Six Weeks

We have made it.
I should say we are alive....and doing well most of the time.
We have survived the past three weeks as a family of five. Some of you who are reading this might chuckle at me, because you are surviving a family of six, seven, eight...or more. (If its more than that, I will pray for you if you pray for me) :)
The boys have embraced their sister and can't really seem to leave her alone. When I am not comatose from lack of sleep I can be heard saying "Get out of her face" over and over and over. The boys like to make sure Petunia can see them. Bubba likes to hold and play with her hands. Big surprise. Tubbs has taken on the role of "pacifier holder" when we are in the car and she starts crying. When she begins to cry he gets upset. When he heard her cry hysterically for the first time she was in her car seat. Next thing I know there are tears coming from his eyes. He asks me "mommy...is she going to die?" My dad was in the car with me and it was so sweet, we didn't know if we should laugh or cry with him. Tubbs really loves being a big brother. Tubbs asked me yesterday on the way home from school: "Did Heavenly Father send Jiggs down on a cloud to our family?" Like most questions these days I was trying to think of the right thing to say because I just thought his sincerity was so adorable. Especially when he looks at me with his big brown eyes and long eyelashes. I wish Tubbs (and Bubba) would stay this size forever. Bubba's adorable question took place last week: "Do you think we will toot in Heaven?" I think we probably will! :)
Last week the boys were asking questions about Jiggs and her facial expressions. I told them that Heavenly Father talks to her. Jiggs was smiling and Tubbs said "I think Heavenly Father just told her a joke."
As for me (mom) I have been taking it easy. Petunia (Jiggs) had a rough time getting on a sleeping schedule at night. She was waking up every 1-2 hours for the first three weeks. We were both beyond exhausted. We finally decided to give her formula before bedtime and she sleeps for 3-4 hours the first stretch. This makes us all very, very happy. Amazingly, she hasn't woken the boys up yet during the night. Of course Bubba sleeps like a rock. So...I guess I am surprised Tubbs sleeps through it. In the morning before school the boys try really hard (I am exaggerating) to try and be quiet while they get ready for school. Sister is always sleeping in the living room in the swing since she never seems to want to get back in her cradle after her 4am or 5 am feeding. I sleep that last 1-2 hours on the couch next to her and wait until 6:30am to get up and help get everyone ready for work/school. Being home on maternity leave has given me the opportunity to be a "full-fledged" mom. I get to take the boys to school, pick them up when school gets out and do homework with them. The homework part has been a little bit of a challenge with Bubba when he reaches the whiny stage, but we seem to survive. I have been spoiled the past 2 years since Luke really did 99% of the homework with Bubba. Now Luke has more time after work to play with the boys...and hold Petunia when she lets him. She really is a mama's girl. But she does let daddy give her a bath at night---so Luke enjoys letting her soak and play in her bath tub. I gladly let him have that time with her since she is so mellow.

Petunia waking up from a nap

A conversation with Bubba

A conversation with Tubbs