Time flies

I feel like there is so much to post but I'm going to try to just keep it to a minimum. That's about all I can handle right now.  So Adam's mom, June, came up the day Rachel was born and helped out by entertaining and spoiling my kids, feeding us and keeping me company and of course snuggling the sweet baby.  

Then we had three days to ourselves with meals from the ward and then my parents came for a week.  We were a little naive in thinking that Adam and my dad could dig our sprinkler system in the back yard and lay sod, but since Rachel came sooner than we thought there was no time to get all the equipment ready and prepped.  Instead my mom and dad showed Olivia and Benjamin a great time by taking them to the zoo and pumpkin patch and ward Halloween party(we all went to that). My mom did fun crafts with Olivia. I hate crafts, except crocheting but will occasionally do them with Olivia because she loves them. They played with Benji for hours and he loved it and he cried when they left.  My mom was sad to miss another birth, but glad she got to see the baby this time.  I tried to relax and get extra rest but I'm like my mom, I suck at laying around.  My mom cooked yummy goodies and meals. I think she wishes she could have been more help to me, but she forgets I have a talented and wonderful husband who already keeps our house clean and laundry done. I just enjoyed having her to myself and not having to share her with my brothers or sister and her family.  My dad and Adam played loads of cribbage and got to bond while I went to bed early. We are now on our own and our house feels a little empty although it is fuller than before.  

Rachel is a sweet baby. She nurses like a champ and is now 10lb. She is sleeping at night but only in 2-3 hour increments. I think she looks like Ben at birth minus the thick long lashes and eyebrows.  I'm sure there may be some tough days with the baby, but she's easy so far.

We have been struggling with Benjamin more than anything. It started right before she was born and has gotten worse since bringing her home.  Naps have always been a struggle and he's even worse without them. He throws tantrums and flops on the floor and acts out. He cries in the car now and that is driving me insane because he never did that before. He changes his mind every ten minutes and if he is having a fit and I'm holding Rachel he says "Rachel, no want it."  Poor guy.  For me this is the hardest. He has been the easiest baby and kid. He's adorable and sweet and loves to give Rachel huggies and kisses when he's happy, but this behavior change makes me cringe. How can my sweet angel turn into the devil overnight?  I don't think I've ever gotten angry at him until now and it makes me sad.  I hope I can keep it together. 

Olivia is very happy to have a sister and paid lots of attention to her when she first came home, but then Gramma and Papa came and kept her busy and now she hasn't shown too much interest as before.  She is willing to be helpful and hold the baby when needed but doesn't have a lot of endurance.  I guess I couldn't expect her to just mature overnight.  When does that happen, by the way?  Adam seems to be doing good, he just says he loves the craziness but I think he says that to make me feel better.  I have started walking and I'm healing well. I'm not too tired despite my lack of sleep. I hope to take advantage of the time off and get more home projects done. 

Olivia was a rock star for Halloween with a nose ring and fake tattoo and colored hair and Benji was a pirate.  He loved trick-or-treating.  We had a fire on our driveway so we could sit out and meet our neighbors. It was fun. Well, this didn't end up being short. Here's ten billion pictures.

 Nana and Rachel

 Benji and Mom

 Papa and Gramma and Olivia and Ben

 Train ride. He was so attached to that dollar.

 The ward Halloween party.  Can you see Adam's Foo Manchu. My costume is post partum. Maybe I shouldn't have smiled.