Late again. Honestly, for most of the week it was a miracle I kept my family alive, there was no chance of me blogging. I don’t talk about politics much here, partly because it doesn’t come up when I’m mostly sharing photos of my family, partly out of a desire to avoid conflict and partly so my parents don’t have to constantly pray for my soul (we have…very different opinions on many things). But in this case I feel like I need to be clear: I am devastated and shocked, to a degree that has surprised me. I wasn’t at all prepared for these feelings and I’m struggling. I don’t expect my blogging schedule will get any better in the next few weeks.

Sunday:

Caroline’s favorite hobby

Still gotta catch ’em all

The location of one of my best photoshoots to date

Monday:

Couch naps are happening here more and more

Sure, why WOULDN’T you hit me with a stick?

Trick or treating

Tuesday:

This bear was such an excellent purchase

Bus stop hand holding

Edit all day, edit all night

Wednesday:

We really like fall

One of the last days where the sun doesn’t set before 5 pm

Rolls on rolls

Thursday:

Snuggle all day

These pants tho

Evan’s face when Linc meets him at the bus

Friday:

His head is SO ROUND

Someone found the donut holes

Card night

Saturday:

Every kid at mini sessions asked if this was a haunted cabin

I love working

I do not love this new hairstylist

I’ve spent the last two morning in Mystic, enjoying the fall weather and sunshine and refusing to let myself wallow. They also sell fudge. That might be the real reason I’ve managed to drag myself out of bed.

This was two weeks ago. I keep failing at this “post more, in a more timely manner” way. But I finished my photography work this weekend – at least the shooting part, now I just have to edit – so hopefully I can catch up and finish the four posts I have in drafts. Although they’re all about how having 4 kids is hard, so maybe I’ll make it one post.

Sunday:

One of my favorite fall spots

Beautiful evening for a photo shoot

I came home to video games and no pants

Monday:

This is why I hardly blog

They’re obsessed with our Halloween decorations

I’m not crying, you’re crying

Tuesday:

Smirk captured by Lincoln

CHUBS

His hood has fox ears

Wednesday:

Portrait mode – cool, but lousy in low light

He fell asleep on me…

…but didn’t budge when I got up to make dinner

Thursday:

Shenanigans

Lap naps

Edit edit edit edit

Friday:

These are my favorite jammies

Hand me downs are her favorite

Movies in the car during piano lessons = game changer

Saturday:

SNACKS ARE HIS FAVORITE

End of soccer season reward

Pumpkin shopping

Oh look, I’m almost finished and now the baby is awake again. One day I will get a full hour of free time.

Finnegan is 2 months old!

(Lincoln: 2  Months, Caroline: 2 Months)

If tiny babies are good at one thing, it’s making you appreciate how easy tiny babies are when compared to toddlers. But since this isn’t a Lincoln update post, I’ll try to avoid talking just about him. But you guys, the Terrible Twos are in full swing. SO MUCH SWING.

Speaking of swings, Finnegan really loves his swing. He sleeps longer in it (like his sister did) and it calms him down even if he’s fussing. I’m a little afraid we’re going to create a monster who ONLY sleeps in his swing and never flat in a crib, but I also really like sleeping for more than 45 minutes at a time so for now he can swing as much as he wants. I’ve managed to leave the house without him FOUR times in the last week (all for work, because October is crazy for photographers, even photographers who aren’t really trying to work). He’s still so-so about taking a bottle but it’s not really negotiable for me. I need to be able to let someone else do baby-care for a few hours, for my own health and sanity. I’m averaging just under 5 hours of sleep a night, at least half of which is with the baby on me.

Baby Finn is wearing 3-6 month clothes almost all the time now, and I’m not buying anything smaller than 6-9 months. He’s enormous: 14 pounds, 8 oz at his 8 week check up, which puts him in the 90th percentile. I feel like he’s only going to get chubbier too, since the only energy his baby life currently requires is being awake enough to eat and poop and he’s mastered doing both of those in his sleep. He doesn’t hate the car or the store or going places, but he doesn’t seem to really enjoy anything yet. Besides snuggles. He enjoys snuggles. Lots and lots of snuggles.

