Phases

Every week it feels like we are hitting a new phase in our lives.  Most of this is due to the fact that newborns and babies change almost daily in their first 6 months of life. We go through sleepy stages, fussy stages, trouble eating stages, gassy stages, growing stages, you name it.  Barrett has probably hit about all of those in the past few weeks, and it's been a little trying, but like I said, it's just a phase, and it will pass.  Brooks and Keely have probably spent more time playing the iPads and watching Curious George than I would prefer, but sometimes we just have to do what we have to do to survive! But as you can see in the photo, Keely is playing a spelling game, so they really are learning when they play, right?!

Barrett has proven to be very similar to Brooks in his demeanor during the days.  He likes to be held a lot, whether he is asleep or awake, and really prefers Mommy the most.  Luckily he has done better with Dad than Brooks did at this age, but since Blake is at work during the days, it still falls on me to hold the little guy most of the time.  I might complain about this sometimes, but if in order to get my little guy to take a good nap in the afternoon to be happy in the evening means I have to hold him for it, so be it. Some might say I'm creating bad habits for him, that I should make him nap in his crib, or set certain nap times, but I just can't tolerate having a fussy baby if all I need to do is hold him to make him happy :) He is only a baby for a few months, and I did this with Brooks till he was over a year, so I don't think I will ruin Barrett.  Brooks still takes a nap most days in his own bed (ok, since Keely has moved into his room he now naps in our bed, but by himself), so I have concluded that holding my baby for an hour every afternoon isn't such a bad thing.  I honestly don't mind the downtime as well, since the other 2 kids are normally napping at this time too, it's quite peaceful in the house.  Cleaning, cooking, and Ace work all get pushed aside, but hey, this phase will pass too before I know it.
This is my view for the afternoon most days....I'm not complaining :)

Keely has also gone through some phases lately.  She is definitely a girl and almost everything can turn into a crisis, but we just go with the flow, and usually she can snap out of it after a short crying fit.  A few weeks ago she wasn't feeling good and I finally ended up taking her to the doctor and she did in fact have an ear infection which was probably causing most of the fits, so thankfully after she started feeling better, the fits became fewer and farther apart. I'm not sure what this one was about, but as you can see, it was a major crisis :)

 

To continue with the phases theme, the phase of these two boys being so different in size is probably a short one.  Before I know it, they will be running around playing together like the 3 year age difference is nothing.  They grow so fast!

And now some of the many faces of Barrett...he is turning out to be a pretty goofy guy that likes to smile at all of us, especially when Blake comes home and talks to him...he's always got a smile for Dad!

And he's still a finger sucker.  Kinda cute, but hope it doesn't last too long and he becomes a thumb or finger sucker as he gets older.

And again, with the fingers in the mouth as Brooks plays beside him. 

It's hard to believe that in just a year, this cute little guy is going to be walking around and playing with the other two. 

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What really blows my mind is this is a picture of Keely just a year ago in February.  How she has changed in a short year!

So for now, my life is crazy and stressful with 3 little ones under 4, but I hope I can remember the fun and joy they have brought me once it's all past and they are grown up and in school all day.  How different my life will look then!