The Joy of Raising 3

Love me some cute 3 kids....

 

 

(Milo grabbed her hair and his ear)

 

 

.....Especially when they cuddle together in jammies on our bed

 

 

Ollie sharing his cars. Milo would drop it and Ollie would ask, "All done?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ollie wacking Gabe in the head...

 

.....and apologizing

Raising 3

Well I figured that I'd give another update on life with three kids. I wish I could say that we are in a routine and that we've got in down, but that'd be a lie. I did come to admit to myself that I just need to "go with the flow" better. I came to this realization that some days things just might not get done. Some days we just might eat grilled cheese for dinner, and some days I might be so lost and have a messy house. The next day I can get it done, and it doesn't HAVE to be done, despite wanting it done. I have given into the craziness of it, and it's working for me. :) Sometimes helping, playing, and being with my kids takes priority over cleaning, cooking, and other things. I just am learning to try not to be too embarrassed when people come over unexpectedly to a disaster of a house.

Milo is on no schedule and has been so turned around and flopped this month it's a little odd. BUT when you have other kids to take places, and things to do, baby has just got to learn to adjust a little with a later nap. And we just might have a cranky baby for the evening. It's a lot harder to get him scheduled out. Luckily for us he really is such a happy easy going baby. He's the first kid I'm not in too big of a hurry to hit his milestones. I want him to stay my baby. One, because he's the last. Two, because I am nervous about mobility. Ha!

Gabe is back to her, just go with it attitude. I think it helps that she has Preschool, and when the boys nap has me all to herself. She is doing well adjusting to it all.

Ollie is struggling in a different sort of way. He is in this feeling left out stage. It's tricky. Gabe goes to preschool and lately has had a bunch of playdates. I think now that they share a room, he realized that she isn't going to bed for a nap too. I don't think he ever really wondered if she did when they didn't share, but now that they share he realized only he has to. He used to scream and cry taking Gabe to school, cause he wanted to go and didn't want to drop her off. NOW he screams and cries that we have to go get her. Not that he doesn't love her around, cause he really is still lost without her and they play a lot in the day together. He just LOVES having one on one with Mommy, cause Milo sleeps for most of it. So I am trying to make sure he does get the one on one he needs, and Daddy has been making special attempts on including him, praising him, and just doing things with him as well. The nice thing is, Gabe is old enough that we can explain it to her and she's good about letting them go.

I have babysat for a few people, and had kids over for play dates lately. I've had the thought, Okay I think I can see how people have more. Just add one more to the crazy. I could do that if I had to. Not that I'm volunteering for more, but I see how people pull it off. Ha! Now six + that's still a little nuts to me. ;) Right now I'm content raising my 3. You just go with the crazy people, try to work out the kinks you come to, and find the many joys in it.

Raising 3

So I think I'll start another post series on adjusting to three kids, or raising three kids. Everyone, and I mean everyone warns you about how hard adjusting to three is. "You only have two hands, and three kids," is probably what I hear the most. Yes, yes I am aware. I've only heard a few positive things from a few people about how adjusting to three can be easy or okay. So I decided that I would decide for myself. I've heard it's easy until number three is mobile. I've heard it's just another thing to add into your already multi-tasking mom tasks, etc. I guess we'll see. Honestly right now it's not all too bad. Most days I don't feel all that overwhelmed by it. When I had two, it was REALLY hard for me to adjust. I had to learn to multi-task with little people who need lots of attention.  Now I just add another kiddo into that mix. Sometimes, I have my moments where I wonder how to handle a situation, then I just attempt what I think is best and see how it goes. The results vary. :P  I think it's more about teaching the kids they get to share mom and dad now, and sometimes they have to wait for things. 

My kids are still in the adjusting phase. Luckily Gabe seems to be doing lots better. Ollie has his days. He loves loves loves baby Milo, and even says his name. When I'm holding him he doesn't get jealous of me holding Milo, he gets mad he doesn't get to hold him. I have to give him his Milo cuddle time to keep him happy. I've had a few occasions where he just wants me to hold him too, but when I explain I will as soon as I help baby, he's usually pretty good about it. Usually.

 

This is probably our biggest struggle right now-lack of sleep. If we both had good sleep, things would be simpler to handle. Adam and I both are kinda walking zombies. Up with Milo, up with Ollie, up with Gabe. Last night I juggled all three. It's really fun in the middle of the night. I don't love waking Adam, cause he has to work and I can try to sneak in a nap, but some times he doesn't get a choice. Good thing he's very willing to help, even though I have to repeat myself four times to make sure his sleepy self understands what I need help with.

 It also doesn't help having a newborn, and having two other sick kids in the house. It made for some interesting night with fevers, and restless sleep. The kids are just now on the mend, so I'm hoping that Milo made it clear of the colds, but he sounds a little congested. I'm hoping it's not the case. 

She was so hot and sweaty when sick I kept having to pile her hair on her head to help her stay cool. She was a trooper, despite feeling so yucky. 

We did attempt a first grocery shopping trip with all of us. I can say that for a while I will not be doing that solo with all three kids if I can help it. I guess that's the nice thing about having one car, errands are run in the evening and Adam can help. Or one of us can just go. It was kinda crazy, and we had two of us there. Ha! Milo even slept the whole time, it's the other two who are all over the place. We all of a sudden had no cart room for them all. It was a nice eye opener.

The only other obstacle I can foresee at this time, is keeping Ollie quiet when I have to put Milo down. I'm all about white noise for sleeping kids, so they can get the good sleep they need. I'm also about the other kids being able to still be kids in the day without tip toeing around a baby that sleeps all day. I will however, try to teach them to be respectful when people are sleeping, but still allow them to play and have fun. The hard thing is, is not having Ollie follow me everywhere. He follows me and usually yells and screams right when Milo has fallen asleep. It's kinda frustrating. He doesn't know how to be quiet, he has one noise level and it's loud. If I lock him out he screams outside the door. Milo used to sleep through it all, but now is becoming more aware of things around him, especially noises. Tricky trying to give him good sleep time when brother is yelling out loud. 

Anyway, those are the latest happenings juggling it all.