These Days...: July 2011

With LOTS of help! Without the help, the title of this post would be "Barely Surviving". It really does take a village. My mother says we weren't meant to raise children alone and I have to agree with her. I know so many do it and it only makes me more grateful for Steven, my mom, dad, sisters, and so many friends who have pitched in and helped me get through this first month with a fourth baby. I have truly been overwhelmed by the support I have had over the past few weeks.

Our life is slowly returning to a "new normal". It's amazing how such a little thing can disrupt our somewhat established family routine. Although it is already hard to remember life before Abigail. Ellie, Luke, and Andrew continue to be smitten with her. But it has also come with some meltdowns and Ellie on a few occasions has admitted between tears that she wished things were back to the way they were before. I reassured her (and also myself) that it won't always be like this...that before we know it, Abigail will be as old as Andrew, talking and walking, and just as much a part of our family as the other three. Andrew has adjusted as you can imagine a 2 1/2 year old who is having to deal with not being the baby anymore would. Plenty of meltdowns and bad moods and taking things from his older brother and sister. Wanting to climb on Abigail's crib, on Abigail, and throwing a fit when I pull him off-waking her up in the process. He talks more than ever and started out calling her "A-gail." It has since developed into "A-B-gail", and sometimes just Abbie. I'm pretty sure I will always call her Abigail, but I think it is cute that on his own, he sometimes calls her Abbie.

And for anyone who cares...she is still eating about every 3 hours at night. Sometimes she will give me a 4 hour stretch. I am living for the night when I wake up and look at the clock and it has been 5 or 6 hours. We will get there. She really is a good baby, but even great newborns are extremely demanding. She would love to be held all the time, but she is often content to be put on her stomach to sleep, and generally does the best like that. I know...I cheat, but I only do it during the day, and check on her often.

And now, finally pictures. My incredibly talented friend, Ashley, so graciously agreed to come take pictures of Abigail and the other three as well (if they would cooperate). It was very insane, but Ashley did a fabulous job and I could not be more thrilled with the results! Thank you again, Ashley!! Please know that these are just pictures, not reality, and it was all I could manage to get all four children dressed and cooperating for a picture. I had my pj's on and no makeup, the house was a wreck, and my mother and of course, Ashley were all helping just to pull off a few good shots. I would show you some more "realistic" pictures of the way things really are around here, but I haven't had a chance to pull out a camera. Well, that and the fact that we don't have one.

Warning: Quite a few pictures-just couldn't narrow them down.