Do you hear that?

Okay, I know you can't hear it . . . but it is quiet. Peaceful and quiet . . . all I hear are little baby snores and the sound of Cole's running humidifier. That is the sound of success for this mommy of 4!

This week we have been home alone, trying to juggle the daily routine of 4 kids. It begins early and it's doable, but slightly exhausting. However, it is also extremely rewarding when 1:00 pm hits and I have successfully fed everyone breakfast and lunch, brushed 3 sets of small teeth, gotten 2 5-year-olds on the bus dressed in clean clothes and homework completed, a 2-year-old down for a nap, and a 2 week old nursed and quiet. However, that leaves about 1 hour before Cooper needs changed and fed, Cole wakes up and then the twins need picked up from school. This week I have had to prioritize what needs done in that hour . . . luckily for everyone else in the family I have been choosing a shower during this precious time.

I remember when Connor and Megan were born. The world stopped and we nestled into our little house on Cardinal View Way and we emerged in the Spring ready to brave the world as a family of 4. Then 3 years later, we brought Cole home . . . Connor and Megan adjusted well and I quit my job to focus on raising our family. That year it was all about us learning to adjust as a family of 5. Now we've added little Cooper. Our sweet, snuggly, beautiful baby boy. He's a combination of all 3 kids . . . some see Megan, others say Connor or Cole, but overall he's got a look that is distinctly Cooper! This transition has been a little different. We brought him home on a Monday and on Tuesday morning, everyone still wanted breakfast at 7:30, the twins had homework to do, there was even MORE laundry, and still a routine that needed to be followed in order to keep our sense of normal life for everyone. Cooper is fitting himself into our already busy life and doing his part to help out by being an amazing eater, and a pretty good sleeper.

Connor and Megan have adjusted well and love being old enough for frequent holdings of their new baby brother. They also like feeling a little more in charge of helping with Cole when Mommy is attending to Cooper. Cole is working through these new changes. One minute loving the independence and freedom that comes with being a "big boy" and then melting down the next over something so slight that he has "no idea" (with a shoulder shrug) why he is crying. These moments are being overcome with extra love and snuggles from Mommy and Daddy, and lots of distractions. His favorite forms of distraction include reading "We are going on a Bear Hunt" about 20 to 30 times a day with Mommy and frequent games of boxing on the Wii with Connor and Daddy.

Here are some new pics from the past week:
Cole learning to independent play while I feed Cooper - a little messy, but as you can see, very educational!

Bath time
Connor showing off his "Ta da!" and medal at The Little Gym
Meg showing off her "Ta da!" and medal