Murray's First Day of School

Today is Murray's 2nd day of going to school all by himself. Last Tuesday I stayed with him for a "meet and greet" and on Thursday morning he went all by himself. We did take these pictures last Thursday (September 8th), but just didn't get them off the camera.

Isn't he handsome? He's getting SO big!

Love that smile...it gets him into...and out of lots of trouble!

Murray's first day! Wow! Where has the time gone? I know it seems cliche, but I remember when I first brought him home and he was a snuggly baby...now he's off to school! That boy has such a kind and gentle heart covered in all BOY! He plays rough and intense! Everything is done in full force, but he can slow down and melt your heart or melt down himself. I'm hoping preschool helps him learn to control those melt downs a bit!

His first day was quite an adventure. I have to admit I was sad to see him climb in the car with Nick and drive off. I had to fight the urge to call and find out how drop off had gone and as Lucy and I worked our way through school that morning I missed the "kerchow!" and crashing noises he spends the morning making. I did not miss being asked for snacks every 2 minutes though.

Imagine my surprise when Nick called mid morning to tell me Murray had "escaped"! Our independent little man had decided he was finished at preschool and went to the youth room to hang out with daddy. He left his teachers and all the kids in the gym running races! He's so quick about it, the teacher wouldn't have even known he was gone if another boy hadn't said that someone went up the stairs! Of course the teacher and the preschool director were in a panic looking for him! Once they realized it was Murray they thought he could be anywhere! So, they were searching the bathroom and just heading up to the offices when Nick came walking back with him.

Oh, my poor sweet boy cried when he realized he had made his teacher worried. He said he was sorry and that he would stay with his class now. He was so sad to tell me about it when he came home from school that day. Well, I was honestly hardly surprised at all! If anyone was going to leave school early it would be Murray...that boy can have a mind of his own! I wish I could see the world the way he does, I just hope and pray I can gain insight and begin to understand the way he thinks before he is a teenager!

(This picture is from his very first day Tuesday September 6th...he enjoyed exploring all the cars and toys in the room including the play dough.

2 Months Old

Ginny was 2 months old on Saturday September 1oth!

In some ways I can't believe it's been 2 months, the time has gone so fast. In other ways I can't believe it's only been 2 months because she feels like she's always been a part of our family. I guess that's just the way it goes when you're grown up, time flies and goes slowly all at the same time.

Ginny's 2 Month Stats (she went to the doctor this morning)

Weight: 13# 6 oz

Length: 24 inches

Head Circ: 40cm

Ginny was a little more unsure at the doctor today. She didn't really enjoy getting her ears checked and the shots really did a number on her. She had 3 shots and an oral immunization. She didn't like any of it and it took a bit to calm her down. She then slept most of the day.

2 Month "Tricks"

At 2 months Ginny continues to bring so much joy to us. She's started recognizing Mom, Dad, Lucy and Murray. She smiles at us and we LOVE when she shows us her dimples. She's starting to be more vocal, although it happens when the house is quiet...morning, evening after the kids are in bed or in the middle of the night (I keep praying that I may have my calm, quiet child...but I'm not holding my breath!). She's starting to get a bit more control of her arms and legs and bats at her toys on Lottie Lady Bug.

In the Middle of the Night

The middle of the night is something I've been seeing these days. I'm a nursing mom and my baby still likes to eat in the middle of the night. Lately we've been visiting most often around 4:30 in the morning. What a tiring yet wonderful time of day it is for me.

As most of you know, my house can be a bit....well....LOUD, to say the least. I like it that way, most of the time. It's usually loud with kids playing or people talking, or singing or enjoying life. Lately it is also loud when Murray decides "the sky is falling" when something doesn't go his way. But, even that is a teachable moment, and while I may not enjoy it, I do like the loud in my house.

Except when it isn't. When my house is quiet it is a gift. A time I can gather my thoughts and spend time praying and cherishing. I LOVE the quiet nights Ginny gives me. I usually miss these quiet moments asleep in my bed, Ginny reminds me they're there for the taking. I think I will be sad when she stops sharing her time with me.

Last night was something really special. Ginny is no longer a newborn, she's 2 months old today and showing signs of it. She's started smiling at us and talking, she mimics our facial movements and especially enjoys her tongue. I really enjoy listening to her baby noises, but they are few and far between. With all the noise in the house I think she sort of clams up. She's most giving of her smiles and coos first thing in the morning or late at night.

