Don't You Dare

This is the look Honey Girl gives her brothers as soon as they notice she's up and out of her bed (and isn't she getting delightfully chubby?).

Poor Honey doesn't get much peace in her awake times...this is probably why she chooses to sleep mostly.

I've been praying against worry and fear as we currently have two children fighting off something. Kid has a nasty, snotty, cold (but good spirits!) while Bee has a high fever (not sure how high--should probably check it) and is quite lethargic and not himself. My concern is that Honey is just so small and young to be fighting off such germs in the house. It's RSV season, which is so dangerous for little ones, not to mention everything else going on.

As I was praying for health and peace, God reminded me of the verse that he gave me through the scary part of her pregnancy and the quest for my VBAC:

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

He does answer prayers, doesn't he?

And for my health-savvy readers, is there anything I should be taking/eating (for breastmilk) that would help build her immune system? Please do share!

*oh, and for the baby book/ family: we are noticing that Honey G does actually look like someone (for the longest time we couldn't figure out who she looks like!). I had been noticing that she was starting to look a lot like her Aunty Kristen (at least her baby pictures). Well, it was confirmed when her Gigi arrived back from Hawaii and checked in on her...she stated the same thing! So great, now zero out of my three children look like my side of the family!

Defined

Adjust: to put in good working order; regulate; bring to a proper state or position

Rather than the constant question "when are you due?", I'm getting "how are you adjusting?", by friends, neighbors, acquaintances, family, and oddly, strangers, a lot of strangers... It could be simply because I look like I am managing a small zoo wherever I go, or perhaps because The Wind Tunnel seems to have a silent social rule of having exactly two children. I'm not sure, but what I am sure of is that some people seem to think I am slightly crazy.

The adjustment has been as smooth as it can be, I suppose. Like the definition, we're trying to regulate our new life of five. It's busier, there are less quiet moments, and what I have learned is that every moment until the cherubs are sleeping in their beds has a definite purpose. Just to get out of the house on a walk and a trip to the park requires dedicated time. I now have a personal rule not to enter the office to get distracted by my computer until all three children are napping... if so, even three minutes of distraction can surprisingly set off our routine...

Yes, I am extremely structured, anal, and this can at times produce unneeded anxiety. This is something I'm working on. I am also working on the need to leave my house spotless whether we are walking down the street or are headed out on errands... it's a weird obsession of mine, an addiction, really. I simply cannot leave the house with items out of their places. I thought it would change with three children, but, alas, it remains the same. Granted, Honey G is at an exceptionally easy stage right now. Immobile, sleepy, and predictable... things do change and I am praying that my obsession will change as well...only time will tell.

More laundry.
More feedings.
Three routines to keep on track.
Three crying children (it's happened twice, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone!).
Two hands, three children.

That sums up the answer to "how are you adjusting?".

What I wasn't prepared for?
Love. Lots of it. I learned when Bee was born just how fast and quickly a mother's love develops for number two. For me, it took a few days to develop that intense connection with Kid, with Bee, it was immediate. But now that Honey has entered the equation, I am learning that each child you add to the family actually expands your capacity to love. Does that make sense? Speaking of addiction, now that I know what that feeling is like, I can completely understand why people have masses of children--you literally grow in love per child. Talk about intense (and rewarding)!

(now please don't take the forementioned comments regarding family size and assume that I am anti-small family or pro-large family, that is not the case--I know every family has a perfect purpose to their completion...there, disclaimer over)

...and because a post shall never go without a photo... here's Kid today, after his encounter with a stick, held by a girl, forced in his face, slightly below his eyeball.

Some lessons are learned in tough ways...today Kid learned that girls are not always fond of boys. Get used to it, Kid, you have a lifetime of figuring girls out!