Longest Week EVER!

I feel like today is Friday. I wish it was Friday! Tom was out of town from Sunday until last night for work. Three kids on my own was no easy task, but we all survived. Sometimes I think bedtime routines are easier when just one parent is here. The kids can't beg for the other parent to come and scratch their back, or whatnot. I was so burnt out every day by like 3 PM. We had early dinners, early baths, and we were reading bedtime books by 6:45 every night. But the kids were always sleeping by 7:30 the latest. It was heavenly. It would have been even better if Finn would have actually slept through the night, but apparently that is just too much to ask of a three year old. SERIOUSLY.

Here are some pictures of our bath time extravaganza. Leo is sitting in the tub unassisted. It helps to have a 5 year old brother be able to hold him and catch him if he falls.

Leo has hit some milestones these past few weeks. He is sitting up like a champ. He is rocking back and forth on his legs and slowly inching around. (which I am NOT ready for) He is eating real people food. He actually is starting to refuse baby food. I loathe baby food anyway, but sometimes it's just the quickest and easiest thing to do. His first real lunch was buttered toast and avocados. Yummy. Toast is a huge hit though. He would eat all day long if I let him. He is most content in his chair eating puffs or any other food for hours. haha.

Baby Feet!

Check out his ankle fat. I mean COME ON!!!

Sporting my brother's clothing line, Live Life Clothing!

And finally, my new decor for our wall going up the stairs. I've had the portraits of Jack and Finn for over a year now and I just added Leo's. I love it. It will stink when we have to replace them with updated pictures in a few years, but I think they look great here!

Tonight I'm getting my hair done and having dinner with my besties. Woop woop. Too bad it's fricken freezing out here! Where is spring/summer?

To blog or not to blog. That is the question.

I keep going back and forth whether or not I want to keep this blogging thing going. I started blogging when Jack was 15 months old. And I can't tell you how amazing it is to look back and re-read the amazing stories I have from my kids. And the pictures. And the videos. And sometimes having this blog forces me to document those sort of things. But then there is my husband who is anti everything social media. Except LinkedIn, because that is "professional" - right. I mean it is sort of weird that all of my personal things are just out in cyberspace. But lets be honest, who is really reading this anyway? All 6 people reading this are harmless, right? ha. Maybe I should be putting watermarks on my pictures? So people don't steal them? But then it's like, who is going to steal my pictures, and even if they did - so what. Right? I don't know.

Does anyone ever get weirded out about blogging? Facebook has kind of been annoying me too lately. I think I'm going to deactivate my account soon. I barely use it anyway. I love instagram though! Love love love that! Follow me at molly_st!

As a stay at home mom, I love the random interactions I can have with people through blogging or through commenting on blogs. Which again, kind of creepy? I don't know!

A few funny remarks from Jack:
Jack: "mom, why can't a guy marry two girls"
Me: ummmmmmmm. Just because.

Jack: "mom, does spiderman live in our neighborhood"
Me: ummmmmmmm. Maybe.

Jack: "mom, do you know what I'm going to be for halloween in 2014?
me: no, what?
Jack: I'm going to be the hulk.
me: ok. well what are you going to be in halloween 2013?
Jack: Captain America
me: Ok sounds good. You do know Halloween isn't for like 9 more months, right?
Jack: yeah I know. Halloween is OctoVer 31st. And also in OctoVer is daddys birthday, jennys birthday, great grandma's birthday.
OMG, note to self, STOP putting pictures on calendars for birthdays. Rainman, much? Much too much.