This morning after nursing her and putting an asleep baby back in her crib I tip toed back to my bed and spent a few minutes in prayer, easing myself back into sleep. I looked at the clock, just after 5...if I didn't care about a long day I'd get up and enjoy more of the quiet, but no...the day would be too long then so I kept praying and quieting my mind to fall back asleep.

Then, I heard it...squeals of delight. Noises I had never heard before...then coos I had heard...then a laugh! Ginny was awake in her bed enjoying the quiet as much as I was! Oh the delight in her voice. I had to get up and peak at her. I watched through the crack in the door not wanting to disturb her joyful moment. Her legs kicked and her arms waved as she squealed some more. After a few minutes she yelped and her squeals turned to tears so I walked in and calmed her until the smiles returned. Then left her to squeal in silence.

That sweet baby was awake for over 40 minutes playing in her crib then calmly fell back asleep for a few hours. What a blessing the quiet in the middle of the night can be...I think it might be Ginny's favorite time in our house!

Wordless Wednesday

Cousins!

Monkey See, Monkey Do...

Monkey see, monkey do happens at our house a lot these days...

Lucy does something, Murray does it louder and with more intensity...it's quite entertaining (most of the time). We've always called Lucy and Murray our little monkeys. It started because Lucy was so obsessed with monkeys and Curious George and continued because Murray was such a monkey himself...we did find him in the sink at 11 months! Ginny is just being lumped with them so far since she's given us no reason to think she won't be a little monkey as well. So I often just say...where are my monkeys? or Let's clean up monkeys! They know who I'm talking to and respond a lot better than when I call them kids or something similar.

Because we love monkeys so much at our house we have lots of monkey related things, including lots of monkey books. Today we were reading through a few of our favorites including Cha Cha Chimps and One Monkey Too Many. The plot of One Monkey too many is that every time they find an activity perfect for that number of monkeys another monkey arrives and trouble happens. On the last page the author leaves to go to lunch saying 5 is the perfect number of monkeys for the book and then a 6th sneaks in..."One monkey too many climbed into this book!" It's a great read! After reading the last page today I say to Lucy, "What do you think, do we have 1 monkey too many in our family now?"

Her response, "No mom, not even close!" Guess I better watch out!

Still Thankful...

I know it's Friday, but I just have so much to be thankful for this week.

School has been going SO incredibly well! Murray has enjoyed listening in on school even when he wants us to think he's not. I often see him peak his head around the corner and he'll ask us a question about whatever we're reading or singing about. Sometimes he's eager to join us, other times he's happy to play on the floor. Next week we'll meet up with our home school group for the first time. I'm super excited (and so is Lucy)!

Ginny is just such a blessing! She's starting to show signs of a routine. Cat naps in the morning and a longer nap in her crib in the afternoon. I keep thinking she would probably take a long morning nap if I swaddled her and put her in her crib, but I like the flexibility of her sleeping in her bassinet in the midst of our morning routine. It makes it easier for me to think of taking her places and expecting her to sleep in her car seat or stroller while we're out and about.

My kids just make me laugh. The things they say and do just bring so much joy and laughter to my days. Murray has been enjoying reading to Ginny and giving her lots of kisses; I think he has finally learned how to be gentle and Murray like with her all at the same time. She certainly loves her big brother and sister and already watches them closely and gives them great big smiles. It's hard for me to imagine when she's able to follow behind. I'm sure it won't be long...she is built like Murray after all!

Thankful Thursdays

I've been absent from blogging lately and focusing more on getting my life as a mom of three better organized. We needed to move out of basking in new born Ginny and into life as a family of 5. So, we've cleaned out closets, the toy rooms and the kids bed rooms. We bough school supplies, officially started kindergarten and have been working on a routine that includes Ginny taking at least 1 nap a day in a bed (usually her bed, but if Lucy wants to nap she'll sleep just as well in the pack n play).

I keep taking pictures, and thinking..."ooh, that would be a good blog thought", but I never seem to get to it...so here's to hoping I get to it today,or tomorrow...but for now we're enjoying life as a family of 5, breaking the habits we of whining and putting things off as we made this adjustment.

So, today I'm thankful for getting back into a routine, for my 3 kids and for the adventure that comes with it!