changes

Yes, I know I've been neglecting this blog lately, just when I think life can't get any busier then it does! So what have I been doing? Being a mom of 3 means that someone always needs something, someone is almost always still awake at night. Madeline needs 2 dozen muffins for school tomorrow or I get "conned" into baking gingerbread cookies for the entire school. The cat ate the ribbons on the tap shoes. There is always a dishwasher to load, laundry to fold, it really is amazing how much laundry we go through now as a family of 5.

All is going well, Julian is still a chunky, happy boy. Gabrielle has become our recent comedian, the things that come out of her mouth are amazing! She has developed a bit of a cursing problem, both Ryan and I are to blame for that one.... Her favorite word right now is "fuct", oops. Madeline is developing an attitude that would rival a teenagers, is almost 7 the new 12?

I got a job offer! And am going back to school, oh boy. I am short one measly class and then I will qualify to sit for the IBCLC exam. I have my thousands of clinical hours in that they require, and all other classes except one, so starting Jan 4th, I'll be working on that. My goal is to sit for the exam in 2010. About that job offer, I can't stop thinking about it so I'm taking that as a sign that I'll be accepting. WIC wants to start a breastfeeding program in their local clinic, I've been asked to run it. It will be difficult to get off the ground, I'll be in charge of hiring, training, and supervising the counselors, but once the program is up and running then I will be able to work mostly from home. Funding isn't arriving until March so until then, my time will be minimal. I'm hoping to be wrapping up with my class by the time the job is really switching into full gear.

I wasn't looking for a paid job, this one just fell into my lap. It really is too good to pass up, there are few jobs in the lactation profession in my area, almost none that would allow me to work mostly from home. This one is a perfect fit for me. Extra money is always nice but I'm doing this for me. I've been at home for 7 years now, LLL work for 5, I have been itching to do something professionally, hence the whole reason I decided to try to sit for the IBCLC exam in 2010. This job is something that I could very happily do for years and still mostly be with my children, while keeping my skills and work experience current.

Dec

Long story but we ended up with another kitty. She was another rescue, I have a soft heart for homeless animals. Jasmine and Cinnamon have become best buds. I think we are going to need a bigger chair soon!

Must keep playing, so tired! This little guy has this annoying habit of going to bed and then waking up shortly after to play again despite being exhausted. Last night he was falling asleep standing up but kept on.

turkeys and tinkerbell

We have some random illness passing its way through the house right now. Put of sheer desperation yesterday, I finally got creative. I hate art projects with a passion, but I put aside that loathing and we created turkeys!

Here is our resident Tinkerbell. This is what happens when a 2 year and a 3 year decide to cut each others hair and then the 3 year later decides to finish the job.

Goodbye Dobbie

Our dog is gone. Dobbie was like our first child, we've had him since before we had children. He turned aggressive and starting biting Gabrielle, he went after her a couple weeks ago and bit her in the face, not breaking the skin, but it was enough that I knew he could not be around children anymore.

He had been a large part of our family, always there. I miss him very much

the kitchen

Turned out awesome. It was a long, painful project with several large bumps in the road. I will never take for granted having a working stove again! Next time we go to do a remodel though, I'll be highly tempted to move out for the duration....

Gabrielle is 3!

She is so thrilled. She keeps saying, " I am big!". We ran into a problem with her little party. Gabrielle doesn't have many friends, just siblings of Madeline's friends and considering that half of Durango seemed to have H1N1 (already it so we were good there!), we were lucky to have two sisters show up for her party.

Gabrielle saw this cake in a book and had to have it.

She is getting quite shy. After this pic was taken she almost burst into tears because we were singing to her, poor thing.

Julian turned 6 months old the day after. I just realized that this is the only pic I have of him for the last month. Oops. Such is the sad tale of a third child I suppose.

Gabrielle is taking a little dance class. She loves it. She begged to take a tap class like Madeline, but settled for any class!

Madeline is still taking her gymnastics but decided she wanted she take dance again. I signed her up for a ballet class, the first day she went, she insisted she was staying for the tap class right afterwards as well. She takes an hour and half straight of dance classes once a week. Her instructor suggested that she audition for the Nutcracker this weekend and she wants to! We'll give it a shot, I'm proud that she want to try but part of me doesn't want to commit to the schedule that they demand.

Julian will be 6 months old soon. He WANTS food. He is such an easy going baby, never crying but if you try to eat in front of him then he gets peeved. The girls never wanted food this bad, he will literally rip food out of my mouth. This morning he started sobbing because I was carrying food for the girls he wanted it. I gave him a little banana chunk in a mesh bag. He was utterly thrilled,. He sat in his saucer, shoving the banana in his mouth, and smacking his lips.

Julian isn't quite the little chunk like he used to be. He had a major growth spurt and lengthened out. I do miss the triple chin.