Friday Ramblings

• I bought a canvas portrait of Leo through a groupon. I have two amazing canvases of Jack and Finn and I wanted one of Leo so I can hang them on the wall going up the stairs together. I purchased this canvas on 12/30. It still has not arrived. On Wednesday the tracking said that it was in St. Paul at 5:30 AM, which is like 30 minutes from my house. It arrived in my city that afternoon at like 4 PM. Tom was like, was it traveling by horse? You'd think that it would have arrived yesterday to my door, but NO I'm STILL waiting on it! Yesterday I swear the Fedex gods were mocking me. Like 25 trucks drove by my house all day long. 
• Finn has yet to show any interest in hockey. He's never even picked up a stick to shoot with Jack and Tom. He said in the car the other day that he would go skating if he had a buzz helmet. Tom's like - find a Buzz helmet. haha. So I purchased one from Ebay for $10 (a bike helmet) we shall see if this gets him to the rink and how he does at skating. Finn is so little and so quick that whatever he takes up, he's going to be fast as lightning. How can he not when he is three years old and weighs all of 25 pounds?
• This week I've been doing a free week at CorePower yoga. I really really enjoy it. I'm thinking of dropping my Lifetime membership and starting yoga. It's such a different workout than what I'm used to, but I think it could be really cool. Jury is still out on this one though. 
• We've been playing the matching game around here like 25,000 times a day. Is it just me or does that game have a ridiculous amount of cards? Luckily, we've lost a few along the way, but still it's a ton of cards. Jack and Finn are really good at it too. Like, I have to legitimately try to win and Jack still beats me. Both of the kids have gotten the hang of knowing if a card has a rip or something which one it is. It's been pretty fun actually to see their minds in action. Finn is SO flipping cute when he plays. He is cheering and clapping whenever anyone gets a match. Then there's Jack who's like YOU CHEAT! when I get a match. I love winning because it teaches Jack that he can't win all of the time. ha. Also, I'm competitive. haha.

Happy Weekending!

Thoughts About Three

Leo is almost seven months old, and I still get questions about how we are adjusting to having three boys. How everyone is getting along. If we plan to have more kids, maybe shoot for that girl.

Anytime I read about people questioning having a third, or people asking me about my thoughts on having a third - my first response, always, is three kids is so much fun! A lot of work? Yes - but fun. I was completely overwhelmed with two kids at first. Like crazy overwhelmed. I'm sure it had a lot to do with what was going on with my brother and whatnot - but in general two was kind of a slap in the face. Three is obviously more challenging than two in the sense that you have a whole other person to take care of raise. But the older kids are older. And Jack and Finn have been nothing short of amazing with Leo.

I found that when Finn was about 18 months, he turned a corner and stopped being so fussy and whiney and out of control (for the record, I'd like to state that we are back to being fussy, whiney and out of control as of lately at the ripe old age of 3). I found myself twiddling my thumbs a lot and being somewhat of a selfish mom. Like getting mad at the kids when I couldn't do what I wanted to do. Having Leo has completely changed my outlook on mothering and how I go about my day and getting tasks done and just having a feeling of accomplishment. With three kids under the age of 5, I have to make every single minute of the day count. With the older kids not napping anymore and rest time not lasting nearly as long as their naps used to, I'm short on "me" time. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I am getting more things done around the house then I ever have before. With Leo turning a corner with everything at 6 months (schedules, naps, eating real food, laughing, scooting, etc), I just am feeling so much more in control of things. With three kids, I'm not overwhelmed by the outnumbering - but I do think it will be awesome when Leo becomes more self sufficient, but I'm in no rush.

I am sure things would have been easier had we decided to just have two kids. But everything is relative. Just like when you only have one kid and you think this is so hard (it IS hard), then you have your second kid and you are like wow I had it easy with just one kid. Or like when people without kids tell you they are thinking about having kids and you're like don't do it! haha. Just kidding. You just don't realize how much your life will change for better or for worse once kids come along. I'm sure we would have been extremely happy with a family of four. But I'm also sure that when our kids became older and when I got more me time and when my kids became less physically demanding I would have somewhat regretted not having a third. I would have always wondered "what if" or what would our life look like with three boys, or a little girl? And I would have been a little sad. Leo has added so much joy and happiness into our family. What am I going to do when these boys are all taller than me, because lets face it - that will be sooner rather than later.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is three is fun. Three is a lot of work, but it's also that much more rewarding. Obviously both parents have to be on the same page when deciding if they want more kids, but if you are throwing around the idea of having another baby someday, then chances are you probably aren't done quite yet!

