berry good

frozen berry shake gets high reviews from the boys

blondies

Well looks like my weekly posting goals have become monthly ones. But just a quick note to let you know that we are doing well. The boys have been doing lots of 'swimming' this summer. E in particular loves to be in the water. A little fish. B is also a busy fellow. He continues to give amazing bear hugs and loves to snuggle (even if in spurts). And H, he's made the leap to pottying. I'm happy to report it had nothing to do with us: he started at camp and hasn't looked back. There have been a few slipups, but he's doing great.

A and I continue to be extremely busy with school/boys/and the hospital. I've averaged 80 hours a week and it is only due to a lot of help from our amazing au pair, my parents but more than anyone, A has managed to keep the house clean, the boys happy and growing and me sane. But don't worry, I am here to reassure everyone that I am not even remotely considering a career in surgery. Hopefully, more reasonable hours are on the horizon.

summer photos

apologies

So, yes, we are all still alive and better than that, we're doing well. Things have been unbelievably busy since I started rotations- in surgery no less. But the boys have been thriving. Some updates in random order:

H starts camp next Monday. He was very excited to order a lunch box online with me (wow definitely a different way of shopping with kids). He has sort of stalled out on the potty training and since camp has a no diaper policy, it may be a short lived camping adventure. But we'll see how it goes. H has spent a large part of this month learning the words to various songs. He has a very clear, sweet version of twinkle twinkle that I hope to record before he becomes embarrassed to sing it for us. He (as well as his brothers) are in desperate need of haircuts which hopefully will happen today.

E is doing well too. He whacked his forehead pretty hard yesterday playing on the couch. Other than that, E is learning to throw balls with more success. And he loves to tell us all the animal noises he knows. He also continues to be a world class jumper and climber.

B has an ongoing ear infection, but it doesn't seem to phase him much. He and E have been dancing to music and he particularly loves 'the Lion Sleeps Tonight'. He is getting in some big molars but has been going about it rather stoically (I suspect the crib railing is taking the brunt of his teething).

M is now coming into her 30th week. She (we?) passed glucose screening without a hitch and though my belly is feeling the effects of her sugar high. While surgery hours have been long, it's been nice to have her keeping me company at the hospital.

I have tons of great pictures to show you thanks to our au pair and her amazing photo abilities. So I'll put up another post of pictures so you can see what the boys have been up to during these hot summer days.

Baby Update- Week 25

While I think I made an announcement to everyone I know and have told anyone who inquires, we have known for about six weeks that we are having a girl. This baby will also have a name that begins with an E but rather than refer to her as E2 or baby E, I'll be calling her M since it is very close second to representing her name. Anyway, Baby M is up to the usual antics: lots of kicking, flopping, and while she hasn't found her way to my ribs yet, I'm sure she will. She's undoubtedly planning multiple acrobatic feats.

This pregnancy has not been very different from the first two: I have had a lot less ECP (for those of you that spent more than five minutes with me during weeks 14-32 while I was pregnant with the twins you may remember me casually mentioning the excruciating ligament pain that was the evil pain), not really any morning sickness-- just a few green days. All in all things are going well.

We recently explained to H that we were going to have another baby and he will have a sister. 'She's in momma's belly' was the most technical I got. He eyes my belly suspiciously. The inevitable first question was, 'How'd she get in there?' followed by 'Wanna see her. We needa get her out of there.' Long Pause. 'I think we're gonna need some scissors.'

Yikes! I hope not.

Celebrating Poppa's Big Day

Poppa turned 60 in late May and this past weekend we had a little party to celebrate the big day! H loves to celebrate birthdays, loves to sing 'Happy Birthday' and LOVES to blow out (aka all over) candles. He was up for the job when it came to Poppa's cake. (Full disclosure: I only had 2 candles that I could scrounge up for Poppa's cake, but no matter, H took care of them lickety spit).

On another birthday note: while not nearly as momentous, Oakley received a postcard from the vet wishing her a happy birthday yesterday. (More disclosure: I had no idea it was the dog's birthday this month but that's why we pay the vet the big bucks.) Anyway, I mentioned jokingly to Dad that it was Oakley's birthday. Who perked right up? H. 'It's Oakley's Birthday!!' He crowed. 'Needa bake her a cake! And sing 'happy birfday too!' ' He went over to congratulate her (and probably to ask what flavor cake she'd like).

Today when we got back from school/work, we asked H what he and his brothers did. 'We baked a cake for Oakley!' He reported. 'But she dinnin share any of it. She ate the whhhollle thing.' Wow, Miss Oaks, part dog part piglet, but Happy Birthday to you nonetheless.

a little cheese with your mac?

This isn't the best photography work on my part, but the picture is too cute to pass up posting. B and E are all smiles about their lunch-- mac n cheese. I used to only buy Annie's Mac n Cheese since I felt like it was moderately more healthy... but one day, Kraft (in the blue box) appeared in our pantry. And man, was it a hit. Really, it's almost ridiculous: you ask H what he'd like for lunch, 'Mac n cheese, pwease! Blue mac n cheese!' A guy has his preferences. But I prevailed again-- I found that Trader Joe's has a great version that tastes very similar to the blue stuff...