The first day

Garry went back to work today, so I'm the Parent in Charge now.  I'd say it was my first day alone with five kids, but the school district had the boys in its clutches all morning (and then released them in waves), so I'm easing into my responsibilities rather slowly.

I've noticed that my mothering instincts are kicking in again (you know, since I've been largely off the grid since Christmas).  I have to laugh when a Mothering Life Lesson smacks me in the face.  Today there have been several.

*Life is an emotional roller coaster.  You can be pondering priorities and ideals one minute and be ready to hide under the covers the next.

*Parking close to a shopping cart return is better than parking close to the store.

*Small children will never want the number of chicken nuggets given them for lunch.  If you cook three a piece, they will each want (and eventually eat) six.  If you decide to skip a step and cook five for each kid, you will end up with ten headless dino nuggets on the kitchen floor.

*Just when you think you have a good handle on managing three children under four in a public place, all three will start screaming.  Hauling a thrashing two-year-old in one arm and an unwieldy car seat in the other will bring the humility rushing back.

*Babies cannot tell time, and will not automatically drop into blissful slumber just because you and the regimented small people in your house know it is nap time.

*Having a freezer full of meals isn't helpful at all if you never remember to take something out in time for it to thaw.

*Folding a load of laundry can take an entire day.

*Peanut M&Ms go a long way towards achieving short-term happiness.

*Sometimes giving up your own agenda and timeline is a significant contribution for the greater good.

*Fresh air and sunshine are good for everyone, even if it means dinner will be late.

*Staying up late to enjoy the peace and quiet is overrated.  Sleep is not.


P.S.  This is my 1,000th blog post!

Going to church

The little miss and I joined the family for church today.  I usually hide out at home for several weeks after a baby comes, but this time around I was feeling pretty stir-crazy at home.  It felt good to go back and be part of the ward again, and Kate was pretty popular! So many ward members have been praying for her this year.  I'm not the only one who was glad to meet her.

I find it amusing that Kate looks so content in this commemorative photo.

As Garry snapped the shot before church, Lexi was jumping on the bed, Zach was storming about because he couldn't find his belt, and I was drying my hair.  Arriving at church in time to sit in the chapel (this is my goal every week, which is different than simply "being on time") gave us all time to take a breath and restore normal blood pressure before the opening prayer.

Perhaps this is why I laughed out loud when Tyler brought home a paper about prayer from his class.  It was divided into two sections: "I thank thee" and "I ask thee."  In the first section, Tyler wrote that he was thankful for food.  In the second, he wrote, "I ask thee that thee will bless my family to be more calm."  Nice!  We could definitely use that blessing, especially in the morning.  Getting seven people ready for church seems exponentially harder than six.

When I put Kate back in her car seat after church, I took the photo below with my cell phone.

I love her tiny dress that will only fit for a week or two.  I love the headband from Aunt Angie and the teeny tiny booties from Grandma Dent.  I love how much she looks like Lexi did.  The photo is also proof positive that we completed another milestone as a family of seven: going to church.  It feels kind of momentous.

Meow

Once again, the Bartle family has narrowly escaped pet ownership.

One morning this week, a scrawny black cat was mewing on the back step during breakfast.  It was a pathetic little thing, and I was sure it was hungry.  So, charitable animal lover that I am (not), I closed the curtain until it went away.

The cat disappeared for a while, but it was back in the afternoon.  The boys saw it run under the house while they were playing in the yard.  Now this concerned me.  The cat was under the house?  What if it decided to live there?  What if it had babies under there?  What if it broke into my house at night and clawed me in my sleep?

Clearly, the cat had to go.

While I [panicked and] developed a strategy, the cat slept under our house and tried to get our attention at the beginning and end of each day.  Presumably, it left during daylight hours to hunt or scrounge or scavenge some food because a certainly mean lady wouldn't offer any easy sustenance on the porch.  On Tuesday night the cat whined all.night.long (and I know, because a certain baby did the same thing).  So on Wednesday Garry said he would summon Animal Control to pick it up.

That's when we discovered that Animal Control doesn't pick up stray cats.  Apparently feral felines don't endanger the public enough.  Animal Control does, however, run a shelter that accepts stray cats that people deliver, so we borrowed an animal carrier and planned to trap our yard's newest resident.  On Wednesday night, Garry stepped onto the back porch and noticed the cat staring at him.  Amazingly, the cat didn't bolt, so Garry quickly unlocked the animal carrier, picked up the cat, and put it inside.  In a matter of seconds the deed was done.

