Kane: 6 Months Old

Ahh!  I couldn't be more behind!  And these are the posts that are truly just for me.  Where I get to log all those milestones & memories.  The stats & the quirks.  And then with each new month, I read up on what both big brothers were like at the same age.  I love seeing the similarities and the differences!  Yet, seeing as how we are already half way through the month, I've lost the piece of paper with Kane's 6 month stats before I ever had a chance to log them.  Huge third kid fail!  But I do remember he was nearly 20 lbs & almost the exact same height as his brothers (90 something percentile).  Weight wise he continues to stay in between the two older ones, however closer to Finn.  This month he also seems to be a total mix of the two looks wise.  Eye color is still TBD.  Maybe green? Hazel?

This month brought more sturdy sitting & the beginning of the army crawl.  He can make good distance now, it just takes him awhile.  Sleep improved, with him giving me a good 4-5 hour stretch to start the night.  Typically takes three naps a day, with one of them being a super long one.  He can fall asleep anywhere, anytime!  I love him!  I always envied those mamas with babes who could fall asleep at the dinner table.  That was never my kids.  Except now we have Kane, and he gets his sleep when he can.  We pulled out the obnoxious jumper that we have while we were unpacking, and little man just jumped himself right to sleep!  One minute he was wildly jumping, the next his little head just tucked into his chest, and he was snoring!  Now we try and catch him when he's tired and get him in a far more comfortable bed!

He loves being in the sling, baths, & showers.  Full disclosure: he doesn't get bathed often.  Maybe twice a week.  I'm sure that will change with the introduction of foods though!  His body is constantly moving (unless he's in the sling), and he puts everything in his mouth.  He's a big fan of crinkly paper & whatever his brothers are playing with.  He already likes to rough house or wrestle, and will wriggle his way over when Conor is on the ground with the older boys.  He wants to be included in everything!  His brothers get the greatest belly laughs!!!  What I find to be obnoxious and a little too "in his face", he finds hilarious.  Of course!

We're in that "give me everything you have, except not the toys; I want everything but the toys, and they are all going in my mouth" phase.  Sometimes I'm amazed at just how similar certain phases are.  He says "mama" (early like Finn did), but only occasionally and typically when he's upset.  He still has huge eyes and is quite expressive.  He nurses far less than any baby of mine.  Mostly just feeding before falling asleep, occasionally other times.  But obviously the boy isn't hurting for some pounds. His winter wardrobe has been hiding his baby bod, but I assure you he has plenty of rolls to show off with the warm spring weather coming!
Goodness we love this little one!  Cheers to another month!

2018 Word of the Year: Hygge

It's mid-March, and I'm just now writing about my word of the year.  Is that telling of how chaotic this year has been or what?!  I love choosing a word for the year.  It seems far more meaningful than a resolution.  It's more intentional, more easily adapted into my every day life.  So my word:
HYGGE

I know.  So very trendy of me.  Except it's not.  Because hygge totally speaks to my heart.  It was one of those things that once I really read about the whole concept, it's just so me!  Fun fact:  I have a heavily Danish heritage.  It's always been part of me.  I prefer winter to summer.  I love all things cozy & warm.  The things that bring me the most joy in life are all utterly and completely hygee.  Now I just simply have a name for everything that I have been feeling since birth practically!
So hygee.  If you are completely unaware, it's a Danish word for a feeling or moment.  There is no english translation, but when talking about hygge people will often refer to coziness & warmth.  Togetherness.  Slowness.  Warmth.  Comfort.  It feels as if this word was made for ME!  Particularly while building & decorating our new home, I wanted to be intentional with our space.  With our time.  I want to incorporate more hygge into my life.
If you are interested in reading more about hygge, I highly recommend The Little Book of Hygge.  It's a short sweet read (even for those of you who don't really love to read).  And I have also heard wonderful things about Hygge, but I haven't read it yet myself.  So tell me, what is your word for the year?  Have you found yourself still focusing on it now, three months into the year?

My BFF & Four Boys

A couple of weeks ago, Conor had a week long business trip to Europe.  And I always, always (always!) fly my mom in for these longer trips.  Well this time...she couldn't come.  And I was freaking out.  So Conor surprised me, and booked my best friend a ticket to come and help out that week!  I don't get to see her nearly as often as I would like, so this was so incredibly special.  She has a nearly one year old boy herself, so while we knew that week would bring a bit of chaos, we were both thrilled to be together!

In full honesty, it was not a good week for my boys.  They often seem to struggle more when Conor is away, but this was way worse than the usual.  And while I obviously would love for my best friend to see me shine as a mother.  To see me at my best, most patient self.  To see that I'm handling three young boys like a boss.  Well that wasn't exactly the glimpse into my life that she got.  But she's my best friend!  So she is the one who can see me struggle without judgement.  To witness the more raw & vulnerable side of me.  To be the one to remind me that I am far too hard on myself as mother.  Really she's the best!

And goodness was she such a help!  For still wrangling one of her own, she did far more than I ever expected.  It was such a delight to walk out of the boys' bedrooms after putting them to bed at night and to come into a clean kitchen.  Complete with Liam's lunchbox washed and ready to be filled for another day.  There were lots of little things like that, which helped the week go by more smoothly.  Like her attempt to shovel the two feet of snow we got one weekend, only to find two neighbors to snow blow it instead (because Lord knows I wouldn't be asking strangers for help!).  Or how she often stayed behind with the younger boys, so I could have solo drives for Kindergarten drop offs & pick ups, which is really just one big ol' gift all on its own!

There were coffee runs & middays mimosas (it was a vacation of sorts!).  Late night Olympic viewing.  One night we quickly tossed back a bottle of wine and shared our favorite youtube videos.  We reminisced.  Really, it was just like the college days.  Dinner, drinks, go snuggle with some boys.  It was the best!

I may have been completely worn out by the end of it all.  Completely beaten day by the rough week. But it was still such a special & memorable time.  And who knows when we will get a week straight together again!  Miss you Amanda!