Weed

Clair is growing like a weed these days. She now weighs approximately 16 pounds. I tried a few photos yesterday and here is what I saw. First, she constantly has her fingers in her mouth right now. Second, she wants to sit up and look  around so that she is usually trying to set herself up. Three, she's a highly little girl who enjoys smiling for her mommy. She's a Mommys girl. 

Clair is starting to show a realization of strangers holding her. She has this very sad cry when she realizes that mommy has given her over to someone new. This happened twice recently - just in time for my return to work. 

Photo shoot:

Tired kindergarten girl

This is Ellie's sixth day of school. She's adjusting well and doing well in class. When this girl gets home she is exhausted.

Today we had a picnic on the porch when she got home. She's a cutie even when tired. 

Apple picking at the orchard

Today I decided to take the kids apple picking. Gramma came with us. For some reason this seem like a great idea this year despite having a four-month-old. All in all it went extremely well. This is thankfully due to my mom being there to help. Without her, I don't think it would've gone so smoothly.

Picking apples is very easy. Max and Ellie were both very helpful. Clair chatted away to gramma as she picked some apples. Everyone was very pleasant. The big kids even enjoyed playing on the little playground. The highlight for Max was definitely the tractors, both the ride to and from the field and getting to play on the one at the playground.

It was a good end to maternity leave activity. Now we have about 30 pounds of apples. Katie asks what will we do with them. My answer, feed them to David. He can eat as many apples as he wants for the next few weeks.

Cereal

Ive Started trying to feed Clair a few solids. Some feedings go better than others. Sometimes I don't think much gets inside. But she seems to enjoy it. Here is what she look like after having a little bit of apples and cereal for lunch today.

Chip off the block

After dinner next had a little Apple for his fruit. He ate all around the outside and then says mommy I'm done. I looked at his Apple where he had taken a bite all around the outside and said there's more to eat Max keep eating. Meanwhile I went on playing with the baby and talking to him but not really paying attention to what he was doing.

After five minutes pass he sets his Apple on the table and says I'm all done mommy. I look down and see the butt of an apple.  I asked him what happened to the rest of it he says "I ate it. " I guess he is watched his daddy eat apples one too many times. I looked at David and I said look what your son left and how he eat the apple. David's response, "that's my boy."

Sweet Ellie Bean

Ellie really doesn't like to take naps anymore. It is understandable now that she is in kindergarten. But sometimes I am so tired but I need my. So, unfortunately instead of using naptime today while she was home from school to do something together, mommy needed a nap. 

I asked Ellie what she would do instead of a nap and she said she would find something quiet to do like read or color. So I reminded her of the rules when I am sleeping, kissed her on her head, and told her good night and went up to my bed to lie down. I rested for a good two hours. When I came downstairs Ellie jumps up and says surprise! She probably points to the red bench which displays at least 10 picture she has drawn for me while I slept. She is so sweet!  Her drawing has improved so much recently. I think these are pretty good for a five-year-old.

Not only was she quiet to allow all the rest of us to sleep, but while this was happening she was thinking of me and drawing me a book of pretty pictures. I'm a lucky mom!!!

High energy

Of the benefits of maternity leave has been the extra time with all three children not just Clair.  I must admit, Max is the one that wears me out. He requires high-energy to entertain.

The boy likes to be busy constantly likes a companion in doing so. Since Ellie has started school, my mornings and days with Max have presented me more challenges than I would have expected. I'm really not proud of this fact, but I accepted as reality. Next is a high-energy boy. And I'm sad to say I don't have the high-energy that I once had for little boys. This is one of the downsides of having children in your 30s. 

Max is such a boy's boy. He enjoys diggers, building, chasing, being loud, and just being busy. But he has a sweet and gentle beside two. He loves his little sister so very much. And he is quite musical as well. He's a ball of emotions as well. He is my sweet boy, and I will miss this time. He will start going to daycare full-time next week probably as I return to work part time. I knew my relationship with him would change the most when Clair was born. I hope we find a way back to each other, As I don't feel I have been the best mom to him over the past year.

 I love him dearly and I am proud of all the things he has learned since I've been on leave. He is learning to count, he is learning letters, and the biggest milestone is that we are giving up diapers. He is more independent, and he is able to express himself so well with words. He has definitely gone from being a toddle to being a little boy. 

Another entry in the journal of Time sure flies.