Four Weeks (very long post)

We've been a family of 5 for four weeks.

How have we survived?

ME: 

~Some days I feel I've BARELY made it through, but most days have been good! 

~There are definitely, "I CAN'T DO THIS!" moments throughout my days, but for the most part I think I am doing well :) 

~Even though the ever darkening circles under my eyes would make you think otherwise, I actually feel rested. (And by rested I mean, I'm not a walking zombie/emotional-basket case).

~I had my first, "wow, maybe we can do this normally" day yesterday. And today has been going well too!

 DEVIN: 

~With 18+ credit hours right now I'd say he is a CHAMP! 

~Every time I'm frustrated, annoyed, sad or loosing it and he isn't I feel horrible. He wakes up at night like I do, goes to bed late like I do (or later), wakes up earlier than I do and he doesn't get naps during the day. AND he still comes home happy and more than wiling to run crazy with the kids or bounce our screaming infant. 

~I have the best husband ever. 

~He works SO incredibly hard for our family. And still gives us more time than I ever expect! 

~He holds me together and inspires me to be better. Thinking of how hard he works helps me to work hard at home and try to raise our kids the way we want them to be. 

~I am so grateful for him, his strength and his dedication or our family, I couldn't ask for anything more :)

LUCY: 

~Adjusting nicely. 

~The only negative things I have seen emerge since Sadie's arrival has been a relapse in potty training. She has wet her pants several times over the last few weeks, and getting her to go #2 in the potty is a challenge once again. 

~She has become more stubborn -BUT- I am more than 100% sure it is because she is wanting more autonomy(independence). She doesn't want to be bossed around all day, who doesn't? So I am working on changing--very slowly, because changing myself is SO HARD--  how I ask her to do things and how I talk to her in general, asking for help instead of saying, "do this, do that." And giving her more choices throughout our day. I am not perfect. Things just come out of my mouth, and I have been trying so hard to pause and think before I speak, but hopefully I will get there. 

~On the positive side, Lucy is SUCH a great big sister. 

~She LOVES to hold Sadie, and help me. 

~She is so kind and caring. 

~And when we're all having a good day she is AMAZINGLY good at playing nicely with Cole and talking and explaining things to him. 

~She is such a sweetie and I am SO happy she is my little girl. 

COLE: 

~Oh my little buddy. If I were worried about anyone it would be him.  He is so good at playing by himself and entertaining himself I feel like he doesn't get the attention he needs. 

~He will not leave the house without me (unless screaming and tears are involved). This morning we were getting ready to play outside in the snow, I started putting his sweater on and he started saying, "no. no. mama!" And crying. He was telling me he didn't want to go and he wanted to stay with me. It took until I got boots on too before he believed that I was going with him. 

~He will randomly ask me for my hair during the day. His "comfort" is sucking his thumb while playing with my hair. I almost had him weaned from my hair before Sadie was born, but we are back in full swing with that again. Haha, oh well. Someday he will grow out of it I suppose. 

~Aside from that he is doing great too. Way better than I thought. ~He loves Sadie too. He doesn't ask to hold her as much as Lucy does, but he loves to see her when she is awake. He will get down on the floor or where ever she is and talk to her and show her what he is doing. It's adorable to watch. 

SADIE:

~At her two week check-up she weighed 6.95 oz! Having left the hospital at 5.2 oz she gained amazingly well. She is getting rolls on her little thighs! Ah, love the baby rolls :)

~Loves to watch her siblings run crazy. She will just sit in my arms or lie down on the floor and watch whatever they are doing. 

~She does get sick of being held. Sometimes all we have to do to get her to stop crying is put her down. 

~ Likes to have her diaper changed, as soon as I put her on the changing table she is a happy baby :) 

~Mostly likes her baths, she hadn't liked it a couple of times, but usually she will just sit in the water content as can be. 

~Contrary to what he thinks, she loves her Daddy and when she hears his voice her eyes get all big and she starts to look for him.

~Yesterday she seemed a little older, more aware of what is going on around her. It was really fun to see the change!

~Poor thing is hoarse from all her screaming. I have never had a baby who screams like she does. She is super gassy and she HATES it. There are things that help sometimes, but we haven't found anything that calms her everytime. Bouncing usually works best, sometimes it's the exercise ball that works, sometimes we have to bounce our arms up and down. Sometimes swaddling really tight (Celecta is letting us use one of those Swaddle-Me blanket things, that works well sometimes). Shushing really loudly while bouncing her helps. But nothing helps all the time. We're still figuring her out and trying our best. 

That is "how we are doing" for all of you who are wondering :)

Have a good day!