5

I've come to the conclusion that 5 is my checkmate. 5 kids. I now seem to have peaked in my capabilities as a mother.

I used to be on time or early pretty much every time. Now, I'm lucky if I'm only five minutes late.

I have never lost a child in a store before. Now I can add "left store without a child" to my list of parental faux pas. (thank goodness it was only for a minute, but I still had a heart attack.)

 I literally have to count on my hands to keep track of my kids now. "OK- two little girls out on the neighbors trampoline, one little boy playing video games in the Living Room, one 2 year old putting an entire roll of toilet paper in the toilet, and one baby sleeping. Good. 5 children, still alive!".

I have also realised that when Zaria arrived, I was still able to keep up with pictures and blog updates and baby book entries. In fact, as the label cloud below attests, I posted a lot! It didn't hurt that we'd just gotten a new camera that I didn't know how to use but with Van's arrival I am seemingly incapable of accomplishing ANYTHING! I'm doing good if I get one thing checked off my getting seriously long To-Do list in a day, so posting pictures or blogging and the baby book are getting sorely neglected. Which is a shame because Vanden is soooooo fun and might I say, extremely cute!

I am hoping this is all just a stage... I have a toddler. And a baby. AND 3 older kids who each have 2 hours of homework a day. And it's winter. It takes 20 extra minutes to just walk fall out the door. So, I'm just trying to be ok with it. Because in six months, hopefully, I will look back and be able to say, "Whew! Glad we got past that one!"

And this stage has it's benefits too! I love where each of the kids is at. I have no desire to rush through these moments with them for the sake of convenience. I will never get a chance to be in this moment again. And I wouldn't miss it for all the punctuality in the world.

Super Chunk

My appologies to the Grandparents for whom this blog was originally created... I know these have not come as often as desired. As a result there will be an excessive number of photos of my son following. My appologies to anyone who is not quite as obsessively in love with him as I am. ;)

In chronological order from 3 mo to 4 1/2mo.

 

And a mini photo shoot

@4 1/2 mo

Rrrrroll!

Three months ago today...

 THIS

l

l

V

handsome little boy arrived in my arms.

And in the three short months since,

he has grown

and grown

and grown!

Into absolutely the cutest, roundest little boy, I've ever kissed and snuggled!

He is a delight. So sweet spirited and patient.

He is sleeping through the night, which I am LOVING!

And he has just discovered his laugh! So. Darn. Cute!

Little Van has charmed us all.

The whole family (and a good number of our friends) are absolutely smitten with this quiet, happy "little" chunk of boy! I am so grateful that he is mine!

And this smile...