A Month of Baby Steps.

So on Saturday littlest guy was 1 month old:

And the past month has been... well... it's been alot.  I don't even know where to start.  My motto for surviving this newborn time has become "Baby Steps."  Baby steps towards figuring this 3 kids thing out.

Three kids in matching outfits for the fourth of July.  I have better photos of this with my "real" camera but haven't had a chance to edit/upload them yet.  So the instagram version will have to do for now... baby steps.

Baby steps back to the up and go lifestyle we used to have (or even getting out the door at all).

Baby steps towards holding a thought in my head that isn't when the baby ate last or what the kids will need next.

Angry baby burrito.  We don't mess with swaddling him anymore which is a bit sad.  I love me a baby burrito.

Baby steps towards being able to do more than just maintain.

The dog could not care less about the baby.  She sniffed him once and was all "Right.  One of these.  Call me when he gets into a high chair."

Baby steps towards restoring some kindof of normalcy to our household.

Creepy-eyed kitty photobomb!

Baby steps to some kind of routine that includes sleep.  And naps.

Baby steps to being creative again.

My Flaming Desire sock that I picked up again after a looooooong hiatus.  A round or two of complicated lace is perfect for those days when I really need a WIN.

Baby steps towards feeling like a human being and not just a sleep deprived milk-machine.

Meeting Jill Smolker aka Scary Mommy at her book signing.

Baby steps into blogging again.

So instead of trying to flesh out one of the many blog posts I've started in the last month I thought I'd just get something, anything up in this space.  Even if it's just a bunch of regurgitated instagram and random photos that were on my phone.

Baby steps, right?

I will be back.  Just give me time.  Until then you can follow my nonsense on twitter - I'm pretty active there all things considered...

Siblings and Snow Days.

So.  Today is a snow day!  The first official school cancellation due to snow since I've had school aged kids.  She missed a few days with Sandy but that wasn't an actual snow day.  So to mark such an occasion and keep with the spirit of Snow Days I was thinking we would bake, do some valentines crafts, maybe get out the play dough, and really spend the day all playing together.  Except that my kids currently want nothing to do with me.  Because they have discovered that a sibling is the best thing in the world:

It's adorable how close they've been lately.  When they are both home they are basically inseparable:

Playing under the dining room table with a sibling is the BEST!

I usually get up and shower before the kids are up but SNOW DAY!  I decided to sneak one in when I heard my son stirring thinking that I'd be quick and out before he wanted out of his crib.  But just in case I gave my daughter these instructions: "If your brother starts crying while I"m in the shower bring him some books and keep him amused.  I'll be right out." Done and done:

Yes.  She had FILLED his crib with every board book in his room and then climbed in after him. 

 I... don't even know what to say.  They were both so happy I left them there while I got dressed.  I'm guessing this will not be the last time this happens.  Especially when they start sharing a room.

I think part of it is that they both have lives of their own now.  She's in school and he's got a whole network of friends/playgroups that don't include her.  It took him awhile to gain the confidence to socialize and play without his sister there leading the way for him.  But now that he has they both really enjoy their time apart - and have become closer because of it:

Watching the snowplow in my neighbor's driveway.

It was thrilling.

And let me show you the zoomed out view.  The dog is almost always right there as a part of the action.  She might as well be a third sibling at this point:

So if they'd rather play together than bake or craft or whatever under my direction I'm more than fine with it.  I waived my "Put one thing away before you take out the next thing" rule - it is a snow day after all - and they are having a blast playing with ALL OF THE TOYS.  Together.  I love it.

My house is TRASHED but everyone is happy.  Life is good.

Edited to add: As I was writing this post my Dude decided he wanted to wear his bear outfit.  So of course his sister wanted her Merida costume on.  So now they are running around the house as Merida and her brother bear:

TOO MUCH CUTE I CAN'T HANDLE IT OMFG....