Aaaand We're Back

I'm not sure how exciting this blog will be, since I've become terrible at remembering to take pictures. And the main point of these family blogs are the pictures, right? But I've decided to start this thing up again since so much has and is happening to our (not so little anymore) family. So I'll try to take pictures to illustrate these lovely, exciting stories. But the kids are hilarious and (I think) are pretty darn cute, so I think you'll keep reading... Just a hunch. :) Especially since most of you are family. So you'd better be reading...

There will be a quiz later.

Since the last time I blogged:

- Phoebe danced her tush off in her dance class and was "strong, fast, and brave" during her performances.

- Gwen graduated Kindergarten!

- We're expecting! Due December 21st! (See ultrasound pic on the left.) It's a boy! 

- And we bought a house. An adorable (it's in the eye of the beholder...) home that needs just a little TLC. I'll post that at a later time. Maybe after I take a pic of it. 

The reason for this post, though, is Gwennie's first day of First Grade. 

 Morning Of! 6:45am, and ready to take on the adventurous day!

 Let's go already!! 

 Getting bored with pictures. Her friends were already halfway down the block. 

 That was the closest I got to her the entire walk to school. She would not stop for anything.

 I had to threaten her to stop for a quick picture in front of her school, before she dashed off (without a hug!!!) to jump in line with her class...

 ... where she met a best friend immediately, and had to show off backpacks and lunch boxes. (She did manage to shoot me a wave goodbye. I'll take it.)

 Six hours gone! Phoebe, Isaac, and I managed to stay busy. Twice a week, we're doing some at-home preschool. Phoebe loved it. She felt like she was in real school, and she got to draw a lot (her favorite. She's pretty darn good, too. Didn't get that from me.) 

 Gwen's first day was a success! She had "two recesses and one lunch" and she absolutely loved school and couldn't wait to go back. That's what I wanted to hear! We all have to get used to waking up super early and walking to school every morning, but the weather was so beautiful, we couldn't complain today! 

P.S. If you are wondering what the heck our blog title means, well... PIGS are the initials of our four children... (accidentally so, promise.) S is the baby's initials. There you go.

The Kids Lately... What else?

So much has happened (kind of) since I last posted. Updating is more like a chore nowadays, since Isaac LOATHES the laptop. He sees me on it, and he'll bang it closed on me and snatch it away. He's the jealous type. But he's asleep now, so I'll update ch'yall on a few things. In case you were wondering.

So. Isaac had a quite a few more of those night terror things, but I'm not so sure they are night terrors now. I don't know. It's been a while since he last had one (about a week) so hopefully they don't start back up again. I'm thinking it had something to do with teething, because he cut four new teeth all at the same time. Or maybe he's just really pissed that it takes me so long to wake up and grab him... That could be it too. It still baffles me.

Gwen started Kindergarten, of course. Her first week, she had a little bit of a hard time falling in with the rules. Apparently, this was a surprising thing for her teacher. In fact, after the second day, she asked if Gwen was deprived oxygen at birth... Yeah. Her teacher racked her brain for reasons why Gwen spoke so unclearly, walked with a "funny gait", and appeared to "go off in her own little world" instead of sitting in her seat. So naturally one's mind would jump to oxygen deprivation as a possible cause. It made me laugh. Still does. But, because of it, I spoke to Gwen's speech therapist about it, and one thing led to another, and now Gwen will see an occupational therapist every couple of weeks. Now - there's nothing wrong with Gwen. She's bright, energetic, happy, healthy... but she does have quirks about her. She was tested for some things, and it was discovered that she had a harder time than other kids her age with handling the things she sees. Too much stimuli sends her into a frenzy. When she was 2 and 3 years old, we all had an extremely difficult time handling all the tantrums and crazy energy over every little thing, but she's come a huge way since then. She no longer goes hysterical when a movie ends and we don't push stop fast enough, and she doesn't scream when the microwave beeps anymore. She's stopped throwing tantrums in Walmart every time we visit, and she no longer bolts for the road when we let go of her hand. She's in control of herself. So these classes are just to help her find different releases for her stress and energy - like using a "fidget toy" instead of flapping and twirling her hands, and trying to break her other habits that are considered socially awkward (going "hhhhahhhh" every five minutes and obsessing over rule breakers.) Oh well. I think the adults are more concerned about it than the kids. Gwen's made a lot of friends who all shout bye to her at the end of the school day. She comes home with many exciting stories, songs, and worksheets to share. She's loving school. In her prayers, she always mentions, "make sure I go back to school tomorrow." I love having her in school, too. After I drop her off, Isaac goes down for his 2 hour nap, and Phoebe and I do whatever we want. It's so nice!

