Hot Dogs and Arithmetic

This video cracks me up!! Patrick is eating a hot dog for the first time and LOVING it!! Maggie is interjecting with a song and Grant is doing some Math on the computer in the background! Pretty funny!

Patrick laughing

Finally got the kinks worked out on uploading videos!

big trouble

Patrick is 10 months old! He is super close to walking but mostly just wants to give me a heart attack by climbing up the stairs!

And so it begins...

This morning Maggie took a bath before school and when we were doing her hair she said, "Mommy, I really wish my hair was straight"...ahhhh yes, the age old quest for the perfect hair. We want it curly if it's straight and straight when it's curly! I can remember my Mom saying the very words that came out of my mouth, " but Maggie, your curls are so beautiful..people pay big bucks for hair like that" and, just like me she rolled her eyes and said, "Mommy...." So, I gave in and blowed her hair straight and even used the flat iron! Here is the end result! I've included Grant and Patrick's handsome selves too! Grant has hairspray today! (nothing for P yet)! My previous post didn't load correctly but I'm working on it! It's video of Patrick laughing...so cute...stay tuned...

9 months old

Our little guy is 9months old! He is busy crawling all over and eating up a storm! We've had to baby proof the house unlike we have before! It's somewhat of an obstacle course with all the gates and strategically placed chairs! The big kids are realizing just how destructive a baby can be!

Breakfast

Nothing like a good thumb after breakfast! Thought mama marge and auntie Lois would dig my "towel bib"...clipped it on with a chip clip!

Back to school clothes

Fishing

We had a lot of.fun fishing this weekend! Mags caught 3 fish and Grant caught 1! I even caught a couple! Patrick was pretty excited to be a part of it all! We are certainly adjusting to our "new normal"together!

Maggie's Kindermusik solo today!!

We're making dinner

Among the many things I worry about being a mother of three, one big one was how will I ever cook dinner? It seemed hard enough with Grant and Mags. But, here we are cooking dinner (albiet scrambled.eggs and toast) together! G and M helped with the eggs and did the toast all on their own! Now if only I could manage lunch and breakfast so well!

At last...they meet

Saratoga has been beside herself with the coming of Patrick!  She has been grumpy and irritated for the past couple of months!  Now, at last they meet...

Morning snuggles!!

Let's Play Ball

Grant started his baseball season last night with a couple of great hits!! He is so excited about this season!  He wanted to be sure I got a picture of his jersey from the back so that everyone knows his new number!

One Week Old

Today Patrick is one week old!  He is such a healthy little guy!  He and I are working out the kinks with nursing and he's starting to be more alert during the day! I must admit that this last week has been such a huge transition for this Mama.  As every mother knows, the first couple of weeks with a new baby are the toughest.  I know this too.  However, it doesn't seem to matter how prepared you might think you are for this huge event, things don't always go as you planned.  Mama Marge put it so eloquently that, "your MIND and BODY need to recover" and that as difficult as it may be we, as mothers, must allow that recovery to take place.  I think that's one of my biggest weaknesses (probably most Moms')...taking time for me!  So, today I am trying my best to stay camped out in bed with Patrick while Grant is at school and Maggie is with my generous mother-in-law, who has been such a HUGE help this week!  So far, we have done pretty well!

 

It never ceases to amaze me how being a mother grants you so many blessings and challenges all wrapped up in one amazing package!  It makes me ever so grateful for my own amazing mother and all that she has done to give her 4 children the love and guidance we needed to become parents ourselves.  It also makes my heart smile to know that no matter the distance between us she can still make me feel like I'm the most amazing thing in the world!  Thanks Mom...I love you!

Thriving!

Patrick went to see the doctor today! He is back up to his birth weight and his muscle tone is great! He has great color and beautiful skin!

As for his Mama, I am doing well too! I am navigating through nursing again...the milk man paid a visit last night ( like my nursing humor?)  It will.certainly be interesting to work my way through next week when Peter goes back to working from the office instead of home! I can't guarantee it will  be pretty but we'll get it done! Thank god I can at least have a beer now!

Big brother

Grant is beyond excited to be a big brother again! He has been so helpful, loving and understanding! My sweet, sweet boys!

Big sister

Maggie is SO excited to be a big sister!

And away we go!

On our way home!

Patrick and Mommy

Here we are yesterday enjoying visits from friends! Patrick is doing great! He passed his hearing and saw his pediatrician! We're both getting released today! So excited to get home and let the chaos.begin! Thank you so much for all of your prayers and well wishes! We are indeed blessed!

Patrick Phillip Singleton

Patrick decided to show up on his due date and quickly at that! We arrived at the hospital at 6:00 this morning and he was born at 7:11! He is 8lbs and 20.5 inches long! He is perfect and Mommy and Daddy are doing great!