"I'm Gettin' Nuttin For Christmas"

I know pretty much everyone has seen this on instagram or facebook, but I just needed to document this for myself here too!

Kinley has always been our child with stranger anxiety pretty much from birth!  She has been talking some big stuff about going to see Santa this year and asking Santa to bring her an Ariel Pillow for Christmas.  So we all piled into the car and headed to the mall to visit Mr. S.C.  While waiting in line, she was waving to him and smiling at him and singing to Sophie "You better not cry...I'm telling you why."  So our turn comes and we walk up to Santa and she instantly takes a death grip on Abbey's neck.  So we get Sophie situated on his knee and I take Kinley from Abbey.  I'm talking to her and telling her how nice Santa is and how Abbey, Brady and Sophie are going to be right next to her.  Needless to say, we didn't buy any photos (this was one that Matthew snapped on his phone).  We've made progress tho, at least we got her to sit on Santa's lap this year!

"Give A Day"

For the month of December, I have challenged my kids, my husband, but mostly myself to take the time to do something generous or thoughtful or helpful for someone EVERY SINGLE DAY.  I told them that it can not be someone in our immediate family and each night at dinner we discuss what we were able to accomplish that day.  It is a way to get us all to think about others and not ourselves.

We started it on December 1st and I think Brady has worked the hardest of all of us to accomplish this challenge.  And it is a challenge.  I know for myself, I am at home A LOT with the little girls and often don't have contact with anyone outside of our family.  Brady was on the verge of tears Monday night because none of the teachers he offered to help throughout the day took him up on his offer.  I explained to him that this was not meant to make him feel bad about himself.  The point of it is to make them think about others and that is what  he did...even if no one accepted his help.

We have been so blessed in this life and I want my children to not only appreciate all that they have been given, but also learn to share...share their love, their time, their heart.

In it to win it

I've got to brag on my kiddos just a bit! At the beginning of the school year Abbey asked her Daddy if he would buy her an iPad if she got straight A's all year.  And without hesitation he said sure! Then, of course Brady wanted in on that deal too.  So Matthew made the kids a deal: if they were able to average straight A's at the end of the school year he would buy each of them an iPad.  This means that the kids would be allowed a B once in the school year in each subject and still be able to get a final grade of A's.  Me being the party pooper that I am said "Give me a break we ARE NOT buying 2 iPads" but after seeing the reaction and the determination on the kids faces, I reluctantly agreed. 

I am proud to say that BOTH kids are still in it.  Abbey got straight A's this nine weeks and Brady got 2 B's and the rest A's.  It has been a VERY stressful few weeks as we have had some issues with both kids' teachers.  But today was the grade deadline and everything is official now!  Both the kids go to magnet schools with advanced curriculums.  Abbey is in an IB (international baccalaureate) school and Brady's school is the leading school in STEM curriculum.  Needless to say, A's are not easily achieved.  In addition to Brady's daily school, he is also taking a math class through Polk Virtual School.  He is taking a 6th grade class(and he's only in 4th grade).  And, oh yeah he's got a 98.6% in that class as well.  His teacher had a phone assessment with him today and told him he "was the only student to get all the answers she asked correct without having to stop and think."  Now if we can just make it through the next 3 quarters with fewer issues teacher wise.  I think I'm more stressed out about school now than I EVER was when I was actually taking the classes.

Alternate Titles:

• Proud Momma
• I will either be completely gray or completely bald by the end of the school year
• Paying for the Grades...yeah we do that
• iCentives

Remember When...

Remember when I used to write on this blog?   Remember when I used to have witty creative posts like "why I don't fist bump" anymore or "how to avoid ironing at all costs."  Remember when I didn't live out of my vehicle and shuffle kids all over creation for hours and hours of my day.  Yeah, I don't really remember that one either.

One of these days I shall return to my funny ways.  Please bare with me.  Please don't leave me.  I will work REALLY hard to improve my creative juices!  In the meantime, I will leave you with some random information:

Abbey and Brady have been challenged this year.  Matthew has offered to buy them each an iPad if they are able to achieve a straight A average in school this year.

Kinley's favorite sayings at 2 1/2 years old are: "I can't hear you" "Change your attitude" "Maybe" "Show me" "I so proud of you" & "Sophie smiled at me"

Also, Kinley has learned how to jump and jumps every where she goes.

Sophie at 4 months old can roll from her back to her belly(and belly to back) in the blink of an eye.  She can grab at toys.  She can stand supported.  She smiles at just about everything, but is stingy with her laughs. Was just transitioned to her crib...which means the two littles are now officially sharing a room.  I'm sure I could list more, but it's late and I can't think of anything else.

Sophie's 4 month old stats:

height: 23 1/2" - 20%

weight: 12lbs 6oz. - 20%

head cir: 16 1/4" - 58%

New Year's Resolutions

What? It's not January?