I was in the bedroom at the time, unaware of what was transpiring on the back porch.  I just heard a very loud and angry cat and jumped out of bed to investigate.  I was thrilled to find the cat in the cage, and also relieved that it hadn't scratched or bitten Garry.  Garry fed it some chicken, which stopped the crazy-loud mewing, and we all went to bed for the night.

The next morning, Garry (and Lexi) delivered the cat to the animal shelter.  I had to laugh when I saw Garry's Facebook post and the related comments.  Garry's last comment cracks me up.

Garry: Just dropped off the cat at the animal shelter.  Smelliest building I can ever remember going into.  Glad I don't work there!

Angie: Hilarious.

Luhi: I can imagine.

Rebecca: I have a hard enough time going into a Petco so I can't imagine an animal shelter.

Betsy: Oh, come on.  I'm sure Ecuador [where Garry served his two-year LDS mission] provided much smellier buildings. 

Garry: Betsy, while you may or may not be correct, if you are, time has dulled my memory enough to make me question your assertion.  I guess "smelliest" is very subjective (who doesn't love the aroma of a good bakery?), but the degree to which my nose found the combination of smells in the shelter to be offensive was one that I can say definitely stands out!  I'm sure this was exacerbated by my expectation of something better given the office location (downtown Colorado Springs) and the fact that I'm pretty sure this isn't a third-world country!

This is a post that really deserves pictures, but alas, we don't have any.  However, I am grateful that the computer doesn't have a scratch-n-sniff function.  Some things are best left to the imagination.

Soccer Season: Zach

Garry attended Zach's first soccer game alone, since the evening was quite cool and rainy. The dark skies prevented better photos (especially action shots), but I'm perfectly content with this sampling for now.

Zach plays for Cottonwood Fusion, a team of 4th grade/5th grade boys.  Teams at this stage play on a much larger field with full-size goals.  (They also play at a park that is 30 minutes away!)  Most of the players are clearly more experienced than Zach--he has played just one season of soccer, and that was three years ago--but he is doing well.  He really enjoys the keeper position and also plays right or left defender.

When I attended Zach's second game last night, I enjoyed watching a higher level of competitive play.  The teams were well-matched and the game was exciting.  I'm a bit surprised that Zach isn't a more aggressive athlete.  He has so much natural ability but is quite timid about getting in the thick of the action, no matter what sport he is playing.  He does seem to be enjoying the soccer season much more than he enjoyed football last year, though.  It will be interesting to see how his skills and interests progress as he gets older.

Meanwhile: Go Fusion!  Go Zach!

Soccer Season: Tyler

Zachary and Tyler are playing city league soccer this fall. I have to constantly remind myself that I willingly registered the boys for the sport.  I happily paid the necessary fees and purchased the right equipment.  I agreed to the schedule despite knowing an infant would join our household the first week of the season.

Why?  (Why?  Why?)

My answer:  I want the boys to be glad they are part of a big family, and to know that big families still get to do fun things.  I don't want the boys to blame the baby (or me) for missing out on activities they enjoy.  I also know that running boys are happier boys, and that busy boys don't get into as much trouble.

The big BUT in the equation is that we have not yet figured out how to manage an evening routine that includes homework, soccer, dinner, happy Littles, a happy mama, and an appropriate bedtime for all.  We're working on it, but I'm mostly stumped.

Garry took lots of pictures at each of the boys' first games this week.  They may well be the only pictures we take this season.

Tyler liked playing the keeper/goalie position.

Sometimes it was a little boring, apparently.

Tyler enjoyed getting closer to the action, too.

The entire Bartle entourage attended Ty's first game.  Some were more engaged than others.  Bad attitudes were somewhat understandable since none of us had eaten dinner.  Garry and I spent a lot of time corralling the wandering Littles, who clearly didn't understand that standing mid-field was a problem.

And my favorite part: "Good game, good game, good game, good game...."

Tyler's team is the Frontier Rage.  It's a little weird to cheer, "Go Rage!"  Coach Christian suggested, "Go Green!" so that's what we cheer.

And, of course: "Go, Tyler!"

The fourth trimester

If you have to clear breakfast from the table to make room for dinner take-out...you might have a newborn.

If you decide to put away the folded laundry because you need the baskets to sort the next round of dirty clothes...you might have a newborn.

If you hate your maternity clothes but they are the only things that fit...you might have a newborn.

If having a milk-drunk baby purring on your shoulder makes your heart sing...you might have a newborn.

