Max & Kaylee

I am tired.

Now, this is not unusual, seeing as I have a 4-month baby girl, who still feels that she needs to get up multiple times during the night to eat.  But today, I decided to wake up earlier than usual, with Max, who was leaving for work.  I used to be am a morning girl - I used to get up early every day with my husband.  But having a wee baby again changes things, and for the last few months, I have been sleeping until the two older kids wake up for the day.

In the last few weeks, I have been noticing how easily overwhelmed, frustrated, and discouraged I would get.  Now, I know that I have three little ones, who demand much of me, but I also realized that part of it was also due to not having enough "mama-alone" time.  That alone time can be hard for me to find.  Often the only time during my day where it is just me, is naptime, if I am lucky - and most days, I have household tasks that need to get done, and I am not always good about making time to sit and breathe.

This morning though, Max was getting up, and I was mostly awake, and I got up.  I am so glad I did.  I was able to workout (and blow off some of those overwhelmed/discouraged feelings), make my to-do list (which I really love doing, for some reason), and just be quiet for a few minutes.  There wasn't much time before the kids were waking up, and hollering that they were "awake, mama!", but there was enough to fill me up for the day.

I don't know if I can commit to waking up early every day yet.  For the last 10 days, Evie has gone back to waking up multiple, multiple times a night to eat.  I don't know if she is hungry, going through a growth spurt, trying to figure the world, or what, but it's been hard on me (advice/suggestions about it are always welcome!).  I like my sleep, and I was liking that she had somewhat of a night routine that only involved waking up once or twice. And I'll be so glad when she goes back to that.

I do know I am eager for when I can do it every day again.  I like the mornings.  I like the quiet.  I like the soft morning light.  I like the way the house feels, knowing I have sleeping babies upstairs.  I like having a quiet time with Jesus.

For now, I'll take what I can get. I'll try to practice patience, as we continue to work through this figuring out of a routine with three kids.  I'll do my best to listen to my body and sleep if I need to.  I'll try to make myself some alone, quiet time somewhere else in my day, so I can stay sane and calm.

As for today, I am tired.  And that is perfectly fine with me.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I hath needed, Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."
Chisholm & Runyan, 1923
(emphasis all mine)

What do you think of the blog look?  Every few months, I start itching for something new.  And this is the current work in progress, for now.  We'll see how long it lasts...

My dear children have once again been spouting off funny things.  I guess they always are, but I don't always take the time to write it down.  So, here I am, writing it down!

Our lovely neighbors introduced us to Shaun the Sheep awhile ago, and I've been letting the kids watch some of it the last week or so.  The other night, we were tucking the older two babes into bed, and L turns to me...
L: Hey Mama, ask me a question!
Mama: Um, what do you mean?!
L: You know, ask me a question!
Mama: Uh, ok, what kind of question?
L: A question! Like...what is Shaun the Sheep named?
Mama, holding in laughter: Ok, L, what is Shaun the Sheep named?
L, thinking really hard: I dunno, what is it?!
Mama, laughing: It's Shaun, silly!

Today, at dinner, we were eating beef stir-fry with rice, and Daddy took it upon himself to have a mini teaching lesson.
Daddy: Who knows where beef comes from?
...crickets...
Daddy: Beef comes from cattle!
L: Ooooh!  Cattle?
Mama: Cattle. Cows, L! Beef comes from cows.
Z: NO!  From CATS!  It's from cats!
Mama and Daddy: Uh...it's from cows, buddy.
Z: NO!  Cats!  CATS!!!!