3 weeks with 3 girls--and we're still alive!!!

Has it really been three and a half weeks since Eliza was born? It feels like yesterday and like 4 months ago. It's been a crazy and awesome 3 weeks. Having Reid around has been better than i could have imagined, and i don't know how i'm going to survive come tomorrow morning!!!

Grace and Abby have become even better playmates than they were before. And they're both such good big sisters.

It took Abby a few days to figure out that there's more to "being soft" than just petting Eliza's head. She really didn't get that vigorously poking the buttons on Eliza's p.j.'s and squeezing her hand as hard as she could were the opposite of being soft. She also seemed to need a bit longer to clue into the fact that Eliza was here to stay than Grace did when Abby was born. But she's "adapted" really well, and doesn't seem to be having the "i hate my baby sister because she's taken all the attention away from me" syndrome going on...yet! She really is so sweet when she talks to Eliza, and is extremely concerned if ever the binki isn't in Eliza's mouth. And, like all moms of two (or more) know, she seems SOOOO insanely big to me, i can't believe that i used to carry her around!!!

Grace adores her baby sister. She loves to hold her, burp her, talk to her and kiss her...until she cries, and then Grace is happy to give her back and play with her other little sister. Reid's being here has been awesome for Grace, too. Instead of watching a movie while Abby and i nap, she goes out and does fun things with her dad. And Reid's been so good at getting both of the girls out and doing fun things--museums, parks, swimming pools, the library, etc. He even took Grace to see her first movie in a theater-- Wall-e--which they both loved! She's so sweet to Abby, and so much help with her I can't even begin to write it all down. She's just growing up so much, and so quickly. I can't even count all the times in the day that i feel so proud of her for something new she's done or said. In fact, the other day, after cleaning up her toys she exclaimed "i'm so proud of myself!"--she must be hearing me say that lots lately, cause that's a new phrase for her.


And as for Eliza, she's perfect, she's adorable, she's a total snuggler, she's a great eater, she takes a binki, she sleeps tons, BUT she's a bit of a fuss pot! I'm not sure i can use the term "colicky" because it's not non stop, but it's way more than my other two. It's worse in the evenings, and after she eats. We've definitely figured out that she's allregic to dairy in my diet--which is a PAIN to elminate. it's not just a matter of not drinking milk or eating cheese--dairy is EVERYWHERE , hidden in EVERYTHING! (many of you out there have felt my pain!) So, i've cut it out of my diet, but there are other things that bother her, too. We're just still figuring it all out (any advice from moms out there who've had colicky babies would be greatly appreciated!!!), meanwhile i'm surviving on Twizzlers and Tofuti Cuties (thanks, Gillian!!)


But even with her fussiness she's completely won us all over. All it takes is for her to wrap her tiny hand around any of our fingers and we all light up like kids in a candy shop. Having 3 kids really is madness. it's crazier than anyone could have warned me. It's more than 3 times the work of two, honestly. And i'm sure that it's only going to get harder, since Eliza sleeps so much of the day right now....but i keep remembering what a lady from my church told me the other day when she brought dinner to us. She said that she NEVER rushed this stage of life. Her kids are all grown now, and she said she's so glad that she never wished for the toddler age to pass quickly. I realized that i wish for that ALL TOO OFTEN--perhaps daily...or hourly. And i don't know WHY i'm wishing this time to pass. So, I've made a conscious goal to stop waiting for a future that's most definitely going to be way harder than this, and to start really enjoying every moment with these sweet little angels who depend on me, who need me, and who think i am the greatest thing in the world (besides their dad, of course). Of course, this is all sweet and easy to say right now after 3 weeks of having Reid around. The real test is if i can enjoy them tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that...if we make it that far :)

My sweet Ziza
(that's what Abby calls her, and I can't help but call her that, too, sometimes)

So, tomorrow's a big day--a first of many--Wish us luck!!!

Disclaimer: I am fully aware that i'm insanely spoiled having had super-dad Reid around this long and i I REALLY don't know what i would have done without him!!! :)