April update

We have finally settled down, sort of. Ok actually not really as I am now on a plane to Florida for a friend's wedding. And we were in Newton last weekend for Easter. And Eric's been on his barnstorming tour the last few weeks. But the kids are back in school, mostly back on schedule,  and we aren't living out of suitcases anymore, which is nice. 

 

Big news from the Avery side of our life...she is (mostly) sleeping though the night! Quite the change from the up every two hours she was experiencing in Phoenix. In contrast to Brady who as a baby/toddler I could take anywhere and he'd adapt very easily, Avery thrives on predictibility, consistency and routine. So basically the opposite of what we put her through in March.  A few days after we returned home from the Final Four, I decided to get serious about the sleep thing and let her cry during the night. It only took about 3 nights and now she pretty consistently sleeps until about 5 or 5:30.  I go in and nurse her and she'll go back to sleep for an hour. Unfortunately, I often don't, but I've had some productive early morning painting sessions before the rest of the house stirs.

She's also pooped on the potty a few times. I am not pushing the potty training thing, but every few days she'll sit on the toilet and her brothers and I will chant, "Toot, toot, toot, toot." She'll strain to try to get something out and everyone, including herself, will cheer. She's almost fallen in before because she raises both hands in the air. I have to be honest and tell you that it's one of the cutest things you'll ever see.

Avery loves her brothers, and their shoes.  Getting her to put hers on can be a challenge but she's pretty excited to put the big ones on.

 

She flat out refuses to hold my hand in parking lots but will reach for her brothers'.

 

She is fearless and marches to the beat of her own drum.

 

The girl says "mama" at least 350 times a day, and I'm ready to see her expand her vocabulary.

 

 "Don't you leave my sight, mama, I will fiiiiiiind you!!!"

Love that girl but I'm excited to be able to share her with her grandparents this weekend!

Final Four Phoenix edition

I'm not sure where to start. The beginning seems like a good place, but I don't even know where the beginning is and it seems like so long ago that we set off for Phoenix for the Final Four for the second year in a row. That right there is amazing.

The kids did pretty good on the looong flight out. We left at 8:15 pm and I mistakenly believed that Avery would be the first to fall. She was not. She was the 4th in our family to sleep at 10:45. I'll let you figure out who were the first three. 

 

 

But we made it, and that proved to be only half the battle.  The first night Avery woke up about every hour and secured her spot in our bed for the rest of the trip. That night was the roughest, but none of them were great. We had some early mornings, one particularly frustrating morning Avery was up for good at 4:30. At 7am when I was driving to leave the hotel, she was passed out before we were out of the parking garage.

The saving grace of the trip was that my parents bought a condo last year in Phoenix. We borrowed a car and each morning I'd load up the kids and we'd go to their place for breakfast. Then we'd go to the pool or a park and do lots of stuff that saved my sanity of being by myself in hotel with my children all day!

 

 

 

Both my brothers got to come out for the first game, so  it was cool to hang out with them for a few days.

 

 

 

 

It was sort of a sleep-when-you-can trip, which my kids are good at.

 

 

 

Avery fell asleep at tip off during the championship game, which was lovely because I could actually watch the game. Jackson took over for her and passed out the second half. We laid him on two chairs and at one point he fell off and my dad retrieved him. He resumed sleeping immediately (might not have even woke up).

 

 

Jacksons biggest concern going into this game (and basically every game) is the fireworks. While every other Tar Heel in America is scarred from the game-winning shot by Villanova last year in the championship, Jackson is scarred by the celebration that followed. It was a bit of a juggling act this year, because Jackson woke with a minute to go in that game, but was disoriented and I knew the confetti that rained might upset him. So I am trying to prepare him, while at the same time managing the disbelief that we were actually going to win, and dealing with Avery, who is generally a full time job herself. The horn buzzed and......no confetti! So much prep for nothing! The "fireworks" came a few minutes later and no tears were shed. I'm so glad my kids got to be there for the game, though certainly Brady is the only one who has a shot at remembering anything. Though knowing him, he will only remember the awesomeness of playing an electronic game on the ride over to the game with his friends, or something important like that.

 

 

But really, that is what it's about. The games were a huge part of the trip, but experiencing such an event with friends, family, and friends who are like family is one thing I will always remember about Phoenix 2017.

 

 

Carolina magic

I have much more to say about the Final Four, but not before I get our suitcases unpacked, schedules back, and life under control....in as much as life can be controlled at this point.

But I will share what is now my favorite family picture! Carolina magic was in full force because seriously, what are the chances that we get a picture with all three kids looking at the camera.

 

It was that kind of night!