Life Lately

Last Monday was my 1st day with all 3 kiddos by myself.  We survived and were all alive and happy at the end of the day.

On Tuesday I was feeling brave so I went to Target with all 3 by myself. As you can see, there isn't a lot of room for the items I purchased.
Sweet girl had her 2 week check-up on Thursday. She got a great bill of health and is back up to her birth weight.

Miller loves to get his lovies, pillow, and paci and lay down next to his sister. He does love her but I really think he just wants to have his paci.

My brother Matt meeting Maggie when she was only an hour old. So thankful that both of my brothers were here to meet Maggie just moments after she was born. Such a gift!
Friday was beautiful so we headed to My Big Backyard for some outdoor fun.
Unfortunately the weather turned terrible...cold and rainy.  I am very thankful for Santa's big gift he brought this Christmas. It was a lifesaver this weekend.
Miller shared his beloved Monkey with Maggie. This was a big deal.
Sweet girl starting to give me a little smile.

Just a little recap of life lately!

Maggie week 1

Some pictures from Maggie's first week:

Her first spongebath...she was not a fan.

My little helper.

My superhero who didn't want to help.
She was very content as soon as I wrapped her up in her duck wrap.
Bright eyed after a feed.
The way I spent my New Years Eve...rocking my sweet baby girl at midnight.
Trying to get pictures of Uncle Toph before he left town. This is real life with 3 kids.
We did a little bribery and got Miller to cooperate.

All my loves in one place. Love this picture of my sweetheart holding our 3 little ones.
My precious kiddos.  Such mixed feelings when I see this picture.  So much happiness for these 3 beautiful, healthy children but my heart hurts so badly knowing we are missing 1 of our children and will always miss 1 child.

Maggie's BIRTHday

Well for a few weeks I tried about everything to make Miss Maggie come on her own but she just wouldn't budge.  She was too content in my belly to come out.  I don't blame her...she was well aware of the noise and chaos my boys make so I think she decided the longer she stayed the better.  The crazy thing about her being delivered on December 27th is way back in August when I was only 21/22 weeks pregnant, I was at Le Bonheur mentoring a father when a lady I had never met came up to me in the hall of the PICU and told me that I was going to have a girl, she was going to be stubborn, and she would be born on December 27th.  We knew at that time Maggie was a girl and I was well aware that all my children would have the stubborn streak because of their momma but the December 27th threw me for a loop.  This woman knew nothing about me, the sex of my baby, or when I was due.  As the months ticked on and December made its appearance and I started to become very uncomfortable and in quite a bit of pain from the kidneys, I was really hoping the lady was wrong and Maggie would make her appearance before December 27th.  I really did try everything to make Maggie come before Christmas and she wasn't budging.  The week before Christmas my doctor checked at the hospital for an induction date for us and there were none left.  Everyone wanted to have their babies before the New Year so we were out of luck.  He told me to plan on coming in for my regular appointment on the morning of the 27th with bags packed and hope that I was in labor and he could send me over to be induced.  David and I showed up that morning at 9:00 (after he did 2 surgery cases at Le Bonheur...he is a good man and didn't want to let his patients down) and I was 5 cm and in labor.  So Miss Maggie was ready to be born on December 27th with or without an induction.  My doctor sent us over and we were hooked up ready to go by 10:45.  I unfortunately didn't progress for quite a while and was stuck at 5 cm.  My doctor came to break my water at 2:30, epidural at 3:30, stayed at 6 cm until 5:00 and then went from 6 cm to 10 cm in about 20 minutes.  Once I hit 10 cm I was more than ready to push and the nurses and OB hospitalist were having me hold her in so my doctor could make it.  My OB walked in the door at 5:45 and Maggie was born at 5:51.  It was fast and perfect.  Maggie did great and was truly perfect.

My OB...truly love this man...he has delivered all my babies and is a saint for putting up with this crazy momma.

Meeting my baby girl for the first time.
So much emotion after she was in my arms...truly praising His name that she was healthy and perfect!
Meeting the extended family for the first time.
Meeting her brothers for the first time.
Getting sweet kisses from her brothers.

Funny videos and funny sayings

Just some funny videos of life lately at the Spence Household:

Miller trying guacamola for the first time and really liking it.
This is what they do to get out energy on cold days.
They also put on puppet shows on cold days. Austin came up with everything on his own...the couch set-up, the scenery, the socks for puppets. Its from one of his favorite books, If You Give a Moose a Muffin.


And some funny sayings Austin has come up with:

Talking to Austin about strangers:
Mommy: Austin, if a stranger comes up to you what do you do?
Austin: I throw them away. (meaning to him, he would hit and yell)
Mommy: what if they offer you candy?
Austin: I take it and say thank you
Mommy: no buddy, you say no and run away. You never take candy from strangers.
Austin: But I did at Halloween.

Miller is looking at a photo album and turns to Forrest and makes a noise.
Austin: that's Forrest, Miller. He died on the cross.
I think we are a little confused on our theology

Miller is waking up from a nap so Austin and I go in to get him.
Austin: Hi Miller. Daddy's not here, he's in California but it's ok, I'm going to take care of you.
(David when leaving that morning had told Austin to take care of his brother and mommy, he obviously took his job very seriously).

Before bedtime for the boys later that same night.
Austin while hugging my neck: I'm sorry mommy that you have to sleep alone. Are you going to be ok?