If you can't remember what you did all day but still feel totally drained...you might have a newborn.

If making your bed feels like a triumph of domesticity...you might have a newborn.

If you consult the calendar every few hours to remember the day of the week...you might have a newborn.

If your biggest excursion in days is collecting the mail...you might have a newborn.

If tiny half-smiles make your day...you might have a newborn.

If people ask how you are and the only thing you can think to say is, "Tired"...you might have a newborn.

If you really wish your present haircut accommodated a ponytail...you might have a newborn.

If you'd be content to ignore the rest of your life just to cuddle with a seven-pound angel...you might have a newborn.

If you can't sleep at nap time but almost doze off mid-conversation with a group of adults...you might have a newborn.

If tiny socks are getting caught in the dryer's lint trap...you might have a newborn.

If you are honing your stain-removal skills for five kinds of bodily fluids...you might have a newborn.

If all activities revolve around the nursing schedule...you might have a newborn.

If you're as lucky as I am....you might have a newborn.

Fun with Dad

The kids were out of school today.  Did you miss the memo that the day after Labor Day is also a holiday?  Me too; I suspect the school district made it up.  Anyway, since I am technically trying to "lay low" and respect my body's healing process, Garry was left to make the kids' holiday one to remember.

So at noon, he and the kids rode bikes to a nearby elementary school for a picnic lunch and some outdoor fun.  It was a cool and blustery day, but the impending storm didn't materialize until evening and the kids had a blast on their little adventure.  While the commemorative photos are awesome, the videos are my favorite.

When the kids rode up to the house two hours later, Gavin and Lexi were grinning from ear to ear.  I asked them, "Did you know that you have the best daddy ever?"  From his seat in the bike trailer, Gavin immediately replied, "Yes!  I DO know that!"  Garry confirmed that Gavin had just said that very thing.  Smart kid!  I'm glad he's grateful.  It was a fun outing!

Gavin the babysitter

This morning Gavin was so enamored with Kate that he held her for more than 30 seconds.  He was in a great mood (and so was she), so I buckled Kate into her bouncy chair and asked Gavin to "babysit" while I took a super quick shower.  I gave him three instructions:

(1)  If she cries, sing her a song.

(2)  If she needs something, go get Daddy.

(3)  Don't pick her up.

[Being a mother requires a lot of faith.]

I probably set a record for fastest shower by a mommy, and then immediately opened the bathroom door to check on Gavin and Kate.  They were both sitting in the same positions I had left them in, and they were staring happily into each others' eyes.  Gavin looked up and exclaimed, "She didn't even cry!  And she's looking at me!"  He seemed to own her happy state, which was just fine with me.  He also told me had to run and get a burp cloth while I was in the shower because "Baby Kate was spilling."

As I got ready for the day, Gavin started singing songs to his little sister just for fun.  His enthusiastic rendition of "Zip-a-dee Doo-dah" and the popular-but-tender "I am a Child of God" were completely charming.  I think Kate liked them, too.  

Surely she knows she's got a great big brother.

True stories

Yesterday afternoon Garry went golfing with some guys in the ward.  It was a " best ball scramble" event, where four guys made a team and took turns on each hole.  Garry's team made par on every hole.  Then, on the last shot of a nine-hole course, Garry sunk a 20-foot put and got a birdie for his team.  As he was one of the last to play that round, most of the five teams were watching as he made his final shot.  What a hero!

Then he had to get a ride home because he locked his keys in his trunk.  Even knights in dirty old cars have to be rescued sometimes.

Tyler, ever the sensitive child, asked me today why my tummy was still so big even though Kate is on the outside now.  A thousand thoughts floated through my head, but I ended up making some remark about regaining my former shape over the next few months.

Tyler's response: "A few months?  I was hoping for next week."

Me too, buddy.  But thanks for the interim shot of self-esteem.

Betsy got a makeover yesterday.  It included adding stuffing and re-stitching an open seam.  She is significantly fluffier but really needs a bath...and apparently her own car seat.

Lexi has started saying prayers all by herself.  They are completely adorable.  She has taken to saying "...and bless Jesus to be nice."

Despite his assertion that he's the "slowest reader ever," Zachary devoured the first Harry Potter book in just a few days.

Kate has regained her birth weight and is a whopping 6 pounds, 9 ounces at two weeks old.  She eats every three hours, is learning to distinguish between day and night, tolerates bath time, and is our only child to avoid jaundice.

Gavin can write his name and color within the lines. 

