• JJ will be in school all day- man I miss him.

• Henry will be going to preschool- JJ never went so preschool is all new to us.

• Emma will be joining George at Kids Day Out once a week.

• My sister Katie and her family moved back home- not only to STL but into our neighborhood!!! AND Tootie, my niece, will be going to Hudson with JJ.

• Kara, whom I have babysat 2 days a week since she was 9 weeks, is starting Kindergarten and won’t be a part of our Mondays and Fridays anymore. Totally bittersweet.

• I started watching my niece, Rosie and it is going so great! Her and Emma are BFFs..check out the picture.

Wow, I didn’t think it was a lot, but writing it out it is ALOT!  My current mental status is Monday -Friday I’m fine, it’s the transition to our weekends I have a hard time with lately.   Weekends we try to balance getting things done with relaxing and I’m not good at the latter.

What do you do on the weekends?  Do you find it hard to balance?

Here are today’s random lessons….

• If I prep an “undesirable” food item differently, George will not only try it but may end up liking it.  This was demonstrated with the yellow pepper today at lunch, I chopped instead of sliced and he ate a whole pepper!
• Striving is not what life is all about.  I battle striving in one form or another frequently.  Today, it was in relation to material things and after examining my motives for purchase and our goals for our family, I learned again that I don’t need it.
• If Emma wears her red Polo tennis dress and is in her car seat (so you can’t tell its a dress) people will mistake her for a boy.
• After spending time with God, the things that were overwhelming or I had anxiety about are not bad at all.
• I was finishing eating an ice cream novelty tonight and really wanted another one…and realized I could have another one because I am an adult. Not sure why this was such a revelation.
• I love putting Emma in dresses but now that she is almost crawling, I was bummed thinking that I couldn’t anymore.  But then I did this and it works great…

Emma had the most fun though, she got to go to a Ladybug Luncheon with Grandma at her friend Kathryn’s house.  Grandma bought all the granddaughters sweet little ladybug dresses just for the event.  So fun! Here are a couple pics…

Sitting on Grandmas lap….is that not the cutest ladybug you’ve ever seen??!?!

The only thing cuter is Emma with her BFF, her cousin Rosie…don’t you want to know what they are thinking???

I was reflecting back today about several key things that got me through the last few months and I thought I’d share them with you.

1.  My iPhone -  This has made breastfeeding at 3am, well not as lonely.  I mention some apps below that I have been loving the last couple months.

2. John – He does a lot, but this time around, I am especially grateful for how much he has encouraged me to get out without kids.  It’s been amazing.  I’ve gone to parties, dinner and movies with friends, aimless trips to Target,etc.  It’s been my lifeline and sanity for sure.

3. The lock on the bathroom door – need I say more?

4. Words With Friends app – It’s basically scrabble with your friends.  I have loved this app, it’s the first thing I check when I feed Emma and I’m secretly hoping that it’s saving my brain.

5. Baby Brain app – This app really helped the first couple weeks when I was so sleep deprived I couldn’t remember, when Emma ate slept or pooped.  It did it all for me – the most expensive app I’ve ever bought at $4.99, but well worth it.

6. Meals and help from family and friends – This was amazing and answered the question of “What’s for Dinner?” for a long time.

7. An amazing baby – She is amazing, good sleeper, good eater – I have nothing to complain about.

8. A new GIRL wardrobe – I love to change the girls clothes!  She is like the doll I never had and never knew I wanted.  I like pink more than I thought I would and was giddy last Saturday when I put her in tights for the first time!  Who am I?!?!?

9. Streaming Netflix - I don’t think I can explain how this works well – so click here if you are interested.  But basically, we pay $9 a month for a movie store in my tv.  The kids have a ton of stuff they can watch from it, I have watched some great movies I’ve been wanting to see and some terrible B rated movies that I thought sounded good and weren’t – I’m a terrible movie picker.  Also, I started doing exercise videos on it.  I can’t say enough about it, especially since we don’t have cable, it’s been great entertainment.

10. Practicing the Art of Letting G0. Over and over and over and over again.  And keeping my own expectations low has helped me figure out what really matters.

The swing was a hand-me-down when we got it for JJ.  Then it was worked to the bones through all the boys, the other kids I watch and several 3 and 4 year olds that took it for a ride every now and again.  It had a good long life.

My babysitter from last night called after school today to let me know that she forgot to tell me that, “the swing may have broke last night when Henry was swinging on it and JJ jumped on top of him.”  Good to know now.

After the incident, I sent an email APB out requesting if any friends had a replacement that I could take off their hands — would you know I had 5 offers?!?  I should be getting a replacement in a couple days – woohoo!

I was totally surprised when we received this sweet little package from humbleBea.com .  It included two onesies, one short sleeve one and one long sleeve, a matching flower pin and these super sweet little booties.   I love love love the colors and those booties – I could eat them they are so sweet.  All from Daddy – Emma is SO lucky to have John as a Dad.

I know you want to see those booties again…

One of my favorite friends and blogs is Cary’s blog, I’ve Got a List for That.  It’s amazing to me how much I learn from her lists, from what to buy at Whole Foods to learning about her kids.  And I am always so impressed how diligent she is about blogging.  Anyways, I wanted to make a list of the things I want/need for Emma, it’s all in my head now and when the time comes I know it will have left my brain.

Emma’s List

1.  Pacifiers of the girly variety.  This may help George so that he doesn’t think I just gave Emma all of his old ones.  I think they make pink Soothies now too.

2.  Bibs.  I am a cheap ass and I don’t think I have bought a new bib since JJ.  I know – that’s really gross.  So some terry ones and some wipe away ones are definetely needed.

3. Burp Cloths.  The same as above and of the girly variety would be welcome.

4.  Washcloths.  I love baby washclothes and use them at bathtime and when I am feeding them for a quick cleanup.  New would be very good!

5. Swaddlers. I have lots of the velcro swaddlers – which I love, but I’d like some of those gauzy leightweight ones (Missy!) like these.

6.  Nursing Bras.  Enough said.

7. Diaper Bag? Maybe.  I haven’t really looked at them, but I may want a backpack one – I’m going to need all the hands I have right?!?!

8. Glass Bottles. I know I can get BPA free plastic.  I do need to replace my bottles and I want to try the 4 or 6 oz glass bottles.  I’m thinking Dr.Browns.

9. New Tubing for my pump.

10. Pajamas for me after Emma comes.  I need to break down and get a couple pairs.  I am picky b/c I like cotton with a little bit of stretch, not too contraining, but supportive around the tops and tanks with pajama bottoms.  I have been loking for sales at Soma,  Gap Body and Soft Surroundings, but can’t seal the deal.

There is more for my list, but that’s all I can remember now!