My first outing with all three!

March 1, 2010:  We just got in from Isabel's 2 year check-up and Sophia's 1 month check-up.  Now Isabel is napping, Sophia is snuggled in my lap and Ava is drawing. So I have a quiet moment to myself. I check a friend's latest blog post and have a good laugh. It's just what I needed after this morning, since there is nothing humorous about taking three kids to the doctor!  Unless you count the question and answer session about Isabel's development:

Dr. D: "Does Isabel speak intelligibly?"
Me (to myself): As long as Ava's around to translate, yes.
Dr. D: "Does she know her name, age and sex?"
Me: (proudly) "Yes. Yes. . .   Isabel are you a boy or a girl?"
Isabel: "BOY!"
(two out of three is not bad!)

I'm still terrified of going into stores with Isabel. The other day I took just Isabel and Sophia to Fred's.  With a carseat carrier in the front of the buggy and Isabel in the basket, there's not even any room for the stuff.  I couldn't see over Sophia's carrier so we're bumping into everything, and Isabel's in the front of the buggy opening a squirt bottle of floor cleaner, "I'm thinking, I can't do this with three!
Since the baby arrived I've had lots of help- just a few days ago Trey sat in the car with the baby and Isabel while I took Ava in the store, and then he took Isabel in for her shots while I sat in the car with the other two. But he couldn't hold my hand forever, so this morning I was on my own and we did great! It was pretty stress- free.

Except for when Isabel had her finger pricked but it sounded like it had been amputated! It took three of us to hold her.  This experience was heartbreaking for me. I HATE when the kids get shots. I'm trying to be calm, singing, kissing, promising ice cream. Ava's face is blank, void of emotion (no doubt thinking "this is payback sister!") Sophia just stares wide-eyed (picture one of those animals on greeting cards.)  But soon we're on our way home and happy again. Hot fudge sundaes from McD's make everything better!

As long as I'm bragging, Trey's doing great in all this craziness too. Last night after church we had DRAMA. I won't elaborate but it involved a bath for the baby, a clean shirt for Trey, new sheets for the bed and taking out the trash! Trey was cool as a cucumber and even cleared the table, cleaned the kitchen and built a cozy fire so when he finally got to sit down and relax I could sit with him! What a man!

Some things I want to remember:

• Ava went to Annabelle's party and I asked her if Annabelle liked her present. Ava explained that she couldn't see because there were bigger kids in front of her. Then she added "I was like Zacchaeus!"
• Don't try to put Isabel on a "nay-nay" if she wants to ride a "hee-haw." There is a difference!
• When we're getting ready for Bible class, Isabel says she wants to see her "boys!" These are her classmates, all boys.
• and EVERYTHING about a newborn! I wish this would last longer. I love having a tiny baby in the house. It makes life so sweet.