A Grey Day

It's been raining here now for two days and my mood is like the weather...grey. It's days like today when I used to be able to call my mom, and the moment I would hear her voice on the other end of the phone I would feel better. She would listen to me and understand when I would say it's been one of those days with the kids, she would sympathize that I have too many things to do and not enough hours in the day to do them, she would laugh when I told her that Bethany had to have a bath in the middle of the day due to a blow out diaper and then she would tell me that I did the same when I was little, she would cry with me because my heart hurts and encourage me to go to God. I'm grateful that she took the 29 years we shared here on earth and poured herself into me, I am blessed because of her love. I look forward to spending an eternity in the presence of my Savior, with my Mom there too.

"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." 1 Thessalonians 4:13

I miss you Mama! I love you stars in sky!

Abbies

You look pretty with a sticker

I'm sure it wouldn't come as a surprise to many who read this blog that it is a tad choatic at our house most of the time, but especially when we are loading up to go somewhere. Since we have somewhere to be all but Friday and Saturday mornings, loading up is routine and choas is accepted as normal around here. This morning as we were getting ready to leave for Aspire we were running late, as usual, and I needed to go to the bathroom. I decided, instead of waiting until we got to Aspire and I had on less kid to look after, I would just go before we left the house. Why would I wait you ask? Well, it's simple, my kids realize I'm helpless to do anything when I'm occupied in the bathroom and that's when "things" happen around here:

Exhibit A: Look closely at her hands. Yes that is a stamp you see. She was being a "good little sister" and of course all good little sisters deserve stamps on their hands...mind you, she was only 3 weeks old here.

Exhibit B: Today, as I am in the bathroom, I hear Russell say " You look pretty with a sticker" and I knew he had decorated his sister somehow. I immediately think, he has the markers out too, uh oh, so I rush out to find this...pretty with a sticker

Not too bad, at least there were no markers involved this time.

Here are some more recent pictures:

Bethany and Daddy after church

Hey! Do I know you?

Daddy and his Princess

Smiley Girl!!

Love you all,

Abby

Do you need a map?

Today I thought I would be a nice Mommy and let Russell and Aubrey watch Word World, a treat usually reserved for Fridays, so I could nurse Bethany in peace. Russell came to check on us a few times while we were rocking in Bethany's room, and he showed me how he could put the markers together to make a really long stick. I probably should have paid attention to the little alarm going off in my head that was telling me to confiscate the markers immediately, but that would cause a fight and disrupt the peace I really wanted, so I did what any mom who needs a break would do...I ignored the alarm. Fast forward 30 minutes when I walked into our living room. What did I find???? Pink marker scibbled all over the carpet.

"Russell!!! Come here, NOW!" , I say through gritted teeth

"What is it Mama", he says with his most charming grin

"What is on the floor", I say still through gritted teeth

"That's my map", he says

"Your MAP???", I reply

"Yeah, my map, I drew it so that Scoop would know where to drive." he replies, still grinning at me

So we chat about how we write on paper and not the carpet and that he can pull out the car mat if he wants Scoop to have a map. We clean up the mess, thankfully it was Crayola washable markers and it comes out easily. Then I go sneak away and go have a good laugh! :)

I'm so glad that I get to be the one to clean up his little messes!

Tonight

Dear Aubrey Ann,

Tonight you let me hold your little hand as you went to sleep. As I watched you fighting your exauhstion, tossing and turning, you held my pinky tightly. I guess it made you feel safe while you were trying to calm down. I remember my Mama used to hold my hand like that too and pray for me. Now it's my turn to hold your hand and pray...what an honor! Precious little girl, I love you, I'm blessed to be your Mommy.

Love,
Mommy

Overambitious

OK, so I was a little ambitious when I thought I could have a new baby and a new blog all at the same time. Turns out the kids take priority and the blog will be a little sparse until I get more sleep. I compose new posts in my head all the time, but I can't find the time to actually post them...wonder why? Maybe one day when I get some sleep, at least a little more than what I am getting right now, I will be able to post more. In the meantime, here are some new pictures!!! :)

All dressed up with no place to go at 5 weeks!

Matching dresses!!

Happy 4th Birthday Russell!


Sleeping Baby Girl 7 weeks!

Daddy and Bethany (7 weeks)

That's all for now folks!!

Love,

Abby

Happy Birthday Ashley!!

Dearest Precious Ashley,

Happy Birthday sweet girl! I love you so much, so much!!! Oh how I wish I could have met you, I wish I could have told you how much you I was looking forward to being your aunt, I wish I could have held you. I have spent days thinking about you, missing you, remembering you...I remember finding out about you, that you were in your Mommy's tummy and you were going to be here February 26, 2007. I remember when your Mommy sent me an e-mail that said it's a....GIRL! Aubrey and I were so excited we rushed out and bought you something pink. We were so excited that Aubrey was going to have a cousin and that you were going to be friends like I am with my cousin and like your Mommy is with her cousin. We had so many plans, but God had a different one. I will never understand His plan, but I do know this...that before there was time, He planned you and I am so glad He did. You are precious and I will always love you.

So we couldn't let this day pass without celebrating your birthday! Here are pictures from the party we had for you! We sent "birthday cards" to you in heaven via pink balloons, one from each of your cousins. I know our party pales in comparison to the one you're having in heaven today, but we still hope you liked your balloons! We love you stars in sky!!!!!!

Love you stars in sky!

Aunt Abby

The five of us...

Well Bethany is a week old and I am just now getting around to posting again. I must admit that adjusting to a new baby in the house is just as hard the third time as it was the first. It's the things I have to adjust to that are different. With Russell I needed to learn how to change a diaper, burp him, go without sleep. With Aubrey I had to do all those things but with only one hand. The other hand was to catch Russell when he darted off...inevitably during a time when I really did need two hands for Aubrey. Now adding a third...hmm. I don't have three hands, essentially I have to triage the situation and the truth is that I'm not always that quick on my feet, especially when I'm sleep deprived, so we are climbing a learning curve here at the Muirhead's. I know there are those have traveled this road before me and done well, so I take encouragement in that. My precious friend Kristin's mom comes to mind...she raised three amazing daughters who were all VERY close in age, so if she can do it, maybe I can too! :) Now I'll stop rambling and post some pictures! Isn't that why you're here anyway! :)

Sleeping in the hospital

The five of us

Big Brother!

Night Night!

Blessings!

Colin and Abby