I know it's not January, but I feel like as a mom of school aged kids, I get a second chance to make changes.  At the beginning of the school year, I always get the urge to tweak what is working and revamp what hasn't worked.  After having the whole summer off and having "go with it" days, the new school year brings new activities and new schedules into our routine.  And especially since we have added a fourth child to the mix, I am really going to need to be on my 'A' game in order to stay organized and accomplish all that needs to be done.

One of the big changes we are preparing to make this school year is making allowing the kids to ride the bus to school two mornings a week.  With the kids attending the magnet schools, it is a good 20-30 minute drive each way then add car line in the afternoons and I am spending 2.5 hours in the car each day...now add on the cost of fuel and you get one grumpy momma!  Fortunately, even though the kids are at two different schools they will ride the same bus and it picks up right in front of our subdivision.

Another change that I will be making is something that is going to require a lot more dedication and determination on my part.  I'll be honest with you, my housekeeping skillz have have been sporadic at best.  Sure I keep the kitchen cleaned and toys picked up (most days), but the weekly chores often go undone.  And that's WITH the big kids responsible for cleaning their own bathrooms and vacuuming/dusting their own bedrooms.  So I will be attempting a daily chore chart for myself.  In the past I have always done all my cleaning on one day, but with a big pregnant belly for a number of months and now a newborn, trying to block off an entire day is just not feasible.  Please pray for me that I will not let the distractions of the world (ie. facebook, blogs and of course baby sugars) prevent me from accomplishing my responsibilities.

So there we go...I bid you all a happy new year...new school year that is!  What does the new school year bring out in you?

8 Weeks

At 8 weeks old you are completely sleeping through the night.  You are usually asleep by 11pm and wake at either 6 or 7.  When school starts you will be on a 3 hour schedule starting at 6.  I am hoping that we can get you to sleep before 11pm consistently on that schedule.

Unfortunately, nursing is not going so well.  I am baffled by you.  Sometimes you will nurse without so much as a whimper and other times you will scream and fight to stay latched on.  It's not a production problem.  So either (1) you are too lazy - breastfeeding requires more work on your part or (2) you are too nosey and want to be able to see what's going on around you.  So sadly enough I am weaning you to a bottle.  I tried pumping on a regular basis so that we could at least keep you on breast milk instead of formula, but with 3 other kids to take care of it just wasn't happening.  You were already taking 2-4oz. in a bottle after every nursing session anyway.  As of today you nurse first thing in the morning with no supplement.  Your 9am and 3pm feeds are all formula (5-6oz.) and the rest of your feeds are nursing + 2-4oz. of formula.  I think it is awfully bizarre that my two "big" babies were not good nursers and my two peanuts were nursing champs!  Something else that is weird is I was the most diligent with you in watching what I ate and drank and yet you have been highly unappreciative! :)

You go next week for your 2 month check up (and shots - sniff sniff).  I am pretty confident you will be weighing in at a whopping 10 pounds (maybe slightly more).  That is a whole pound more than what Kinley weighed at this same age.  Who knows maybe...just maybe...I will have one kid who is a great eater!

You still like to be swaddled at bedtime or other times when you are fussy.  Tummy time usually ends in you falling asleep but your head control is really starting to come along.  Still no rolling over yet, but you have started rolling over to your side so I'm sure the rest of the roll is right around the corner.

And just for fun...here is the comparison photo of you and Kinley!

Kinley                             Sophie

Yet Another...

...month has past.  My sweet baby girl is now 4 weeks old.  Where does the time go?  We had a closet company come out and look at Kinley and Sophie's closet to give us a quote on a system that would help store all of their clothes since we don't have room for two dressers.  I made a statement to the man that the girls would probably only be sharing a room for about 5 or so years because Abbey might be heading off to college at that point and free up one of the bedrooms.  Did you hear what I just said???  When Sophie starts kindergarten, Abbey will be starting her senior year of high school.  Sigh

So I will just focus on the here and now to keep me from having a breakdown.

Everyone seems to be adjusting very well.  Kinley loves being a big sister and is a great big help.  She is a pro at throwing away dirty diapers (both hers and Sophies).  Sophie is doing great with sleep.  For most of this past week she has been having a 6+ hour stretch at night.  She still fluctuates between 2 and 3 hour feeds during the day which is fine by me.  I don't have an official weigh in since we don't go back to the doctor until she's 2 months, but I think she is about 8 pounds 12 or 14 oz. (so she's gained about a pound in 2 weeks).  She is trying really hard to talk and coo and I think we've even gotten a few intentional smiles.

Sophie lost her umbilical cord right after her two week check up so she has been enjoying her baths in the nice warm water.  Her first bath she did scream, but she was already mad to start.  She has loved all her baths since then.