With Three

Life with three...

Here are a few glimpses into our world lately

Meal time

4 people, 4 different meals

1 cute table!  

The above picture is why the below picture happens a little more often than it should!  I can buy about $3 worth of food and sit down at a table (that I don't have to clean under :) and enjoy lunch with the 3 cuties!

B.J.'s 2-seater carts make them one of the few errands that I will run with the kids.  When I go, I normally turn it into a full lunch, errand, and outing!  

A friend reminded me that the fall schedule at the library includes Thursday mornings; yay!!  That is the best morning for us to get out and do something.  It is absolutely the.best. activity for juggling the interests of a 3 year old, 13 month old, and an 8 month old!

Natalie is starting to clap to music, tap her feet, and definitely enjoying crawling away from me when she thinks I am not looking!

Benjamin just sits and takes it all in, trying not to get trampled during bubble time.

Anna-Kate has really got it.  She enjoys the different songs, pays attention during the books, shouts out answers to the leader's questions, and does the appropriate motions.

What you didn't see in this post about life with 3...

the craziness that getting all three in and out of the car is,

the cuteness of Anna-Kate and Natalie playing chase,

the new gate that is at the bottom of the stairs, stairs that Natalie can climb up quite quickly if given the chance,

the sweet sound of Benjamin and Natalie chatting, 

three kids playing with three different things (ahem, a downstairs full of different things), ...

or the coffee cup that helps me keep up!

8 Months

At 8 months old, there is not much new to report.  That tooth we thought we saw a month ago was a false alarm.  No teeth so far, but lots of drool!  Benjamin nurses 5 times a day.  He sleeps from 7 - 7 (or so, wakes up anytime from 6:30 to 7:15 in the morning).  He is eating purees at breakfast, lunch and supper.  He doesn't love asparagus or green beans, but eats well everything else that I have offered.  

Benjamin loves to sit and play.  He is slowly working on mobility, but only slowly.  Still only backward or sideways movement, which means he is never more than a few feet from where I leave him.  He has a really easy smile and a contagious laugh!  He adores his big sister; she gets so many of his laughs.  He loves his daddy; the sound of daddy's voice distracts him so easily from eating when not much else does.  He reserves most cuddles for mama, which I don't argue with!

Benjamin is truly a content little man! with a smile that makes all he meets smile!

Love you little Benjamite, Benja-man, our Benjamin!

Side note:  as to allergy watch... we have waited to introduce wheat.  So, he eats rice puffs (found at Harmony Foods, a natural food store).  There is one organic sweet potato puff that he can have as well.  At 9 months we will see how oats and wheat go with him.  I kissed him after eating an English Muffin with peanut butter; out came a red place with a raisde bump in the middle.  Uh oh!  Quite watchful and learning to not hover...

Conversations

Anna-Kate:  I like baby chicks.  I want to have a pet.
Me:  You do?  What kind of pet do you want to have one day?  

Anna-Kate:  That is a good question, Mom!  hhhmmm  I think I want a hippopotamus.
Me:  Oh, okay... I think we are going to need a bigger bath tub.

Anna-Kate:  No, not a bigger bath tub.  I just want to hold a little hippo.  Actually, that is not a good idea.  He might chomp me.  I think I want a goose for a pet.
Me:  A goose?

Anna-Kate:  Yes, I want a pet goose.  A baby goose.  What other pets do I want with my goose?  I think I need a baby chick.  
Me:  A chick and a goose?

Anna-Kate:  A chick, cheep cheep, and a goose.   And a duck and a cow and goat.  Can I have all those pets Mom?
Me:  Maybe just one pet one day.

Anna-Kate:  Okay, I want a baby chick and a duck.  Not a goose, Mom.  I want a baby chick and  a duck.

What do you think, friends? Anyone else laughing that she landed on a chick and a duck for her future pets?!

On a different occasion.....
I brought down AK's clothes for the day.
Anna-Kate:  Is that my MeNC shirt?
me:  Your what?  Your UNC shirt?

Anna-Kate:  No, my MeeeeNC shirt!  
me:  Yes, it is your UNC shirt.

Just a random confusion for all my UNC or even my NCSU fans out there.  (We have been given a couple UNC shirts for AK over the last few years since Will works there.  Will and I are really boring to talk to about collegiate alliances; we just don't care a lot.)  In case you are curious, she ended up refusing the "MeNC" shirt because that is her comfy clothes and she wanted to wear a dress.

Fall Preview

No friends, not a decorating preview or a movie review, 

but a preview of coming skills

that will change my days!

Benjamin has started trying to get in crawling position;

it hasn't worked yet...

...but he tries

and tries again!

Backwards movement, sideways and in circles.  Crawling and true mobility are on their way!

In similar news,

Natalie has been pulling up and standing for a while now

But look at her now!  

Not quite ready to walk on her own but watch her go if she has something to push!

Anyone curious about my fall work-out plan?  See above pictures!

Random

 With our new fall schedule, I have not thought through many blog posts lately.  (Preschool, new church evening program, Will and I are teaching the 3's Sunday School at church, dance class, ...)  Here are some of the images you've missed from the last two weeks... 

Benjamin has started eating his own version of puffs.  They are literally puffed rice; the only ingredient is rice. We have still not introduced even a cheerio to our little man.  Being on allergy-watch feels like it has a new lesson around most corners.  

Last Monday Anna-Kate wanted to wear her BLAST tee-shirt.  We were having a lounging day at home, so I said sure!  Wearing "comfy" clothes somehow made her look more grown up to me.  

We had a kite craft leftover from the day before's Sunday School lesson.  While the babies slept, I let her make a kite.  She was so excited when the wind really did catch it outside.

