3 weeks old!

Goodness it's been a week since I've even LOOKED at this blog. We've had a lot going on!

Last Thursday was Adrianne's 7th birthday. She had a great day and got lots of fun presents and winter clothes to wear. We made her cake together (she picked a strawberry cake with vanilla whipped cream frosting and fresh strawberries to garnish.....can you tell she's getting older and is no longer satisfied with the humble box cake mix and can frosting?) as is our yearly tradition. Unfortunately, Matt had band practice for our church that night so she didn't actually get to open any of her presents until Friday afternoon after Matt got off of work, but I think she still had a good birthday.

On Friday and Saturday, I was sick (fever, chills, headache) so during the day I pretty much just sat on the couch with Max while the girls ran wild through the house. Okay, they are actually GOOD kids so they didn't exactly run wild, but they did play nicely by themselves all day and Adrianne was a big help taking care of the other two by doing things like fetching me diapers or getting drinks. I was able to rest and get better so that by Sunday I was back to normal.

On Sunday we (of course) had church and then afterward I spent the better part of the day trying to catch the house back up. After two days of pretty much ignoring any housekeeping, there was a lot that needed to be done (dishes, laundry, general picking up) so that we would be ready for the week.

Monday we started back with school. So far we've just been easing into it, just doing a small story and then worksheets, but at least we are getting something done. I will start trying to add more things back in as time goes by (like the reading program the girls do, or the Five In a Row unit studies) but like I said, I am just happy that we are doing SOMETHING at this point. Some days have been easy because Max is having a good napping day, but other times have been more challenging because he is fussing while we are trying to do school so I have to try to juggle making him happy and helping the girls at the same time.

Today marks three weeks since Maxton has been born. I am amazed at how much he has grown already (I haven't weighed him on a scale but he FEELS heavier in my arms and I've already put away all the "newborn" sized clothes because he is just too big for them). In between all the usual day to day busyness, I have been frantically trying to get some bigger diapers sewn up for him in my "spare time" (does such a thing exist when you are a mother?) because he is growing out of all the teeny-tiny newborn ones. It's very bitter-sweet watching him grow. I LOVE that he is getting bigger and experiencing so many new things for the first time, but since he is our last baby I REALLY want to savor every moment he is little and all the cuddles, coos, and newness for the last time.