As is customary at this house, we slept with the windows open last night.  The outdoor temperature this morning was a brisk 48 degrees.  So, for the first time in months, we aren't running fans.  The Littles also ate breakfast in their coats.

And I got a haircut.

True story.

Stream of consciousness

Last night I pulled some lasagna out of the freezer.  On the foil cover were Sharpie-scrawled baking instructions in my friend Kym's handwriting.  I flashed a smile in the dark garage as I remembered the day my friends helped stock my freezer for days like today, when I am quite certain that dinner time would otherwise roll around without a meal plan.  It turns out that having an appetite hasn't cured my distaste for cooking.  Or planning for cooking.  Or eating, really, although I seem to manage that just fine.

..

Today I also raided the freezer for lunch.  No one in my family (except me) likes Creamy Chicken Taquitos, so I've decided to nibble away at the stash in the freezer by myself.  15 minutes from frozen to fantastic.  And I hardly dirty a dish in the process.

..

Which brings me to the sink piled high with dishes.  The sink was never piled high with dishes when my mom was here.  I might have to take up domesticity again now that I don't have the excuse of being sick and pregnant.  I'm finding I slapped that excuse on many things (for good reason) and that walking back into my old life is going to be a bit of a culture shock.

..

Between dilemmas over what to fix and the inevitable kid chaos at the table and the messy aftermath, I think life would be so much better if food was eliminated.    I'm sure God intends for me to learn to manage all of these things with more love and grace, but seriously, I'd be content if that whole element of my life disappeared.

..

I got my hair cut and [sparingly] highlighted today.  I told John that I'd like a shoulder length cut that is stacked in the back with a bit of an A-line.  He got everything right except the length, which falls around my third chin.  I'm trying not to have a coronary. It's just hair, right?  Hair grows...right?

..

Speaking of hair, it still cracks me up that Tyler tells me on an almost-daily basis that Kate has "so much hair for a baby."  I'm pretty sure she's our baldest child, but Tyler is convinced.  She also rarely wears one of the many darling hair bows I have because Lexi just pulls them off.  Kate is wearing a new headband today, however, along with the adorable outfit that flew in from an awesome Oregon neighbor yesterday.  We were going out, and I couldn't resist.  I should take a picture.

..

I'm still trying not to be one of those moms who never photographs the youngest child, but man, it's hard! Besides the fact that I'm too sleep-deprived and hormonally imbalanced to think a clear thought, when life consists of eating and sleeping and policing ornery children, who would think to whip out the camera?  "Here, Baby, sleep in your seat a while longer. There...that's a photo op."

..

And by the way, I'm kind of tired of being a police officer, especially when it comes to the neighborhood children.  That's all.

..

Who wants to buy me a plane ticket to Arizona?  I'm thinking that some Mesa show-and-tell is in order for the baby.  My parents and all five of my siblings and their spouses and kids, two cousins, and some good friends all live in/near Mesa.  As my sister-in-law put it, we live just close enough  that it seems like we should visit more often, but just far enough away that traveling is really time-consuming and expensive.  And then there's the whole family-of-seven-plus-school-is-in-session dilemma.  One of my brilliant children should invent teleporting. 

..

Sometimes I think Gavin and Lexi can actually teleport since they disappear so fast.  I was amused last night when I was searching the back yard for Betsy and found two small pairs of shoes and two crunchy pairs of wadded-up socks behind the shed.  The shoes have been missing for a few days.  At least we found the kids a little sooner.

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Gavin's occupational therapist says he's doing a "fantastic" job in his therapy sessions. She alluded to his "graduating" from therapy...but not until I bring Kate in to meet her. Ha!  Garry has taken Gavin to his last two sessions, but I'll go back next week.  It sounds like OT may soon be a thing of the past!

..

Another Gavin story: Last night at soccer practice Gavin hit his head on a tether ball pole. He cried so hard that he passed out and face-planted on the ground.  Pretty scary!  Garry was across the playground and watched helplessly from a distance.  By the time Garry reached him, Gavin was conscious again.  He has seemed normal since then.  What a blessing.

..

These are all the kinds of things I am used to posting on Facebook -- a line or two here and there, usually from my cell phone.  I have become accustomed to sharing these silly snippets from my life.  But I am abstaining from Facebook right now, trying to break the computer habit I developed during my long and bedridden pregnancy.  It's time to connect with people in real life instead of just online.  It's time to reconnect with my kids. It's time to move my body more.

After all, with this short hair, I really need to lose at least one of my chins.