Oh and PS - we will not be having anymore children (well at least that's OUR plan). I think three is plenty. I think four would send me straight to AA.

Leo at Jack and Finn's birthday party this year.

Men in Labor?

This video is so funny. I wonder how comparable it really is.

Winter Day in the Life 2013

Thursday 1/17/13

Jack - 5 years old
Finn - 3 years old
Leo - 6 months old

You will have to bear with me, somehow my photos from 6 AM - 10 AM have somehow vanished. I'm thinking a certain 3 year old around here deleted them? I could be wrong though....


2:30 AM - I hear crying. Who is it this time I think to myself. Please don't be Finn, please don't be Finn. Oh good - it's just Leo. Peel myself out of our brand new king sized bed with the most amazing sheets in the world and go into Leo's room and pop his nuk back in his mouth. Seems to do the trick. Back to bed.

5:45 AM - I hear coughing and the crack of the door opening. Then I see Jack enter our room. Mom, Finn is coughing. Ok thanks Jack, go back to bed. Mom, Finn wants you. So I go in there, swoop him up and bring him into our bed. Two seconds later I hear Jack "will somebody please scratch my back?" Tom - you're up, go scratch Jack's back. Meanwhile, Finn is being all cute and cuddly in bed, not his typical constant whining. Tom ends up bringing Jack into our bed too. Praise the Lord for King sized beds. Seriously. Ok boys, please be quiet and do not wake Leo up.

6:00 AM - I turn the tv on in our room in hopes that the boys will be quiet.

6:05 AM - Leo is coughing and making noise. Finn instantly perks up. Can I go see Leo? Leo is up. Please. Please? Sure Finn, go in there. But do NOT sit on your brother. Jack gets up too - but he goes into his room and gets himself dressed.

6:25 AM - Ok Tom, please will you get up with Leo and feed him a bottle? Hooray! I can lounge a tad longer. Tom feeds Leo, gets breakfast started for the boys. Is he amazing or what? Jack insists on making our coffee in the morning. We have a Keurig, and I'm totally serious. ha! It's awesome.

Around 7:30 - Leo needs to eat some baby food. Tom informs me that he can take the older boys to preschool today! Wahhhoooo! This makes me so happy. I get Finn dressed while Tom takes a shower. Leo lounges in his high chair and then moves to the jumper.

8:30 - Tom, Jack and Finn are out the door, off to preschool. Leo goes down for a nap. I hop in the shower. Then I get ready. Clean the kitchen. Throw some laundry in, and fold the laundry that I didn't get around to folding yesterday.

9:50 AM - I hear Leo getting up from his nap. Perfect timing. I can feed him and then head out to Target before I need to pick the older two up from school.

The Mothership

11:00 AM - I am done with my shopping a little early. I sit in the warm car and text some of my girlfriends who are also stay at home moms. Then I remember I have some phone calls to make, I just drive around a little bit while on the phone.

11:30 AM - I arrive at school to pick up the boys.

12:00 PM - We are back home and have lunch. Peanut butter sandwich, yogurt and crackers for Jack. Peanut butter and jelly, yogurt, and crackers for Finn. Leftover lemon chicken with a side salad for me. Oh and mixed veggies for Leo with some puffs on the side! We just tried puffs for the first time today. HUGE HIT!

12:30 PM - I come downstairs after cleaning up the kitchen to find this:

12:45 PM - I quick put together a "new home" basket for my brother in law and sister in law's new house. I got most of this stuff from my Target run earlier. We can't help them move this weekend, so I thought of the next best thing:

Mom, you might want to think about baby proofing these toys now that I'm getting around

1:00 PM - It is REST TIME! Finn has decided to not nap since we took his nuk away the day after his third birthday. I was sick of fighting him every single day and having our 7 PM bedtime turn into 8:30. So I've implemented rest/quiet time. This involves both older boys sitting on the couch being quiet. Either reading books, playing their leap pads, or watching a movie. If they get off the couch, they have to go up to their beds.

