First steps

I am having flash backs. Can Makiah really be 4? Because really, she should look like this....


Daphne Walking from Jessica Bateman on Vimeo.

Here and here are the videos of Makiah doing the same thing way back when. Now it's Daphne's turn. I LOVE it when babies learn to walk. They are such cute little people walking around, it's just adorable.

This morning Daphne took 7 steps at a time and then 10. She seems pretty proud of herself too. I am excited for her, this is so fun!

Candid.

The other night I took my kids to a field to get their photos taken. End result... a handful of good shots, massive mosquito bites on all of us (especially Makiah and Dallas), unhappy kids and everyone begging to go home. It was quick, not so fun and... well...  fine I guess.

Then tonight we were outside and the kids were having fun playing around. Surprisingly they weren't fighting and just enjoying themselves. The weather has been perfect lately, September is the best month :) I am so glad I thought to get my camera out. Lately I make excuses not to get my camera out and I haven't been taking the time to take snapshots of my kids. I have to say, even though this was unplanned it was soooo much more enjoyable than the other shoot with them the other night. And I love the photos so much.

Evan ran inside and got the toy doctor kit and band aids when Makiah scrapped her toe...

Look how tall Evan looks in this picture, he is growing up on me...

I can't get enough of this photo. Makiah's cute little pose just makes it so perfect. This one might just win a spot on my wall. I know I will especially love it in a few years when they are all grown up and things are different. They are so little. Oh I love this one...

Daphne isn't walking yet, but she can stand and push things around. She took 3 steps the other day, but hasn't since. She is so close! I really can't wait till she figures it out. Tonight she wanted to be right there beside the kids, but she couldn't keep up and it must hurt to crawl on the cement! She is a busy little baby, I really love it. 

Evan is getting used to his new schedule at school. He loves going and he is getting better at coming home happy. Some days are better than others. Makiah misses him so much while he is gone, but she is enjoying her time alone as well. It seem like she is getting along so well with Daphne, it really is cute. She talks to her with a sweet little voice (you know the voice girls use when they talk to babies? That voice) and she takes such good care of her.

Right now our battle is bed time. The kids all share a room and it's been hard. They are getting into a routine though, and they are learning to do what they need to... so they don't wake up the baby. Dallas and I find that they do so much better if we go in their room with them at bed time and just lay down with each of them for one minute. Then we can usually leave without them throwing a fit (and waking up the baby). It's a work in progress. One day we'll have a house... with more than two bedrooms :)

Life is good. I especially want this fall to just go slow... I love this time of year and I am not ready for a long cold winter. I am loving every minute I can get outside right now.

This is where it gets hard.

There is a reason why I haven't blogged. Or caught up with everything that has been happening this summer.

Taking care of 3 kids is hard.

They all have their own needs, they are all in very different stages in life.

Daphne eats, naps, crawls around and gets into everything. I can't take my eye off of her. She needs to be carried, rocked and cared for every second of the day.

Makiah needs entertainment. She needs to talk, play.... she needs interaction. She is still dependent on me, she needs help at meal time, doing her hair, matching her clothes, bathing, cleaning up, etc.

Evan is in school. He comes home tired. He doesn't know how to handle all these new things coming at him. He needs guidance and help so he doesn't fall to pieces (though he does, every single day).

So... even though 9-11 am and 2-4 pm is easy (Daphne naps and it's just me and Makiah), 4-8 pm is HARD. Those 4 hours of nap time are not spent catching up, they are spent staying sane. Preparing for the 4 hours of craziness that happen every single night.

After school, dinner time, and bed time need some work... or I will fall to pieces (Oh wait. I do. Every single night).