 From the mouth of babes!

the rest of Memphis

Friday morning we headed to Austin's interview for preschool.  I know...if you aren't from Memphis than its hard to imagine that he has to interview for a preschool.  I'm laughing as I write it but its true.  3 year olds have to interview to get in to certain preschools.  I was nervous about it because he often freezes up in situations like that but he did great...or that's what he told me.  He went with the teacher just fine, played and talked for 30 minutes with 5 other kids, and then ran back to me and jumped in my arms telling me he loved it.  That little comment just cost us some money.  I want my boys to love school and the excitement in his voice solidified that if he gets in, we will enroll him.  It's a precious school and one that I think we would stay through 6th grade so I am hopeful that he will get in.  If he doesn't, than it wasn't the Lord's plan for him and we will be fine with that as well.

After the interview we had lunch with some friends and enjoyed playing with their precious 2 children.  Melody was one of Forrest's nurses his first few days at Le Bonheur and I instantly loved her.  We have stayed friends since and I love that we now have kids growing up together.  She too lost her first child so she understands the deep grief that goes with that.  I am very thankful for her.  I unfortunately took no pictures of our playdate.

That afternoon we waited on Gigi and Sadie to show up.  Talk about excitement.  It was my mom's birthday on that Sunday so we were super excited to celebrate with her.  We were also super thrilled to see Sadie again.  We debated back and forth on whether my mom should bring her to Memphis for fear of her acting out when she returned to my moms but finally decided it would be good for everyone.  Austin was having a really hard time missing David so I thought Sadie would be the perfect pick me up and she was for sure!  They had the best time together.  The pictures below will show the beautiful relationship these 2 share.
We spent lots of time that weekend relaxing,
having fun with Gigi,

getting into mischief,

and loving on Sadie.

We were so sad to see my mom and Sadie leave.  My in-laws had left on Saturday for a trip so that just left the boys and I for the next 3 days by ourselves.

That evening we were having some of my small group girls over so the boys and I went to the grocery store to get a few things.

The small group girls came over and it was so much fun.  Just like old times.  Austin was in his element...having the attention of so many girls.  He was doing somersaults on the floor and entertaining them with his stories.

Miller on the other hand was in constant amazement. He just watched the girls without making a noise. It was hilarious. He didn't do any of his normal funny things. I think he was overwhelmed...I understand..I'm often overwhelmed by them too. =)
We woke up Monday morning and drove 45 minutes to my best friends house. She just moved to Hernando, MS which is just on the other side of Memphis. It was so wonderful to see her. Such a treat that when we move back we will live only 45 minutes from each other. Bobbie has been my best friend since I was 14. We lived together for one summer during college (the craziest, scariest summer of my life...that is another blogpost in itself) and haven't lived close since. She moved to California right after her first baby was born for her husband. He was in the army and was stationed there for a few years. She then moved back to Hendersonville for the last few years. She is one of the strongest people I know. She raised her children practically alone as her husband did 3 oversee tours. Each tour was a year or more.  There are few people in the world that truly know you and love you the way she does me.  I am so blessed by her friendship.  The picture below is with her youngest, Charley.  Her oldest, Tucker, was at school that day.  Austin still talks about Mrs. Bobbie and Charley!

We drove home for naps and then after naps went to another friends house for a playdate.  It was so great to catch up with the Thompsons (no pictures again).  Grace was so sweet to offer us dinner and we gladly took her up on it.  It was pretty chaotic with 5 children 5 and under but a lot of fun.  The kids loved being together.  Austin doesn't remember a lot of friends from Memphis but he definitely remembers Bo (one of the Thompson kids) so he loved being there to play with him.  Miller loved seeing their black dog Cash who looks just like Sadie.  He just giggled at him the whole time.

Tuesday morning I planned on packing and resting but by this point we were pretty stir crazy and had cabin fever so we went on a long run where I let them "run" at the end.  It was a beautiful day so we soaked up the sun and warm weather one more time before we headed back North to the cold.
After naps we had one more playdate planned at the Brooks house.  The other 2 friends Austin talks about are Whit and Thompson.  They are the sons of 2 of my best friends from college.  All 3 of our boys are 3 months apart so they love being together.  It was so fun to see them together and made me excited about returning to Memphis this summer.  All 5 of the boys ran and played their little hearts out (little Thomas bounced and crawled more than ran).
Thompson looks like he is throwing gang signs in these 2 pictures.  Jennie and I were dying laughing at this.  Below is Thompson, Austin, and Whit.

Jennie's youngest, Thomas.  He is precious!

We definitely miss playing outside in your driveway and yard.  The boys were in Heaven with all the fun toys the Brooks had.

It was great to catch up with friends and family.  Like I said on the first post, it was hard but good.  Between all the playdates were lots of tears, fits, and even some things thrown at mommy.  If I ever doubted that our babysitter Nim is a good investment than I don't now.  It is crucial that I get a break from my children and my children get a break from me.  I am a better mommy when I can take time to step back and take a breathe.

Thank you to everyone who hosted us for playdates, dinners, and parties.  Thanks Spence's for letting us crash your house and loving all of us so well.  Thank you Mom for driving to see us and bringing Sadie.  What a treat it was to spend time with you.

Memphis...we hope to see you again in 3.5 months.  Hopefully we will be heading there to buy a home.