1:30 PM - I change Leo's diaper and put him in his crib. He doesn't seem all that tired. I let him finish his bottle from earlier. Then remember he really hasn't slept since 10 AM, so it's fine to let him whimper a while. Sure enough after 10 minutes, he is sleeping. ahhhhh. Silence really is golden. Go into the kitchen and make a drink. I wish this drink included alcohol, but it doesn't. ha.

How I'm kicking my pop addiction. It's SO yummy. 

1:45 PM - I come downstairs to start typing up this post and notice this:

Love him.

2:15 PM - Leo is not sleeping. I go upstairs and am quickly disturbed by the person I see in the mirror. I still am not used to being a brunette!!

 I quickly admire the new hallway frames that I made/added to the wall. Our door bell really adds character, don't you think?

Then I pop in and grab mr. I won't nap right now

2:30 PM - I feed Leo a bottle and text with Tom. I realize since this upcoming weekend is Pond Hockey weekend, I will basically be a single parent all weekend long. I realize I haven't left the house at night alone for over a week. I need to escape. Tom agrees and he says I am free to leave when he gets home around 5 PM. HOORAY! This means I don't have to do dinner or bedtime tonight! Whatever will I do....

3:00 PM - Leo finally goes down for his much needed afternoon nap. The boys are done with quiet time, Finn wakes up and now it's time for some art per their suggestion not mine. I'm not a huge art person. First we turn on some tunes. Usually I'm all for Justin Bieber or something to get me pumped up, ha! But I attempted the disney pandora station today and it didn't let me down.

Someone was messing with my water bottle

3:15 PM - I am bored, so I start looking around on Pinterest and texting my friends.

3:45 PM - Time to wash the bottles. One major downfall to bottle feeding

4:45 PM - I print off a prayer word art my girlfriend made. Quick framed it and hung it up. Then Leo was up!

Don't look so thrilled, Finn.

Gotta love the MN chapped cheeks.

5:15 PM - Tom is home. I am outta here! Kisses and hugs all around. Where am I headed you ask? Well to the casino! ha. Why not on a Thursday night, right? HA! My mom and my brother were already pretty close to it and when I called my mom to see if she wanted to grab dinner or something she suggested since they would be so close to the casino I should just make the drive and meet her and my brother. I decided, what the hay. So I made the journey down there. And it paid off.  I actually ended up winning about $116 on the machines but only walked away with $10 at the end of the night. I'm SUCH a tight wad that winning anything is success. I only played with $40, so don't judge me too much. haha. My big win below actually ended up being 5500, but I didn't want to risk not catching the cool picture. haha. I must have looked like SUCH a loser taking a picture of my slot machine that was winning $50 when all these other people around me are cashing in their social security checks betting like $50 a spin.

I left the casino around 8 PM and got home a little before 9. Tom taped the Lance Armstrong interview, so we watched that before bed. I'm not even going to go into my thoughts about this interview.

10:15 PM - Time for bed. Brush my teeth, wash my face. Goodnight. Let's hope for a full night's sleep! Ha, yeah right.

Three

December 31, 2012 - 3 Years Old

Dear Finn,

It feels like just yesterday your daddy and I were on the way to the hospital to meet you. I was almost certain you were going to be a girl. Ever since the day you were born, you have been surprising me and keeping me on my toes. Your imagination is incredible. Your heart is so big. You love so much. It's all or nothing with you. You don't give into anything, you know what you want and it's incredibly challenging to try and change your mind. Your feelings get hurt quite often because you are so sensitive. It's the thing I love the most about you (and also the thing that is constantly challenging me throughout the days). You love both of your brothers to the moon and back. I love it when you are trying to get Jack's attention because you want to tell him something. And I love listening to your conversations with him and Leo. You boys melt my heart.

At three years old....

We finally took your nuk away. It's been almost two weeks now and things are finally getting better during the middle of the night. (ugh, note to self - take Leo's nuks away at nighttime and naps WAY before the age of three)

You are fully potty trained, both day and night. You have been for over two months now. You were potty trained in one day. Easiest kid to potty train EVER!

