Non-negotiables

I decided during week one or two of Jack's little life that there were gonna need to be some daily non-negotiable items on my agenda in order to maintain some level of humanness and sanity in the midst of three kid-dom, summer lack of schedule craziness, sleepless nights, etc.  Here's my list.  Everyday, I have made it a priority to do the following:

1.  Shower, put on makeup and fix my hair.  I guess that's three things.  The days of looking like a train wreck are past.  I have spent much of my post-college twenties trying to scoot by on "youth."  And that's all fine and good until you find yourself almost 30, wearing a uniform (ahem, a black cotton shirt which would have pit stains if it was white and jeans or shorts), a pontytail, and a set of blood-shot sleep deprived eyes.  This is one of the most practical ways I can say, "I'm still human."  And let's be clear - the wearing of make-up and decent clothing is not for anyone else, it's for me.  Unfortunately, the trade off here is that I do not also have time to make my house look spic and span consistently.  There is currently oatmeal on my kitchen floor and fingerprints all over the table.  When I leave my house in the morning, I can forget about the oatmeal... plus if I am dressed and clean and put together, I am much more likely to feel motivated to clean the house too.

2.  Read my Bible and Pray.  I remember that I felt super overwhelmed by this one after Henry was born.  "God understands that you are tired and that this is a hard season," I reasoned with myself.  But now- now my Bible is like air, and when I go too long without praying I feel like I am running on empty.  While, sure, I am definitely tempted to pass these things up for more task-oriented accomplishing (and sometimes do), I have to remind myself that the crusted oatmeal under my table and the laundry in the dryer will be back tomorrow.  I have to remind myself that God's nearness is my good (Ps 73:28).  And I have to remind myself that apart from him I can do nothing of eternal value.  It's not like God's sitting there guilt-tripping me, "When are you gonna hang out with me?"  No, he doesn't need me to spend time with Him for his sake, but he allows me to spend time with Him for my sake.

3.  Go outside and/or exercise.  Fresh air, Vitamin D, and endorphins.  I haven't 100% implemented this "non-negotiable" because I am still trying to follow the doctor's orders in the exercise arena.  Regardless, it's amazing what 30 minutes of sunlight can do- especially after a day when all three of your kids LITERALLY needed you to wipe their bottoms at the same time.

Hope you enjoyed my little list.  I will try to update more soon!

syke

Urban dictionary definition of syke.

And of course I am referencing previously written commentary about how Jack may possibly look like me.  The kid looks more and more like Matt with each passing second.  Which, don't get me wrong... it isn't a bad thing.  Matt wasn't the Junior Class Dream Date for nothing.

Anyway.  I'm hanging onto the fact that Jack has my eyes.  And if people start saying he has Matt's eyes, then I will protest.  Because we have three boys with three different eye shapes.  They can't ALL be from Matt's side of the family.  Enough about that.

The big boys are adapting really well to Jack, and Sam especially has some funny commentary.  Henry LOVES Jack, and he is so interested in him.  Both boys run to his side the very second they hear him cry.  Anyway, here are some of the things they have said.

Henry yesterday said, "I am so BORED of waiting for Jack to open his eyes!"  (Oh yes, they both get very, very excited if Jack is awake.)

Yesterday I was nursing Jack and Sam was actually paying attention.  He got a concerned look on his face and then said, "Baby Jack is eating your belly button!"  TMI?  But you've gotta admit that's funny.

One of the first days home, Jack started crying and Sam said, "Oh no! Baby Jack is crying!  I know what to do, I'll give him his paci!"  (P.S. When Sam talks it's almost always loud and relatively monotone.  His voice carries.  I wish I could do it justice.)

Here's some videos and pictures since people typically like that sort of thing. ;)

My middle child/teenager. Two and a half going on fifteen.

Why hello there, handsome!

Superman can't seem to get enough of this baby.

We cuddle a lot.  I'm soaking up the newborn phase!

The wub-a-nub is a big hit.

My break dancers.  Is that how you spell break dancer?

This is a total mom picture.  I wanted to capture his little tiny feet and his skinny little legs.

3rd baby problems

The following are identified third baby problems:

• Until we decided to change him before his newborn checkup this morning, Jack was still wearing the outfit he wore home from the hospital on Wednesday.
• He hasn't had a bath since after he was born on Monday night.  Still waiting on one.
• He is constantly doted on.  Because mommy is less stressed by him than any other baby yet, she spends her time telling him how precious he is and to please not grow up.
• He must learn to eat, sleep, and get his diaper changed with a lot of noise and no privacy, as his big brothers love him so much that they hardly let him do any of these things in "peace."
• He is probably not sure if his name is Jack or Sam, since we keep calling him by both names.  It usually sounds something like, "Sam... uh I mean, Jack." (Sam has also been called Jack several times.)  Matt even penciled his two week checkup onto my calendar as "Sam's appointment."  Sorry bud.
• His brothers take turns pulling his paci out of his mouth without warning.  This is how third kids get tough so fast.  Right now he is so sweet that he doesn't even cry when they take it from him.

But really.  So far at four days in Jack is such a sweet, easy going baby.  I think much of that has to do with the fact that I am less stressed and a whole lot of it has to do with the fact that he really is easy.  He is mostly content, he has a gentle, polite cry, and since we've been home from the hospital, he has literally only woken up to eat.  I know that will change.

After Henry was born, I was learning everything new.  That's hard.  After Sam was born, I was sort of a hormonal, anxious mess, which my doctor said may have had a lot to do with blood loss.  On top of that I was learning to juggle two kids and all sorts of stuff to go along with that.

Jack has been the perfect addition to our family this week.  We just love his sweet little self.