Thursday, December 26, 2013

HO! HO! HO!

I MADE IT TO CHRISTMAS!

After my second hospital stay on December 16th, this was my goal.  I wanted to make it to December 25th so we could celebrate a normal Christmas.  So for the past two weeks, I have moved from my living room chair only if I absolutely had to, following doctors orders perfectly.  And it all paid off.

Since I was on bedrest, you will notice a lack of pictures from the week…but it was definitely jam packed.  My sister Ansley came in town with her family and nothing could have made me happier.  I was already super excited about Christmas but her visit, combined with the surprise Christmas gift for the girls, really made my month.

The big surprise when Ansley arrived was how much my nephew Chance has grown.  He is two years old and you will notice that the is the size of a four year old. It took him a day or two to warm up to me, but of course Tutu has the magic touch and was "speaking his language" from the second they walked in the door.


Ansley managed to get all four kids in the tub…they had a blast and I am sure that by the end of it more water was on the floor than in the bathtub.


On Christmas Eve, we got all of the kids in front of the tree.  It is almost impossible to believe how much Chance has changed in just two years.


After all of the stockings and gifts had been opened, it was time for me and Paul to give our gift to the girls.  This will be all of our favorite Christmas memory for many years to come.  Maysie was pretty quiet and once Railey held Annie, she asked, "is this real?"







Now that Annie is here, less than one month until baby number three arrives and our family is complete!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Christmas 2014?!?

My hilarious neighbor Marlene just sent me a link to this blog, written by Bunmi Laditan, with the subject "Your Christmas letter next year."  I don't know whether to laugh or cry as next year at this time, Railey will be 7, Maysie will be 4 and little no name baby girl Chanon will be 10 months….almost the exact same ages as her kids.  Hope you enjoy as much as I did:)

To: Our Loved Ones This Holiday Season
From: Us
Subject: Christmas Update
Dear Friends and Family,
First I’d like to apologize for not being able to put together some kind of matching pajamas YouTube Christmas video. While I do wear pajamas 99% of the time, they’re not the kind that would inspire holiday cheer. You’re more likely to feel an overwhelming sense of disgust at my lack of personal grooming.
2013 proved to be a fantastic year. The kids are doing great. As I’m typing this I’m proud to report that no one has thrown up in 24 hours. This is a major victory. I spent yesterday mourning the loss of my favorite Tupperwares as it was vomited in numerous times by our oldest daughter, age 7. I can’t comfortably use it to store leftovers in anymore so if anyone would like to join me I’ll be pouring one out for my fallen plastic homie at around 2pm EST in the backyard. I guess I didn’t breastfeed this child long enough or maybe I skipped too many days of prenatals because she’s like Venus Fly Trap for viruses. She’s never met a bug she didn’t instantly succumb to.
Don’t worry, our little barfer is doing better now. Unfortunately she ended up missing her school’s holiday festival performance but I didn’t really want to see any of those parents anyway. She loves horses and of course the proverbial STD of her generation, Rainbow Loom. If I have to pick up one more of those little rubber bands off of the floor I’m going to melt it down and freebase it. Misery performance art.
If I had to pick a slogan to describe this year it would have to be “Lowering Our Standards As A Family.” Let’s take the word “dinner” for example. It can mean so many thing if you just open your heart. Two kids ago “dinner” might mean a meat, vegetable, and carbohydrate. Now it can mean pancakes or McDonalds 20 piece chicken nuggets with celery sticks to curb the guilt. Thank you, 2013.
As many of you know, this will be baby’s first Christmas for our six month-old. We’re celebrating with a prescription for thrush. My sweet infant and I are passing a very powerful yeast infection back and forth between each other via our nursing relationship. During this time of year I’d like to think that our strain of yeast goes all the way back to the baby Jesus and Mary. Maybe the holy mother also felt like little yeasty soldiers were entering her nipples and stabbing her breasts from the inside when she fed our savior. If you’re a bread baker feel free to come by the house with a petri dish for some leavening as I’m sure this stuff could raise a loaf. Anyway, I’ll be chasing my eggnog and rum with antibiotics as soon as I can get to the clinic.
How is the four year-old? She’s coping well with her new role as big sister but I’ll tell you one thing: middle child syndrome is real. I’m not sure whether to save for her
future therapy or bail bonds. As soon as I finally get her into bed I start eating those new gingerbread flavored Oreos and don’t stop until I forget how many times she cried and/or screamed “I DON’T LIKE YOU!” directly in to my face. Do they give electric shock therapy to preschoolers? Haha just kidding. I try to do a craft with her every day so by 3PM the house looks like someone binge drank glue, construction paper, and Disney princess stickers before throwing up everywhere. Speaking of Disney princesses, she’s also quite smitten with The Little Mermaid. Thank you, grandma, for the Ariel princess dresses. She wears them daily. Trying to snap the buckles on her carseat with 20 yards of tulle scratching my corneas isn’t making me want to leave my family and start a new life in a new city.
It’s been a fantastic year full of accomplishments. You’ll be proud to know that my laundry only sits in the washer for two days on average rather than 4-5 like it used to which means our water bill has gone down significantly. Having to rewash the same load with hot water with an extra rinse cycle, and a touch of bleach to kill the growing jungle fungus takes a toll on the budget.
Work is amazing. As all of you know I work from home (which to many of you is code for “I do nothing”). One of my new year’s resolutions is to try and forget every single conference call I’ve been on this year. If you’ve never tried to have a professional phone call with children in the background engaging in expert level monkey sabotage, you’re really missing out. Sometimes I wonder what my colleagues on the other end of the line would think if they knew that while I we are talking I was simultaneously wiping a young child’s butt hoping said child doesn’t fart into the receiver.
My goals for 2014? I’d love to start washing our sheets with some kind of regularity. Right now if you passed a black light over it you wouldn’t be able to distinguish my bed from a Motel 6 duvet. I’d love to learn how to grocery shop with three kids without us causing such a freak show that strangers actually stop what they’re doing and stare. The looks of pity you get when you’re struggling in public with one or two kids are gone when people see you with three. Their eyes say, “You did this to yourself.” But really, part of me feels like we’re doing the world some good. We’re like a traveling live action birth control commercial.
More resolutions? We’re trying to have more date nights as a couple so if any of you feel like destroying a few hours on a Saturday let me know. They’re good kids.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. love, Bunmi

