Maternity Leave

Well I am on my second to last day of Maternity Leave, which has flown by! On November 24th 2016 our family welcomed Addison into this world! It has been so fun dressing her and deciding which bow to put in her hair! The transition from 2 kids to 3 is not easy. Norm and I are officially out numbered. Our 2 year old Hudson has been very good with the transition and our 9 year old Carson is so excited to have a baby sister, he claims her as the "cutest sibling he has". Just recently Hudson our 2 year old has been saying "mommy put the baby down", so he can have my undivided attention. I am realizing that is the key to parenting multiples : Undivided Attention. Really that is what all relationships need to flourish feel valued and important. While on maternity leave we took a small family vacation to visit my mom and dad in Vegas and we were able to take our oldest Carson out for his own special time while my parents watched the two littles. While out we asked Carson, "what do you like about having two siblings, and what do you not like?" He said, "I like having siblings to play with, but I don't like not having your attention." We took Carson bowling that night and to sushi (he loves sushi) and it was amazing how one night of "undivided attention" really lifted his spirits and gave him time to open up to us. He literally had an extra hop in his step after just one night of his "own time." After this night Norm and I declared that at least 1x a month we will get a babysitter to have a Carson night. He is approaching pre-teen and in just a few weeks he will be 10, we know the time is now to build a solid open relationship with him where he feels he can open up to us and talk to us! Time Management, Realistic Expectations, and Healthy Choices

In addition to being enlightened on how important undivided attention is for our children. I have also learned how important time management, realistic expectations, and healthy choices are as illustrated in the picture above! TIME MANAGEMENT: Getting a toddler ready for the day is one thing but getting a toddler and a baby ready who are both really needy and both still in diapers requires extra time because just when you think your ready to leave the house their is another poopy diaper and a shirt filled with Jelly from the breakfast toast. The top left picture I documented the first day I got both littles ready and dressed for church and got ready myself! It was a Christmas miracle! REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS: I wanted one of those cute family pictures in front of the Christmas tree. You know the kind everyone feels obligated to take and post to Facebook and Instagram where everyone looks cozy and happy in Christmas pajamas under the tree. I pictured this perfect picture in my head and was already fantasizing about my christmas family picture post! Then REALITY hit, oh wait we don't have Carson this Christmas Morning he is at his dad's house.. and by the time we got Carson in the afternoon he definitely was not wearing pajamas, no one was. I let go of my dream of my Christmas jammie post and thought I can wait until we are at my parents house on the day after Christmas. Well after literally 30 pictures I made my family sit in the pajamas and attempt to get that perfect picture in front of my parents tree, that picture on the top right is what we got. I realized my expectation was a little unrealistic. Trying to get a baby to look and two boys to care about a picture enough to smile and look happy at the same time wasn't going to happen, especially when all they wanted to do was be done with the photo so they can go play with their new Christmas toys. So now I just embrace it, I may not always get the perfect family photo, but what I do get is a perfect snapshot of how our life is perfectly imperfect and crazy, and I wouldn't want it any other way. HEALTHY CHOICES: Lastly I realized that I need to make healthy choices if I want to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight and feel good again. I didn't want to have any unrealistic goals or try to attempt any crash diets. Norm and I sat down and he typed out our goal for the year (and printed them so we have them throughout the house to remind us to stay on track) My health goals were to be "active" 5 days a week. I didn't say hit the gym or run or even exercise but be active. And so far I have hit that goal. Norm has told me for years how bad carbs are but I was never willing to give it up. This month I started reading "Whole 30" and "It Starts With Food" both have enlightened me on what food is doing to my body and the negative affects it has. So I joined a Whole 30 Facebook group and have been cooking meals without sugar, grains, or dairy. I haven't been 100% on whole 30 I have had some slip ups, but overall this has changed the way I look at food and read labels! I am looking forward to my new normal of 3 kids, and trying to balance work life, time-management, realistic expectations, and healthy choices! Happy 2017! (yes, I know it has been 2 years since my last blog post!)