We are finally home and setlled back into a routine of normalcy to some extent. We had a wonderful time with everyone and it was great to have the kiddos meet everyone. Even with a sick one and some interesting family drama, we had a wonderful time and can't wait for next year.
K and I are "finished" with marriage counseling. Things have been going really well, we have had a lot of breakthroughs in communication and it has really allowed me to understand him much more than I ever could have imagined. We are in a very good place right now. :)
G's schedule is so screwed up from vacation. She is still up and refuses to go to bed. She will lay in there and play with her stuffed animals, talk and "sing" to herself. I swear, this girl is the ultimate in attention seekers. I am sure it has a lot to do with having 2 brothers and a sister and having our attention split between them all. But she has really become a showboat in the last month or so.
Funny story...
My cousin Sara has a saying that she uses when she is about to swear. Instead of saying shut the f**** up, she says Shut the Front Door! So, at the Hamptons house, we were all sitting around the table, laughing, ( me: not) drinking wine and just relaxing. I was in the middle of a gulp of propel when G suddenly, without any provocation said "Shut the Front Door!" I spit out everything in my mouth I was laughing so hard and of course, the rest of the room was too. With that crazy reaction, what 1 year old wouldn't repeat it for that much attention. Favorite. Saying. Ever. now. Ugh. At the grocery, at church...it is insane. Luckily, without context and an adult saying it before, most people just laugh because it is such a random thing to say, not knowingthat it is a substitute for a word that would not be funny coming out of a one year olds mouth.
So, I got a job. Granted, it is part time, nothing too exciting, but it allows me a lot of flexibility and gives me a reason to invest in more things to take pictures of the kiddos. I am an official photographer for a studio here. They are a small company, mainly weddings and portraits, but are very reputable and well paid. The owners saw a picture of N and V that I entered into a local art show to benefit childrens cancer research, bought the photograph for 2,000 bucks (!!!) and then asked me to bring by a portfolio to discuss my hours and pay. 2,000 would be nice to have in the pocket right about now, but it felt really good to see that money going to such a great cause.
I did a wedding last weekend, and for a beginner, I am really pleased with how everything turned out. Pretty cool. And, even better, I choose what jobs I want, and I can work around when K can be home with the kiddos and KN.
I need to get a shower and head to bed. G finally went down...or atleast she is quiet. Night.
sdg
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Vacation thus far...
Roseola...ugh. J is infected and it has been miserable. Hamptons are not equal to relaxation for the moment. It all started the night we got here with him developing a fever of 102. Scary! It made for a very long cranky night, which in turn turned into 4 cranky kids...not just one. We have quarantined J until his symptoms subside, because we certainly don't need 3 others sick in the week that we have left. He still has a pretty miserable looking rash, although his fever broke last night.
G is having a blast playing with her cousins and uncles and aunts in the sand and in the pool. It is so cute to watch her interact with everyone. She is a mama's girl through and through but she has really taken to my cousin Todd. They are buddies and he is so good to her. His wife Lora is expecting, due in November.
Kiddo's include G (1 year), J (4 mo), N&V (3 mo) and then cousins Ava (3 years), Ella (2 years), Blake (7 years), Hannah (6 mo), Tomas (18 mo), Luisa (4 years) and Gus and Benjamin are 5 year old twins. We have had a blast comparing multiples stories with Miles (cousin) and Savannah (his wife). It only seems to get crazier....is that even possible??
K and I have truly enjoyed the vacaton time, despite J being sick. Mom took him for a few hours this afternoon and we had some great couple time, cuddling in the hammock. I think we would both agree that we do miss the alone time that we used to get....but that we can't imagine our lives without our brood.
More vacation stories soon. Time for a walk.
sdg
G is having a blast playing with her cousins and uncles and aunts in the sand and in the pool. It is so cute to watch her interact with everyone. She is a mama's girl through and through but she has really taken to my cousin Todd. They are buddies and he is so good to her. His wife Lora is expecting, due in November.
Kiddo's include G (1 year), J (4 mo), N&V (3 mo) and then cousins Ava (3 years), Ella (2 years), Blake (7 years), Hannah (6 mo), Tomas (18 mo), Luisa (4 years) and Gus and Benjamin are 5 year old twins. We have had a blast comparing multiples stories with Miles (cousin) and Savannah (his wife). It only seems to get crazier....is that even possible??
K and I have truly enjoyed the vacaton time, despite J being sick. Mom took him for a few hours this afternoon and we had some great couple time, cuddling in the hammock. I think we would both agree that we do miss the alone time that we used to get....but that we can't imagine our lives without our brood.
More vacation stories soon. Time for a walk.
sdg
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Off to the Hamptons in t minus 2
Alright, so as of now, we are all packed and ready for vacation with the family. I am excited, nervous and a little scared for the next couple of weeks. And flying on a plane with 4....are we certifiably nuts!!??!! If it wasn't for 20 of us being on the same flight, we would have made the long drive "up north".