Phoebe is my little baby princess love bug. She's hilarious. She has a lisp that she picked up from Gwen, but she's so expressive and has me laughing every day. She's still extremely shy though. Logan, Isaac, Gwen, and me are in "Club Phoebe" but everyone else gets a mellowed down, quieter version of my usually very loud, stubborn, jolly, playful lady. So... my mom and I were talking, and she, my mother, is being extremely generous and starting Phoebe in dance classes next week. She begins on Tuesday, and we're all excited for her. She's calling it her "Dance Pre-School" and she's a "ballerina princess." She has always stopped me to show me her "ballerina moves" so starting her in dance seems very natural. I hope she won't be too shy and change her mind. We'll see what happens on Tuesday!

Gwen's first day!

 These two are best friends. I need to do a post on some of their adventures. They're a riot.

 Ballerina Princess Phoebe! She picked the black leotard over the pink one. Go figure.

 Isaac was extremely excited for cookies.

Now you're updated!

Night Terrors

I think my little boy is suffering from night terrors. 

About a week and a half ago, he had his first little, crazy "episode." In the middle of the night, he woke up - well, he probably wasn't really awake, but his eyes were wide open - and started screaming a very loud, high pitched, relentless scream. I thought he was in pain. We even searched for a spider in the crib, but found nothing that would have caused this screaming. There wasn't a mark on his body, even. Of course I scooped him up right away, but he immediately started screaming like he was angry at me. He pounded on my shoulders and arched his back, trying to get down from me. So I put him on the floor. That seemed to make him only more angry. So I picked him back up. He began kicking me. I put him back down. He then starts running room to room, still screaming, throwing himself against walls, the floor, climbing up our bed and trying to throw himself off of it. He wouldn't take any of his favorite toys - he just hit them and threw them as far away as possible. He tried throwing himself down the stairs. Logan and I were dumbfounded! It was like he was possessed. I couldn't even nurse him back to sleep - he bit me! 

Desperate, I ran a bubble bath for him. When he heard the water running, he stopped screaming so loudly. He peaked in the bathroom, then ran away , but not so angrily. When I got him in the tub, he calmed down fast. He didn't look very happy, but he wasn't screaming, just sniffling and patting the bubbles. I wrapped him in a towel and Logan cuddled him for a while. We thought he had gas, because after he let a couple big ones go (I thought it was Logan at first, they were so big) he fell asleep. He slept without a peep in his crib the rest of the night! We thought it was the end of it. 

Well, a few days after that, he wakes up screaming like that again. When I picked him up, he arched his back again flailed in my arms. I didn't put him down this time. The episode didn't last very long. After a couple minutes, he wanted to be nursed and fell back to sleep. Then it happened again a few nights after that. It lasted a bit longer, and I made the mistake of trying to feed him, and he bit me hard! It took some wrestling and forced cuddling, but he settled down and went back to sleep. At this point, I didn't think these spells were due to gas.

Last night, he had another big fit. I didn't think of night terrors until I pulled him from his crib and he flailed around like he wanted to get away from me, but something in his eyes told me he wasn't awake. I had no idea what to do! I didn't let him down, and I didn't want to run another bath. After several minutes of trying to wake him up, I decided he needed a change of scenery. I walked into the bathroom and turned on the lights. I think, looking back, that is what did it. He wasn't happy, but he seemed more aware. Then I handed him a little illuminating globe thing that if he pushed a button, it would light up. That immediately calmed him down and he played with that until he was ready to be nursed and put back to bed, where he slept without incident until 8 this morning! (He didn't even cry when he woke up. I heard him call "Mama" and he was just standing there, waiting for me.) 

Crazy?! I know this has been a terribly long post, that probably doesn't make much sense, but I wanted to record what he goes through during these spells, and what could possibly be causing them. I hope it's just night terrors. Has anyone else experienced something similar with their children? 

Isaac's puppy dog eyes. Gotta love him. He isn't tired one bit, but I'm exhausted.

My Day

Time to toot my own horn here. 

I may not be the most amazing mother ever (you will see what I mean later on) but I sure do have 3 amazing children! I love having a day to celebrate being a mother to my babies. I don't need a holiday to do that, though. My babies need to be celebrated every day, right? But it takes a holiday for me to be willing to be in pictures. And presents are always a nice thing. :)

It's very difficult to get three children to look at the camera the same time and smile. Gwen has been very anti-smile lately, and Phoebe doesn't really smile on command nicely... she smooshes up her face and sticks out her chin normally in an attempt to smile for the camera. It's funny. But I like to catch candid smiles from her if I can. And Isaac thinks everything is funny!