You don't eat dinner. Ever. Seriously. It's not that you are a picky eater per say, it's that you just DON'T EAT! I'm hoping this ends soon, but I have a feeling it won't.

You love milk.

You love to watch movies. Obviously Toy Story is your favorite. But The Avengers are slowly moving their way to the top.

You love to play with all of your guys. You play so wonderfully by yourself. Your older brother could learn a thing or two from you.

You started Preschool on January 3rd, right after you turned three. You LOVE it. You are going two days a week at your big brother's school.

You love swimming lessons. You are now in a class where the parents don't have to be in the water with you! Hooray!! You are constantly smiling and laughing throughout the lessons. The jury is still out on whether or not you will take to hockey...

You are obsessed with watching youtube videos. Mainly of Toy Story. The other day on the iPad, you were seriously watching a home video of some kid opening a toy story gift for Christmas. haha. So weird. And yet, we continue to let you do this....

I can't wait to see what this next year brings us. The age of three is definitely living up to it's expectations with being one of the most challenging years, but that doesn't surprise me. Because you my dear, are constantly surprising me. And I love you so much for that. You are the perfect middle Starkey boy.

6 Months Old

I can't believe that my baby is a half year old! In just six more months we will have a ONE year old, no more bottles, no more baby food, and the most challenging stage begins. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Six months is by far my FAVORITE baby stage. Leo isn't quite mobile yet, although when you lay him on his tummy, some how ten minutes later he is not on his blanket anymore and is on the opposite end of the rug. Not sure how that happens. Anyway, Leo is healthy as can be at six months and is still happy as a clam. Here are some stats:

At FOUR months:

Height: 26 inches - 75-85%

Weight: 17 pounds - 75-90%

Head: 42 cm - 50-75%

At SIX months:

Height: 27 inches - 50-75%

Weight: 18 pounds 15 oz - 90%

Head: 44.2 cm - 75-90%

He grew an inch and gained almost 2 pounds! Love my little chunkeroo. I'm thinking he will slim out and since we don't go to the dr again for 3 months, hopefully his weight will taper off. ha. Not that I don't love chubbers, but I'd like to not be dealing with toddler obesity in a year. ha. I remember when Finn was two they asked me if I wanted to participate in a childhood obesity study. I said yes, but I remember thinking that Finn would throw the whole study off because he is such a peanut. 

Anyways...Leo popped two teeth this past month. And there were about 3-4 nights of pure torture. I'm talking the kid barely slept. It was miserable for everyone. He is drooling a ton and wanting to put every little thing in his mouth. He's napping ok for the most part. There are some days where I swear all he sleeps is 45 minutes all day long. It's so hard to get him on a solid schedule because I am constantly running around like a chicken with my head cut off with the other two. I'm trying to just embrace the fact that I am so lucky that Leo is so easy going and he's willing to nap in his carseat and whatnot. Typically he will sleep for a little bit in the morning, around 9 or 10 and then again around 1 or 2. And then sometimes, although not so much anymore, he'd take a quick catnap before dinner. 

Leo's favorite thing to do during the day is bounce in his jumpy while laughing at his older brothers. He loves his brothers. They get him to smile and laugh whenever they want. Jack and Finn are so good at giving him toys or finding his nuk for him when I'm not available to do so. 

I decided to bite the bullet and give Leo the flu shot this year. It's been such an awful year. I weighed the pros and cons and decided that he'd be better off with a small side effect from the shot vs the real influenza. Leo had zero reaction to his first flu booster. We go in for the second one early February. I also have a double appointment in February for Jack and Finn's 5 and 3 year old check ups. EEEEEKKKKKKK.

Decided to nap in his jumper

Happy Birthday Mom!

At 6 months old, Leo's favorite snack is his foot

Holy Thunder Thighs

The Wild are Back!

Working on sitting up like a big boy

Ruh-roh, someone is rocking on their knees

I finally made the jump. I love it more and more each day. I'm so proud of myself for doing this!!!!

Finn's favorite game. Crawl under bouncing Leo.