Classic Hilton's

  I need to take a moment to tell you what a great little boy this is! Poor guy has had it ROUGH the last couple of months, and especially this last week...we were pretty seriously thinking of changing his name to Trouble.  But in the spirit of sharing all things good, bad, ugly, and awesome, I have to say that Grayson had a good day!  It wasn't anything magical. Just a little glimpse that normal is still within our reach! He slept in until 8, played well, took a solid nap between 10:15 and 1:15, was an angel at the BBQ Festival, played well again until dinner (some of that was spent in his crib, but still...), ate a good portion of his dinner, and went down for bed around 8pm with minimal fuss. It is now 11pm and he has only woken up once, briefly, in need of his beloved paci.  As I sit and write and think through, I'm beginning to realize that the last two days have been good...not so much because Grayson has suddenly matured, but because I have been more a...

Can you believe it has been two months? Look at this beautiful, happy girl!!  Sweet little Madikins, you are a wonderful addition to our family! You are so laid back and peaceful and generally very content with whatever life gives you. But you are no pushover! You can make your presence known if need be and you will not settle for less than you deserve! You enjoy watching your mobile. I don't think I remember your brother or sister ever being so interested in them, but you love it.  At two months you are full of grins and coos and cuddles, and, though some accuse you of being a mommy's girl, you share them freely with everyone in the house. At your last check up  you weighed 8 lbs, 15 oz, and measured 22 inches long, so you're still a tiny little thing. You are eating well, sleeping well (sometimes even eight hours at a stretch!), and meeting all the major milestones most two month olds meet. If conditions are right you can even roll over from your tummy...

Okay, so I kinda thought things would be different. My chief complaint as a new, homeschool mom of three, is that I feel hurried and interrupted. Like there's never enough time to get enough done and I'm constantly in motion, and whatever task I'm working on will shortly be interrupted for something or by someone.  So I joined this accountability group called Hello Mornings! Basically they encourage you to get up early and start your day right, with exercise and time with the Lord. There's flexibility to do what works with your life, but also accountability and encouragement through your morning check in. Nice.  So I went to bed early last night (well, as early as one can with an infant) and set my alarm for 5 AM. I did manage to drag myself out of my warm, comfy bed. I started a Bible study on 1 Peter (which was simpler than I thought it would be, but has a lot of potential to be exactly what I need to hear right now) and prayed. Madi woke up, so I nursed her, and ...

The biggest change I have noticed over the last two months (since Madi joined us and we began the transition back into school and work) is how I feel  I am always being pulled from one activity to the next. I almost dread waking up because I know that once the day starts it will not stop until 11 at night, and that's only if I make it. Interruptions are frequent. The "to do" list is lengthy, and as soon as I cross something off, three more somethings are added. I am feeling  overwhelmed, incapable, falling short in every aspect of mothering (did I mention that Grayson is going through a challenging toddler phase, Brooklyn and I are adjusting to our new teacher/student relationship, and Madi and I have thrush, so I don't even have my sweet nursing breaks right now, just painful breasts that have to be pumped, which I hate doing, and the added guilt and disappointment that I can't nurture my baby the way I am supposed to, and Ray's hours are so erratic and alwa...

Meeting Nicky at Opening Night. Can I just say, I love watching this guy perform!!  Not the green one, the one hiding behind the puppet. I've been following his career for the last eight years and he just keeps getting better! He has a gift for bringing supporting characters to life in such a way that you are left wanting to know more of their story. He gives 100% commitment to his characters and his cast and crew. I also love getting all the behind the scenes dirt - who likes/cant't stand who?, how was this decision made?, was that really funny but awkward moment supposed to happen like that?  Acting is not an easy path, especially for a family man.  I frequently feel like a single parent, and h e's exhausted, juggling all these jobs (none of which seem to pay very well), his schedule is crazy  erratic , and 90% of our planning conversations involve the phrase "Well, IF I get this role then..." . I often find myself wondering, is it worth it? ...

Okay, I blogged yesterday about the great day we had, so in all fairness I guess I need to blog about the less than great day we had today. *Sigh* It wasn't even a bad day. Lots of good things happened, but there were a few incidents that really colored the day gray. The morning routine went well, despite the fact that we had a rough night with Grayson (night terrors - yuck!) and had to be up and out earlier.  Brooklyn was completely ready for her first "at school" day.  Lookin' good in her uniform! Ray and Grayson dropped her off so Madi and I could go to the doctor's office. It was birth control day, so I was a little on edge. Also, Achilles pooped in the kitchen and I stepped in it twice, so I was not a happy camper. The procedure went well. A friend of mine warned me that it would hurt, and I wish I would have brought someone with me. It wasn't terribly painful, but between the cramping and the discomfort and the anxiety I felt anyway, it would hav...

Our first day of First Grade!  Our first home day of school. Note the bare feet! I know they won't always be like this, but wow, what a fantastic day! We rolled out of bed between 7:30 and 7:45. Well, Brooklyn sort of popped out of bed. She was excited to start school. We had breakfast together - eggs, toast, and fruit. We made beds, did dishes, got dressed...it was an easy, yet productive morning. Brooklyn (and Madi) and I went down to our basement school room at about 9:00 to get started. What a treat to have Daddy home to keep Grayson occupied. In a few weeks he will be going to school himself, which I think is going to be wonderful for him and for us! So, Madi chilled on her blanket while Brooklyn and I prayed over our day. We worked through some class rules, talked about the importance of having a positive, willing attitude (Brooklyn has been going through a very contrary phase!), about respecting Mommy as the teacher, and then went over the general layout of our class...