My tutoring for the school year has started up.  We have decided that one night a week this year is enough!  

the first evening I was back out on the tutoring field, Will pulled out the camera to show me what was going on around the house.  Cute!

Lunch time around this house...

...not many words required here.

Aunt Amanda (my sister!) came to visit a couple weeks ago.  Love her visits!!  

I am obsessed, as you guys well know, with sleeping pictures of our sweet ones.  I think this was last Wednesday right after supper.  Benjamin said preschool and dance class make for a busy day!  This was 6:15 and he was passed out!  After a 20 min power nap, he played, nursed, and then was still in bed asleep for the night by his normal 7 or a few min after.

First Day of Dance

This post needs few words.  Anna-Kate loved dance! 

I think this first day of dance could also be "back with Mary-Knowles!"

Can you tell they are happy?!

Benjamin gets a moment of attention,

then it is off to her first class (4 girls total right now).

Peeking in

At the end, she caught me!

Her preschool teacher mentioned dance at dropoff on Friday.  I said she loved it, but it helped that her favorite friend was doing it with her.  "I know, Mary-Knowles."  haha!  Guess AK mentioned it a time or two!  The dynamic duo is back together again!  Hopefully some learning will happen when AK gets over her initial excitement!

PS  The only thing AK didn't enjoy was putting her hair up.  The hair battles have more than begun!

First Day of School

Asbury Preschool

3's with Mrs. Mary Ann

What a difference a year makes!  for both mom and kid.  I was confident walking in, and so was she!  She did great with having a new teacher and only 2 of her last year friends are in this class.  She told me yesterday that she did get to see John-David  in the sanctuary.  (They have chapel twice a month....did my girl just say "sanctuary"?!)  The big change is that this year they are serving lunch.  She was so excited about taking her new lunch bag and Minnie Mouse thermos to school!  (Her "pet" cat wanted to ride in the car with us.)

I was so proud of my girl....on day 3, the teacher told me that Anna-Kate was talking with the really quiet girl in the class.  I made a comment about being glad that AK was talking and they gave me a look like "what are you talking about?"  Apparently my mama's girl has blossomed when I am not around!

I look forward to seeing what this year holds for our girl!

Among Life's Important Quesions

Mom, where is Mickey Mouse's mommy?

The Beach the Simmons Way

Will grew up going to North Myrtle Beach with his family.  For the last couple years, Will has been able to introduce our family to that tradition.  Last week, we spent three nights doing just that.  This year, we had the added blessing of Will's parents, Oma and Opa, there too!  (It's a blessing to enjoy your in-laws, isn't it?!)

The first night we enjoyed our traditional Joe's Crab Shack.  The next morning it was off to the beach!

Will's favorite activity is to enjoy the innercoastal waterway, only a short walk from our hotel.  He loves exploring with Anna-Kate!

AK, of course, loves the time with daddy! 

Meanwhile Opa was exploring on this side of the waterway.

Benjamin was just hanging out.

 When Will and Anna-Kate returned, it was time to compare finds....

 Opa's big mama blue crab and Will and AK's hermit crab!

AK was so excited about the finds!  The blue crab we let go soon

 but "Cary" the hermit crab got to go home with us!  AK and Will created an aquarium for her.

 While we were gone for the evening, Anna-Kate consistently brought up how Cary was doing.  "Cary is a little sad; she misses me."  "Cary will be ok, but she wants her mommy."  "Maybe we should go home soon to check on Cary."

We spent the evening at Broadway at the Beach.  A seafood buffet and then some walking at Broadway!  As you can see Benjamin is quite happy with his Oma!

We introduced Oma and Opa to our tradition of feeding the ducks at Broadway.  

Can you tell these two are happy and siblings?!

  

This is one more reason why Opa is a cool guy to have with you!  

 That's right friends; he is my Opa!  and my namesake and we share a birthday, but I'm not bragging!

Mandatory sweet family photo!

Oma and Opa treated the grandkids to a carousel ride.  AK chose an ostrich and daddy to ride with her!

The next day it was off to the waterway again.  It was time for our new pal "Cary" to go home!  Will is flat-footed in this picture. I love that AK only knew she was with daddy and she was fine.  Will revealed he was saying prayers that it wouldn't get deeper while a rock or two were cutting his feet.  And, again, we give a shout out to dads who are amazing!

They made it to the other side and were about to disappear around the corner and into the marshy side for their exploring!

Meanwhile, back on the beach, this is my sweet company!  (Yes friends, he napped for about an hour just like that! and yes, Will did massage my shoulders that afternoon ;) 

Coming back with their newest friend

Eating up profile shots of my sweet girl!

A few family minutes on the beach

Classic:  I am smiling at the camera, AK has asked daddy some deep, discovery-type question, and Benjamin is grinning

Then it was time to create a new aquarium for our new friend, "Seashell" the blue crab!  Will added a piece of turkey that Seashell nibbled while enjoying her stay with us.

After another evening at Barefoot Landing, an earlier bedtime for some tiiirrreedd kids, breakfast and packing the car, it was time to let Seashell go back home to her mommy.  AK understood she had to let them go.  But, since returning home, she has turned about 3 puzzles worth of animal puzzle pieces into her pets!  Love that she uses her imagination right now to get herself some fun pets!  How long 'til she starts asking for a real one?!

Lunch at Barefoot Landing,

one last feed-the-fish before heading home

Wait

is that a fish?

If you, friend, could stay right there.  We will take our picture, wave, and then be on our way!

 Myrtle Beach, 2012, the Wild Life edition

See you next year!