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Kids Christmas Exchange

Even though I am on bed rest, the show must go on with Christmas!  So this past Sunday Paul loaded up the kids to go to the DeMartinis for the annual kids Christmas gift exchange.  Since there are SO MANY kids between us, each child draws a name of another.  They all open the gifts at once and it is pure chaos and happiness!

Six families….


And there are two more (at least) kids that will be here for Christmas 2014!!!


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Bedrest

Early in this pregnancy, the doctor suspected that I had a condition called placenta previa.  In many cases, it will correct itself.  Unfortunately, on Sunday night, I found out the hard way that mine had not corrected yet.

I woke up at 1:30 and was bleeding…and went to the hospital where it stopped almost immediately.  The baby looked and sounded great which was such a relief.  After a visit to the perinatologist I found out I have complete placenta previa (but it is off center) and at this point, it is doubtful that will change before delivery.

So three days after my stay at Northside Hospital, I headed home to be on bedrest with the threat that if I bleed again, I might be staying in the hospital until baby girl number three (no, still no name) arrives.  Needless to say, I am laying low and following doctors orders.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Santa at Phipps

Every October, I anxiously check my email to see if I have received the coveted invitation to visit Santa at Phipps.  For whatever reason this year, it came a little later than usually and I was only left with dates Thanksgiving week or during school hours.  Thanksgiving week it is!

With all the anticipation that goes into this visit, you would think that I would be more prepared.  Two days before the big day, I was scrambling to find outfits for the girls.  The day of, we got to the mall and I had forgotten my camera.  So this year, Iphone pictures will just have to do for the blog.


This year, Maysie asked for a stuffed horse, The Wiggles, and a light bulb???  Railey asked for a camera, a Orbeez luxury spa, and Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Oh Lauren!

Lauren came over for a visit and she got a taste of the craziness and attention that come along with siblings.  At first, Maysie was content with showing Lauren everything that she can do.


But then Lauren quickly turned from an innocent bystander to the star of the show.  Riding the horse…


And then posing for TONS of pictures.  I must have deleted 50 that look just like this:)




And of course my little helper Maysie wanted to help at feeding time.


Three sweet girls!


Monday, December 9, 2013

Gobble Gobble

First Thanksgiving in Marietta…check!

The entire Chanon family loaded up and came to Marietta to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Since we plan on having company for both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, it was the perfect opportunity to get some final things done around the house.  As my mom has always said, there is nothing like company to your act in gear:)

Auntie Amanda, AKA Supermom, gave ALL FOUR GIRLS a bath.  I just had to include this picture because there is no way they will ever fit in one tub again.


The love/hate relationship of the weekend had to be Claire and Maysie.  These two are going to be the best of friends growing up….if they don't kill each other first.


We tried to get a group picture.  Tried to.



The day after Thanksgiving we loaded up everyone and headed to the Georgia Aquarium!





Uncle Dave was celebrating Movember….another reason that this is Amanda's favorite time of year….



About 30 minutes into our day, Maysie decided that she wanted to be the official Chanon family photographer.  Very impressive work Maysie girl!




Since she turned three, Maysie has perfected "the look."  God help us in ten more years.


The penguin exhibit was amazing!





Railey and Claire quickly figured out that the penguin thought their sting ray keychains were food.  Sad and cool at the same time…..



While Railey and I were looking at the penguins, Daddy and Maysie went to pet some of the animals.



It was a great visit and as always, too short!  Now, time to prepare for Christmas!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Thanksgiving Celebration

Today I am thankful for Maysie's amazing teachers who sent me the cutest pictures from their Thanksgiving party.



Friday, November 8, 2013

Christmas Cards….CHECK!

I am officially on a mission.  The reality of Thanksgiving, Christmas AND a new baby in the next three months has set in and I am working to get everything checked off of my list.  As I type, there is a handyman upstairs, an electrician in the backyard, the pest control guy on the way.  Not to mention that my mother is coming up right after Thanksgiving to help me with last minute preparations for family coming in town.  What would I do without her help?!?  I am feeling overwhelmed and on top of things all at the same time.

A couple of weeks ago, my sweet friend Stacey took some adorable pictures for our Christmas cards. I don't want to post the ones we are using but here are a few that were too cute not to share.



About halfway into the shoot, some boy scouts came by on a field trip.  Little Miss Maysie was NOT pleased.


Enough blogging for now….got to get back to work!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Maysie's Halloween Celebration

I don't think that Maysie could have been more excited to dress up as a mermaid for her school Halloween party.  And I do have to say, she made and ADORABLE mermaid!


The kids had all of these cute snacks at the party, complete with Aunt Carol's sugar cookies that Maysie and Railey helped me make.



Look at that arm!



She is already ready to dress up again next year!