April update

Oh, where to start. Perhaps my current situation? It's 5:45 am, and I've been up with Avery for an hour. Weird, right, that she would wake up at 4:45? Unfortunately, no, it's apparently a thing. This is the second morning in a row she's gotten up at this time.  She averages about 1 out of 3 mornings.  Yesterday morning she didn't go back down until 7 (so convenient! Right when the other children wake!) but she's relaxed in my arms right now as I rock her and I'm optimistic that I'll be able to head back to bed soon.

When she's not waking up at 4:45, she's still not sleeping well. I could fill the page with her issues and my frustrations, but I'll leave it alone for now.

But this face of hers sums up how I feel about the whole situation.

Moving on, so much for April calming down. Eric was gone for basically 2 weeks straight on his barnstorming tour with the seniors. And since he didn't drive enough during that time, he took Brady to a Charlotte Hornets playoff game on Tuesday. Brady got to meet and high-five Michael Jordan. Just another Tuesday night for Brady. And below is a picture of Wednesday morning. (In) Conveniently, Eric had to leave early so guess who got to deal with aftershocks of a late night?

Speaking of basketball, I got a babysitter last night so I could go to the basketball banquet. These are not usually my favorite date nights, but I really enjoyed last night. Mostly, because of the amazing senior class. Marcus Paige is my favorite Tar Heel of all time, and I don't think it's even close. It was very sweet in his speech last night, when he was thanking Eric for all he did, and he got choked up when he mentioned how he'll miss seeing Brady running by in his high socks. And how cool is has been to FaceTime with Jackson and have Jackson recognize him and be excited to see him (we Facetimed a lot the last few weeks while dad was traveling). Hearing how much genuine gratitude Marcus had for everyone in the room was touching, especially because everyone in the room had so much gratitude for Marcus. Brice was heartfelt too, though a touch less eloquent. He thanked Eric, talked about the boys, and said how he hoped he could have a family like ours own day.  So sweet! Coach Williams told the room that Eric has 700 jobs and does 699 of them well. The one he needs work on? Losing weight. Eric lost (is losing) a bet to Coach that he'd be down to 185 lbs by May 1st. And had to announce his weight to the room...199.

I've seen a huge spike in business for myself this month. I've done over $1,000 in sign sales for the month! That's a lot of signs and frankly, a lot of work. But knowing I can manage it with a baby, two boys, and a traveling husband is a good feeling.  But can someone come organize the rest of my life?

Here's a few more pictures from life lately.

Soccer Saturday

The boys are playing on the same soccer team this Spring. Jackson isn't quite old enough (you have to be 3 by April) but we got him moved up. And Brady just makes the cut off, which makes him the oldest and Jackson the youngest.  Saturday was the second practice for the Bullcats (Brady suggested Bulls, another kid suggested Cats...thus, Bullcats).  At the end, the kids scrimmaged another team.  Besides Brady, who was goalie, Jackson may have been one of the most skilled from our team. Which should tell you as much about the rest of our team than about Jackson. It was a pretty high level of cluelessness.  Jackson did great and if you ask him how it went, he'll probably tell you that he stole it from the orange team.  And Brady will point out that the orange team stole it back.

I was proud of him for getting in the mix despite being the littlest one out there.

Brady took his job of goalie seriously. End score was 0-0. Orange team had zero because Brady made several stops. We had zero because we had no shots on goal.

Pictures courtesy of Sean May.  The one below might be my favorite because I was dying watching Jackson do jumping jacks in the warmup. Hilarious.

Unfortunately, Eric wasn't there to witness this spectacle.  He is on a "barnstorming tour," driving the seniors around the state to play nightly games in small towns.  Last week he was home zero nights. Then he left Friday for Iowa for a game Saturday night at Marcus Paige's high school. This week he will be home one night out of five. But then it's over!

We've managed pretty well without daddy, but we do miss him!  Life wouldn't be so rough if Avery would ever sleep. Sunday morning she woke up at 4:45...and was up for good (at least until 7:45).  And of course she woke 3 other times throughout the night. And I've been working like a madwoman every free moment I get. For whatever reason, my Etsy shop started doing very well last week. I received 8 orders in 6 days.  To give perspective, I got 7 orders the entire month before. This is on top of the orders I get through friends and my Facebook page. I've managed to keep up with the orders, but keeping up with them and domestic duties has been challenging. If you stop by house unannounced (or announced), it'll probably be messy. I need to register Brady for kindergarten at some point. The mail needs to be sorted, the refrigerator restocked. The list goes on, but so does life whether I do them or not!

Happy Monday, people!

Letters to Avery: 7 months

Dear Avery,

I'm writing the beginning of this letter with one eye open. The sun is not yet risen (it's 5am), but here we are, hanging out in the guest bedroom so as to not disturb the other members of our family who are all sleeping soundly in my bed.  To be fair, you did go to sleep at 6:30 last night, so I suppose I'm reaping that fruit. But you are sleeping better. Like waking up every three hours instead of every one. It was so bad that I'm not even mad about getting up three times each night! But these warm fuzzies will only last so long, so get it together, child!
 

This was a super big month for you. You were a traveling star; you flew on airplanes, rode on buses, stayed awake in hotel rooms, slept through basketball games, and went wherever your mother drug you because frankly, you had no other choice.  Thankfully, you will not remember the most heartbreaking game of a lifetime (and I'm not just talking a 7-month-old lifetime). 