 My dad thought it was hilarious that I got a carpet shampooer for Mother's Day. 

I thought it rocked!

I even used it last night. My kids smear all kinds of things into our carpet - I'll spare the details. So I was thrilled to get this baby. 

The girls thought the box it came in was a present from Heaven. They played in that thing for hours. 

 I'm not strangling her, I promise. That's just how we cuddle while Gwen gives Phoebe a turn inside the box.

 And Isaac serenaded me with a breathy number on the recorded . He just makes me smile. 

 It was a beautiful day yesterday, too. We had a good time soaking up the sun. 

Especially Gwen. 

The kids and I didn't make it to church that day... we all have colds. Of course. But Logan brought me home this little flower and I potted it right away. It's the only flower I have and I've been babying the thing since yesterday. 

I think it's dying.  

 It's pretty though, whatever it is.

 And the most patient mother of the day award goes to...

Me.

Because Isaac took it in his own hands to get more cheerios. And instead of laying my head down in defeat as I was tempted to do, I grabbed my camera in defeat instead...

and let them chow down.

Saves on dishes this way.

Later in the day or tomorrow morning or possibly next month when I get a spare moment, I'll post on Isaac's birthday which is today... so technically it's His Day, really, but I'll catch you all up on that tomorrow. 

Possibly. 

Happy Mother's Day!!

Last Year Vs This One

Hands down, this Mother's Day has been way better than the last!

2011 - In False Labor and not happy.

 2012 - Celebrating our first Mother's Day together!

Will post more of the day's activities later. 

Best be excited. 

First Mall Trip?!

Believe it or not, I took the kids shopping for the first time today... by myself. I know this doesn't seem like a  major feat for some, but to me, I think it's ground breaking. I took all three kids to the mall... to multiple stores even... for a couple hours. And Gwen walked the whole time. Huge! I feel like I can do anything. Big mama points today.

We got to the mall at 9 this morning, and was I really agitated that none of the stores opened until 10. Seriously? Seems plain lazy to me! So we walked around the mall, getting exercise, and putted around the bookstore awhile. And since there were no other kids in the mall that early, I let the kids loose in the play area they have there. The kids acted like I took them to Disney World for the afternoon. And Isaac spent most of the time crawling in and out of the log thing, giggling like crazy. I love how easy it is to entertain little kids. I'm going to have to put in more effort when they are older, I'm sure. 

When the stores finally opened, Gwen shouted for joy and told everyone around that Children's Place was open. Actually... I'm getting kind of tired with Gwen telling strangers things. Some of it's cute and fine, but she's starting to order people around. "Excuse me! Get me those pink sunglasses ! Excuse me! I want chocolate milk!" to random customers around. She's getting quite bossy. And everyone she passes, she tells random information of our personal lives. Thankfully, she's a little hard to understand still. No body needs to know what we did that morning, and nobody cares. I'm glad she's not shy though. I want to teach her to be wary of strangers and still not squash her natural ability to make friends. Not sure how to accomplish that. Sometimes, I'm tempted to tell Gwen that some people will snatch her up and run out the door with her if she's not careful, but that's no good. Don't want to terrify her. Would be easier though...

Anyway. I was able to get the girls their summer wardrobes and we ended the morning with a yummy lunch at the subway in the mall. I had the happiest feeling, just being out with my kids, shopping, spending time together, making memories. Now lets be real here. I'm not the jolliest person in the world. It runs in my family, I think. It's not like I'm brooding all the time, but it takes a lot to just feel pleased. I don't know what it is. But all morning long, I was the happiest mommy in that mall. On the ride home, I was overwhelmed with how happy I was! I even started tearing up to some country song about fishing that reminded me of my dad. I'm crazy, but I'm having a really good day. Just wanted to let you know that. :)

When we got home, the girls tried on all their new clothes, and we made a little fashion shoot out of it.

Phoebe's new sunglasses. So cool. 

And Old Navy was giving away free totes today, but this pic is more about documenting Gwen eating apples. 

It's just been that kind of day. :) 

Baby's First Haircut

So I let Logan cut our boy's hair. 

I'm not allowed to make any negative comments. I've been instructed to not pass judgement and ask others what they think of it. 

Logan things he should get an award for best baby haircut ever.

He's thrilled with the results.

Before.

After. (Wet)

 Dry. (I'll let his face do the talking...)

 Maybe it's just something I have to get used to. I'll love it tomorrow, I'm sure.

My baby's hair is all gone. 

So what do you think? 

Honestly. 

(Well... maybe not too honestly...)