G turns 1 this week! Amazing how time flies!! She is jetting all over the house now, which is pretty hilarious to watch because the dogs don't know what to make of it at all! I am so proud of Max (our black cocker) because as she was "chasing" him around the house, she tottered a little and almost fell, only to grab onto his ear to steady herself. It was like it was in slow motion, because I have been worried about how the puppies would react to kiddos pulling at them, and he was absolutely fine. When she did finally plop down, Max went over and checked her out to be sure she was ok. Too cute! G officially has 3 words that she uses on a regular basis "goggy" (take a guess!) "light" and "dis one". "Light" came about because we have been searching for new fixtures for our guest bathroom. She suddenly ust said it in the middle of Home Depot. Of course, I started jumping up and down and acting like a lunatic, upon which I was starkly reminded by some weary looks that not everyone likes/has children. "Dis one" is purely a result of having 2 brothers and a sister. Everywhere we go, of course I look like a bag lady because I have to carry enough changes of clothes, diapers, juice and bottles and the like on my person, because the day that I don't is when I'll run out of wipes or have a screaming child who wants a specific toy. Yes, this is true...so I have come to terms with it. Anyhow...the conversation usually goes, "which blanky is (fill in a child of your choice here)" or "Which one is N's bottle?"...G is usually the one to help with these situations, because I really want her to understand ownership and sharing and things of that nature. So, usually she would point and I would say, yes, this one is _________'s bottle/blanky/toy etc. So now, she says "dis one" to EVERYTHING! She is really coming into her own as a big sister. So proud! I am sending out some of the pictures that I took of her for her 1 year pictures via the family email newsletter list.
J has become quite the clown in the last few days. His baby laughs are like bubbles! He has this hearty bellylaugh and a little giggle that just crack me up every time.
N and V are growing up so fast! They are very very aware of each other now. We finally put them in separate cribs just a few weeks ago, because they were keeping each other awake. Both are smiling and become more and more animated every day.
So we are officially looking for a bigger house. Just as we were finally getting situated in this one, we are feeling a litle cramped. I told K that we really need to wait until K the nanny moves out and then see how it is. He is just restless. There is a BEAUTIFUL horse farm just down the road from us that is for sale. Although we can afford it, it astonds me to think of spending that much on a house for the 6 of us. K is trying to reel me in with the prospect of having horses again. He knows my weaknesses. It also overlooks the river with a big wrap around front porch... I will include the link for the property in the newsletter email if I feel inspired to. I am trying to not get excited about the house because I am content here and I hate to think we have put in all this work to up and move just as we are finishing up.
Well, off to bed. N and V's Christening is tomorrow morning at church, and although I am aware that everyone knows that I am a mom of 4, I don't want them to ee it written on my tired face. Goodnight everyone.
sdg
G turns 1 this week! Amazing how time flies!! She is jetting all over the house now, which is pretty hilarious to watch because the dogs don't know what to make of it at all! I am so proud of Max (our black cocker) because as she was "chasing" him around the house, she tottered a little and almost fell, only to grab onto his ear to steady herself. It was like it was in slow motion, because I have been worried about how the puppies would react to kiddos pulling at them, and he was absolutely fine. When she did finally plop down, Max went over and checked her out to be sure she was ok. Too cute! G officially has 3 words that she uses on a regular basis "goggy" (take a guess!) "light" and "dis one". "Light" came about because we have been searching for new fixtures for our guest bathroom. She suddenly ust said it in the middle of Home Depot. Of course, I started jumping up and down and acting like a lunatic, upon which I was starkly reminded by some weary looks that not everyone likes/has children. "Dis one" is purely a result of having 2 brothers and a sister. Everywhere we go, of course I look like a bag lady because I have to carry enough changes of clothes, diapers, juice and bottles and the like on my person, because the day that I don't is when I'll run out of wipes or have a screaming child who wants a specific toy. Yes, this is true...so I have come to terms with it. Anyhow...the conversation usually goes, "which blanky is (fill in a child of your choice here)" or "Which one is N's bottle?"...G is usually the one to help with these situations, because I really want her to understand ownership and sharing and things of that nature. So, usually she would point and I would say, yes, this one is _________'s bottle/blanky/toy etc. So now, she says "dis one" to EVERYTHING! She is really coming into her own as a big sister. So proud! I am sending out some of the pictures that I took of her for her 1 year pictures via the family email newsletter list.
J has become quite the clown in the last few days. His baby laughs are like bubbles! He has this hearty bellylaugh and a little giggle that just crack me up every time.
N and V are growing up so fast! They are very very aware of each other now. We finally put them in separate cribs just a few weeks ago, because they were keeping each other awake. Both are smiling and become more and more animated every day.
So we are officially looking for a bigger house. Just as we were finally getting situated in this one, we are feeling a litle cramped. I told K that we really need to wait until K the nanny moves out and then see how it is. He is just restless. There is a BEAUTIFUL horse farm just down the road from us that is for sale. Although we can afford it, it astonds me to think of spending that much on a house for the 6 of us. K is trying to reel me in with the prospect of having horses again. He knows my weaknesses. It also overlooks the river with a big wrap around front porch... I will include the link for the property in the newsletter email if I feel inspired to. I am trying to not get excited about the house because I am content here and I hate to think we have put in all this work to up and move just as we are finishing up.
Well, off to bed. N and V's Christening is tomorrow morning at church, and although I am aware that everyone knows that I am a mom of 4, I don't want them to ee it written on my tired face. Goodnight everyone.
sdg
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