He also liked sitting in this chair for his 2 month photos, which seems weird to me. Are 2 month olds even allowed to look so big? I don’t think so.

Likes: eating, sleeping, looking at things, his siblings, being warm

Dislikes: gas, pooping, bad dreams, having cold feet

2 Month Milestones 

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
Vocalizes: gurgles and coos – Sometimes, not a ton
Follows objects across field of vision – With a lot of head bobbling
Notices her hands – He started sucking on them, but hasn’t really “mastered” that
Holds head up for short periods – You can even see his neck!

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
Smiles, laughs – Lots of smiles, but nothing I’d call a laugh
Holds head at 45-degree angle – I’ve never understood this question
Makes smoother movements – There’s definitely less startling than as a newborn

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Holds head steady – No, he’s a bobble head
Can bear weight on legs – Occasionally
Lifts head and shoulders when lying on tummy (mini-pushup) – Hahaha I’d have to put him on the floor to see this and I never put him on the floor. He’d get trampled.

I’m going to write a real post. Soon. Maybe even 2 posts. I have thoughts and things to say about going from 3 children to 4, about how our routine is working, and about how my big kids are becoming more responsible. And Finn will be 2 months old in just a couple days so I’ll have that one up too. Blogging is hard.

Sunday:

Perfect outdoor weather

These are not my chickens but I really like chickens

Two parties in one day = sugar overload

Monday:

Cupcakes are a poor choice in a bounce house

Camel wearing

Finn’s face looks like this about 87% of the time

Tuesday:

The only thing I did all day was clean this up

Bus stop face

A+ sibling interaction

Wednesday:

Playgroup art is high quality art

Playgroup is also exhausting

Seat stealer

Thursday:

Helping change the sheets

My favorite tree

After school shenanigans

Friday:

The only place he’s sleeping right now

IPAD OBSESSED

The huge bear was an excellent purchase

Saturday:

Rounded head ever

Corn-mazing

This was not as good as I had imagined

I had a photo shoot yesterday and needed someone to watch the kids, so I bribed my friend Steph into doing it by promising her a photo of her kids for their Christmas card. That meant she watched seven children under the age of seven. So when I’m feeling overwhelmed by my four, I just keep reminding myself at least there aren’t three more of them all the time.

OH MY GOSH I NEVER POSTED THIS. This is your brain on sleep deprivation, kids. You write a post on Sunday and don’t even realize it didn’t publish to your blog until Friday.

Finnegan is working on winning an award for being the fattest baby ever, so if I’m not nursing I’m throwing food at one of the other kids quickly so I can go back and nurse some more. I wrote “this too shall pass” on my foot, so I can stare at it while I’m trapped on the couch. Again. So this week’s photos (and every week for the next 6 months) are pretty boring

Sunday:

E: Why are you taking a photo of the fog on the bridge? Me: You have to! It’s the Golden Gate! E: You’re so weird. *ten minutes later when we meet my parents* My Mom: DID YOU SEE THE FOG ON THE BRIDGE? I TRIED TO TAKE A PICTURE!

Tired baby transferred from the car to the luggage without waking up

That face was my face through the whole rest of the trip

Monday:

Maybe I shouldn’t have left my dog at this kennel…

Is anyone watching Westworld? It’s really weird.

Nurse nurse nurse nurse nurse

Tuesday:

The toddler is the scariest part of these decorations

Little cub

Soccer night

Wednesday:

This was an excellent idea

Tresspassing

DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY.

Thursday:

Checking to see if he’s asleep

A really good afternoon

Wearing two babies!

Friday:

Piano lesson car nap

Sleepy face

How is this possible, it was so clean less than 24 hours ago…

Saturday:

God bless this van and the movie screen in it (especially when it’s freezing at soccer)

Fall is OK

Excuse me, why am I not nursing rn?

OK, now I have to go to bed because the baby is asleep for his 45 minute nighttime stretch. It’s delightful. I’m not even going to TRY to go upstairs. Couch naps forever! (quiet sobbing)