was one of those weeks where Tuesday suddenly turns into Saturday and I don't remember how we got there. All I know is that it was beautiful and warm at the beginning and we walked up to the bus stop a couple days in a row. And today we have enough snow to cancel school again. In other news, Charlotte can sit up now. It's all kinds of exciting around here, huh? 

 

He's learning...we just keep forgetting to practice.

A lot more dark hair is coming in.

I just think the look on her face is too funny :)

Week 10: Mostly Charlotte

We are still having snow days...Zach was home Monday and Tuesday even though we ended up only getting a few inches. Charlotte went for her 6-month check-up and she's 18 pounds now. She really likes butternut squash and oatmeal, and I think she's coming around on the sweet potato. Most of these photos are of her because she's my most cooperative subject at the moment. And because I have to document the important stuff, like sitting up in a shopping cart for the first time and wearing cute shoes! How tired I look in the photo is about how tired I feel. Charlotte is sleeping better, but I know she won't sleep through the night until I wean her, just like Gabe. We'll be working on that the next month or two...

Week 9: We're all sick

Yes, this is what we felt like for most of last week. The cold started with Zach (always does) the weekend before and then hit the rest of us, Charlotte included. We had one snow day and just tried to rest up the best we could. I made some baby food for Charlotte, and you can see in the video how she liked it.

Better late than never to make some Valentine's cookies.

Zach and Frank saw The Lego Movie.

 Crazy that this sweet girl is six months old already.

 Loving the new food processor. Someday when we have time we'll make adult food too!