July

We have had a lovely virus join us for the month of July. For two weeks all 7 of us were sick. Consequently everything came to a crashing halt around here. For some reason it is the virus that keeps on giving. Just as I think I am doing well and 100% I get one day of not feeling so hot. Anthony has also been working a crazy amount of hours. I realized today as I sat down to clean off my desk how many pictures I had just sitting here. So, here I am. 

If we have anybody that becomes famous it will be this child. She loves to make music and is determined she will be a "rockstar girl" one day. Unfortunately the noise  about made me want to ram my head into a wall while I was sick. We finally compromised and she could play it outside on the trampoline or upstairs in the homeschool room. 

We have a theme with sleeping babies. They don't sleep like this on me, but they will for Anthony. I do kind of miss it. I actually am looking at these and thinking maybe come the weekend I will just let them do this and let Anthony take care of everything.

We have enjoyed a lot of bike rides and Popsicles.

Within a couple weeks of  Lilliana learning to climb the tree Ari began. He frequently can be found dressed in camo, his wood toy gun hanging out of his pockets climbing the tree. 

He also adores his sisters. Probably a little bit too much.

With a little nudging or more like no other options, Eli has begun to enjoy reading chapter books. I knew he could read better than he was letting on. He just didn't want to do it. Finally I picked out Mr. Popper's Penguins  and basically made him start reading a chapter a day. At first he hated it and just did not want to have anything to do with it. It was hard and his brain needed to work. It is part of his free read list which means he doesn't have to narrate it like he would his regular school books. The thing is because narrating has become so natural for him he is now very excited about it and just going into his room to read and then narrates it for us all. This is exactly what I was hoping for and I am thrilled. 

The girls are getting big! Believe it or not they will be 5 months the end of this week!

Finally one of them is rolling over. Daphne rolled from her back to her front in our bed last Thursday night. I figured it was because the bed was softer. Then she did it the next day on the floor. I came in to her sleeping on her stomach after I had done the dishes. Now she is rolling all over. Annalise is still not rolling anywhere. 

Summer is flying by. I am hoping to get back to my regular blogging schedule this week as I have missed it. 

Rocking Babies Motherhood Week 6

I mentioned the other day that the girls going to bed and just wanting to be laid in their crib. This has it's pluses and negatives. Two months ago I was still in that awful phase of nursing, rocking, bouncing, dancing, and mentally willing them to go to sleep before ten. Just like that it began. Only they skipped the part where I rock them to sleep and just enjoy those last few quiet moments. The moments when a baby goes from being stiff to limp. Their breathing changes and they make silent sleep noises on your shoulder or in your arms. The best parts of having a baby in the house. The moments we as mothers live for. They skipped it. I had wanted to take these pictures, but figured I would have time. Little did I know that time has gone for the moment. Regardless I took some the other night sweaty, needing a shower, and in my nightgown. If you know me truly you know I live in nightgowns. I am little old granny at heart. They weren't as cooperative and really wanted to just be put in their crib to sleep. I am sad, but this is good too. 

Of course the hair puller. This girl is famous for pulling my hair and all the postpartum hair loss ends up in her hands. I am frequently checking her for my hair. She even will grab it when it is pulled up.

Annalise is picky for sleep. For a good solid month I would have Daphne asleep and then sway and bounce with her while singing hymns or listening to the radio. She loves music and this is how I got her to sleep many nights. I wanted to capture those moments. 

In the end she was most content to be put in her crib. Where she crashed in seconds. I hope that in the future occasionally they will let me rock them because I am not ready for it to end. I may have to drag Ari out of bed and rock him because I know he will let me still!