I think We're Alone Now (#6)

Now that the kids out-number Tom and I, I find myself taking fewer photos at events.  Take Christmas, for instance.  I decided I wanted to start doing more video of those milestone moments, like Christmas morning.  I have some great video, but barely a single picture. of the kids opening presents. 

Instead, I will grace you with this blast from the past photo.  The year was 1987.  Tiffany had just released her album that included "I think we're alone now".  I was 10.  That's my sister, Karen, on the right.  We both had perms and glasses bigger than our heads. 

Christmas was good.  Really good.  So good, I am a bit sleepy and exhausted, so I will be taking a mini blogging break.  Very soon I will finish the 12 days of Blogging.

Thanksgiving 2013 (#5)

On this Christmas Eve, I thought I would share with you a little Thanksgiving...

My brother and sister-in-law came up from Richmond for the third year in a row to spend Thanksgiving with us.  We only see them once a year, and because the kids are so small, they haven't remembered much about them year-to-year.  But during each visit, they become best buddies.

Our first turkey...

Three 8 lb turkey breasts can be jammed into one roasting bag and come out just perfectly. FYI.

...and our second!

Aunt Christina and Kaya

My mom with me and Tommy

My dad and Patrick

Giving thanks

Add caption

My niece, Kate, holding her only girl cousin, Kaya.  Dave is my half brother, so Kate did not break the boys only streak on my mom's side of the family. Kaya was the first!

My brother, David, holding Kaya for the first time.

All my nieces and nephews (except my two Vermont nephews)

And at the request of our our out-of-town guests, here is the link of Patrick showing his southern roots with some country tunes...

 

http://youtu.be/TTTd7SRE2MI

This Came in the Mail Today (#4)

I realize we may still get a few more cards between now and Christmas, but I had to name my friend Tina's card as the winner of the Pohl family "Best. Ever. Card." award this year.  Let's face it - Christmas cards can get a little competitive. We all want that perfect picture.  I love that she sent this out, and that she agreed to let me post it.

                                       (The little girl in the picture is 4 and a preschool friend of Patrick) 

Naughty or Nice (#3)

This post is all about Tommy.  Sweet, cuddly, climbing, eating (non food items), biting, Tommy. 

When I say this kid has embraced the terrible twos, I wish I were exaggerating.  Let's start with his habit of trying to eat everything.  Last month I put him in timeout in his room and he did this:

He ate his WALL.  Paint AND drywall.  He eats crayons, his shoes, his nails, books, toys, clothing.  You name it, he will try to eat it.   He has bitten Patrick twice in the last two months, the last time being Thanksgiving Day.  Yet he surprises me and has never once been aggressive or rough towards his sister. 

Lately he and Patrick have been on a Thomas the Train kick.  They will play nicely together making tracks for an hour.  A blessing for me.  So you can guess what he asked Santa for this year.

This is the first year either of my boys wanted to sit on Santa's lap! After we walked away, I asked P if he told Santa what legos he wanted, and he started to cry.  "No, I forgot!" Luckily there was no line and we went right back where he had a nice 5 minute chat with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  Kaya slept through the whole thing.

Potty training isn't really going anywhere.  Tommy will show an interest, then it disappears the next day and he is content to be in a diaper.  I am in no rush to master going on the potty during the holidays, so I am not pushing him. 

I love this kid, but I am not sure which list he is on at the moment.

Upstairs/Downstairs (#2)

Tom and I had some friends over last weekend and I went into full Christmas mode.  I love decorating for Christmas, and sacrificed sleep to do it.  Something about the coziness of winter during the Christmas season makes me want to sit quietly by the fire, wrapped in a blanket, sipping a hot cup of coffee in the morning.  I'll let you know if that ever happens.

Here are the upstairs shots.  Wow, do kids live here?  Here's the thing...

We have a big basement, and that downstairs space is my sanity.  The place to toss, hide, and store.   

The place to keep throwing dirty laundry until I realize my husband and son are wearing their last clean pair. 
Speaking of clothing, mine is not fitting any better.  After an 8 day stretch with my DVD, I caught something and fell hard off the exercise wagon while I was recovering.  I also ate like a pig.  I haven't even bothered to weigh myself. 

Kaya's 4 Month Well Check (#1)

Where to begin?  At the beginning, or at the end?  End, I think. 

Today was Kaya's 4 month well check.  I was having sneaking suspicions that my milk supply was dwindling.  It happened right about this time with all three kids.  I get lazy with pumping, run down, don't drink enough water, etc. etc. Kaya doesn't seem as content after each feeding, even though I increased her feedings to every 3 hours instead of 4.

So when the doc told me she had gained only a pound in two months, I wasn't surprised.  Kaya went from the 50th percentile to the 12th at 12.1 lbs.  She did grow in height.  They recommended I start her on cereal with some stage 1 fruits blended in.  Meanwhile, I am chugging water like I was lost in the desert. 

And Kaya?  Well, she isn't sleeping nearly as well as the boys did.  Still down about 7:00 p.m., but she continues to wake about 2:30 or 3:00, at which time she is greeted with a pacifier.  She will usually return to sleep until 4:00 or 4:30 when I feed her.  She learned to roll from her back to her front about 1 1/2 weeks ago, and from her front to her back this weekend.  She was flipping to her belly to sleep, but these past few days she has remained on her back.  She is slipping into a good daytime napping pattern, at least when we are home and not dropping off, or picking up, P from preschool. 

She is still happy, happy, happy for the most part when she is awake.  Today I watched as she laid on her activity mat and just stared at Patrick, who had parked his Legos right next to his sister so he could keep her company. I mean, she didn't even make a peep or squirm around.  45 minutes of eyes locked on her brother, happy, happy, happy.

See what I mean?

Her hair is still reaching for the sky in the back.

Kaya in her Christmas Eve dress.  Yes, she also has a Christmas day dress. 

The Twelve Days of Blogging

I bring you:
 THE TWELVE DAYS OF BLOGGING! 

 It seems baby #3 has been the downfall of my consistent blogging.  To make up for my few and far between posts, I am going to attempt 12 posts between now and Dec. 31st. 
Grab some hot chocolate (or wine), stoke the fire, and settle in for the latest adventures of the Pohl bunch.