Other milestones: Your first tooth started coming through (so cute) and you started sitting up (so amazing).  I love the sit up stage... so much more fun for you, for your brothers and your parents.  You can now take baths with the big boys and our bathing has increased because frankly, you are content in the bath and mommy can even shower!  With the splashing you have already received, you should be ready for the pool this summer.  You're eating more and like your brothers, you seem to enjoy it!  Now that our traveling has ended, you're starting to get into a routine, which I appreciate.  And you're sleeping though the night!  Ha, of course you're not, but I wouldn't be mad to report that in next month's letter!

Daddy mentioned this morning how when you smile, your whole face smiles and its true.  I love not
only watching your smile, but watching the faces of others around you when you give them one of your big grins.  Lots of people have told me lately how much you look like Jackson.  I hope you're as cute and sweet as him as a two-year-old, because that is one cool kid.  You have two cool brothers to look up to and who already have your back.  They love you, Dad loves you, and I love you.  There is lack of sleep in this house, but not lack of love.

Love,
Mom 

My healthy horrible daughter

Its safe to say in the last month, Avery has not slept for longer than 3 hours at a time.  If I am exaggerating, its only by 30 minutes or so.  Girlfriend is almost 7 months old and I'm rejoicing when she sleeps three hours in a row.  I have no idea what is to blame.  Traveling?  Teeth?  Demons?  Last night, Avery woke up three times before midnight.  It was that kind of a night.  When she woke up the third time, I took her to the guest bed (since two little boys had invaded mine) and slept with her.  I couldn't tell you how much she woke up after that, but it wasn't good.

I was convinced she had an ear infection, because the alternative is pretty horrible (translation: its just her).  However, last time I took her in to the doctor before our Houston trip, she was clear -- well not totally clear, she had fluid in her ears which might have been bothering her.  She was already on day 8 of amoxicillin from her last infection. But the doctor wrote me a prescription in case she got worse since we would be traveling.  So I have the dilemma this morning of disrupting the day and dragging all the kids to the doctor while shelling out the $40 co-pay to confirm on deny infection, or do nothing.  So I picked option C, phoned a doctor/neighbor with an otoscope and asked if he'd be willing to take a look in Avery's ears.  He would, but couldn't do it until 6 at which point I knew I wouldn't want to drag everyone out to the pharmacy (and is it even open?).   Did I mention Eric is out of town for the third night it a row (two nights work, one night pleasure).  And did you know that if you go to the Masters for three straight years, you no longer get to call it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?  Tell Eric that.

So I got the drugs early in the day and was willing to eat the cost if Avery's ears were clear.  Which they were.  Shouldn't I be happier?  Instead I am just depressed that I have a perfectly healthy baby.  How far have I fallen that if you told me Avery would wake up every three hours, I would not even be mad about it.

But the upside, I'm sitting here on my bed with a view of the tub where my two filthy boys are bathing happily.  I should probably go refill the tub with warm water, but they're happy, and I don't mess with a good thing.  Avery went down at 6:30 tonight, which is marvelous, and scary, all at the same time.  The boys are hilarious, and short of me yelling in every few minutes to keep the water in the tub, I know how lucky I am to have brothers who love each other so.  Avery was too tired to partake in tubby time tonight, but the last two nights she has been in heaven splashing with her brothers. And so has her mom, since I've gotten to shower while my three children bathe.  I love the sitting up, not-yet-crawling stage.

And tomorrow, Jackson's first organized practice: soccer here we come.  And Brady is on the team with him!  No shock, Jackson in most fired up about the new jersey he will get to wear.

Edited to add: Five minutes after posting, Avery woke for the first time.  It was 7:15.  After I put the boys down, Avery woke up again.  It was 8:15.  It is 9:30.  God help me.

Why I'm proud to be a Tar Heel

After the trip of a lifetime, I feel I should have something deep and moving to say about it.  But I'm drained, emotionally and physically, and I'm not sure what will follow.

If you didn't watch the final game, you surely have seen the highlights. If you haven't seen either, you're probably not reading this blog.  Heartbreaking doesn't seem to quite encapsulate what that game became. I really wanted the win for so many reasons; for my husband, for myself, for the fans, but mostly for the players who made this season so amazing. For Brice, who scooped the boys in his arms every chance he got, for Joel, who has always been fascinated by my babies and what they can (or cannot) do, for Kennedy, who early in the season got such a kick out of Jackson knowing and saying his full name, for Marcus, who showed up at our house with his girlfriend when she was scheduled to babysit, for Theo, who laughed this morning at breakfast watching Avery's wobbly self sit on the floor by herself.  That was this morning, less than 12 hours after experiencing the most crushing loss of his career. I wanted to win for all the players who went out of their way to make my boys feel like they were a part of the team. The boys have never felt particularly special to have such access, because to them it's just life. And that's how I like it. The players are not untouchable, they're just friends, and if they cease to be kind or accepting, my boys will move along. They don't love the Tar Heels for what they do on the court, but off it. 

There is a lot to remember about this trip, but I'll certainly take with me an appreciation for the community that is built around Carolina basketball. Traveling with three small children was no small feat, but I survived with the help of many around me. 

It's hard to think about what might have been, because it's so easy to envision what might have been. To be so close simply hurts. But whenever life dolls out a rough moment, I always cling to my family and realize how lucky I am. And I'm even luckier because I get to be a part of the Carolina family, win, lose or draw.