Emily has been with us for three weeks now.  There is absolutely no routine to our life.  Although I am working HARD to establish a new one.  We all thrive off of routine around these parts.  Something else that has become routine around these parts?  Answering all the questions.

How are the big girls liking their new little sister?

They LOVE her.  I call them hovercrafts because if Emily is awake, she's got a big sister hovering over her trying to hold her hand, spread kisses across her forehead and coo at her.  I'm interested to see how long this will last... but for now they are very obsessed.

Are you getting any sleep?

That's a hard question to answer.  Last night Emily slept like a champ in 4 hour stretches.  The night before that she had a bit of a witching hour from 11 to 2 and the only way I got her to sleep was to lay her on my chest, where she stayed most of the night.  It really depends.  I am missing nap time (Brooke gave hers up the day she turned 2, just like Grace... it is VERY sad.) and wishing I had an opportunity to rest in the afternoon still, but somehow we are making it.


Is she going to be a redhead?

Emily doesn't look like her sisters in that she is very fair skinned and has lighter hair.  Both Brooke and Grace were born with dark, almost black hair and dark skin (my husband is 1/4 Puerto Rican).  Not Emily girl.  The OB that delivered her announced she was going to be a redhead and in certain light it definitely has red tints to it, but honestly I don't know... maybe.  They say they lose the hair on their head in the first 6 months and it can grow back in any color, so only time will tell.

How do you manage?

I have no choice.  I had to get back up and get going because Rob went back to work 2 weeks after I gave birth and I've got a 4 year old with a very busy preschool, speech, other activities schedule and someone has to get her from point A to point B.  Honestly though, with each pregnancy I just had to dive right back in.  While I'd love to spend the first month being spoiled, like I was when I gave birth to Grace... it is not realistic when you are now the mother of three kids.  So while I will take all of the credit for somehow making it to an appointment on time with all three kids dressed and fed, this is my life and I just gotta do it.


How are you feeling?

Back to myself.  I can bend.  I can paint my toenails.  I was given the all clear to lift my babies and laundry hampers again.  I have been off my pain medicine for about a week and a half now.  I'm surviving off of coffee, but I really do feel good.  I'm lucky in that my physical recovery was pretty swift.  I have been feeling a bit extra anxious, and I am hyper aware of all that after dealing with postpartum anxiety after I gave birth to Brooklyn.  But I am able to recognize and beat it off most of the time.  Newborns are extra hard on anxiety as it is, let alone when you are an overly anxious person to begin with.

Are you going to try for a boy?

That's a HARD no.  We are done.  After Brooke, Rob was okay with being done and I was still iffy.  I could have went either way.  Then Emily happened.  After giving birth to her, I really do feel like our family is complete.  In a little over three weeks I will go in to permanently complete our family.  Our family will forever be complete at mom, dad and three baby girls.  My husband will find his boys in the furry hunting companion version.

I am still thankful that people care enough to ask the questions.  We really are surrounded by a great little community of friends and family that this time around get to experience the newborn life with us and soak up all the extra snuggles.  It is a great extra dose of happiness to experience a life changing event near family.



always,
amanda