Blog, Interrupted

So this is not the be-all, end-all post that describes everything I am thinking and feeling about our beautiful new daughter and the changing dynamics of our family. This post is the one I can manage tonight to get me back into the blogging game.

First of all, let's start with an NTB . . . The hubby has a deal closing tomorrow and has to work super late tonight. Not bragging about the deal, mind you, but about my ability to get all three children to sleep by myself without losing my shit.

Now on to my Sweet P. So much to say, but for now I will just say that she is truly sweet. She eats well, sleeps often, and is seldom fussy. NTB and KOW (knock on wood). She has dark hair, emerging dimples, and long, elegant fingers. We are totally in love with her.

I will add that it's a pleasure dressing her every day. Girl clothes are "so much cuter."

Even the sleepers have extra details, like feet that look like shoes!

Bub and Little Bit are super enthusiastic big brothers. The give her many kisses, most of them wet and sticky. They enjoying hovering about an inch from her face when she is sleeping, resting, or having her diaper changed.

The observation deck. Bub tells me, "Put her in the 'plack' and play and let her squirm around."

When Little Bit wakes up in the morning or after nap, he starts wandering around saying, "Baby? Baby? Baby? Baby?" (pronounced Bee-Bee) until he finds Sweet P.

The other day I was holding a sleeping Sweet P and Bub and Little Bit were fighting over who could sit closest to me and her. I tried to talk Bub into giving the prime close-to-sister spot to his younger brother, and Bub protested, "But I'm the guy who loves her the most." That just killed me.

Daddy and "the guy who loves her the most."

[Note: All of the above was written on Thursday evening, shortly before Little Bit woke up and started screaming his head off. Now it's Monday evening, and I am determined to finish this post.]

Since Thursday, I've totally forgotten my mental blueprint for this post so I will just share a few more disjointed observations, add in some (already outdated) photos, and press "publish post."

* Hubby and I cannot believe how big our Little Bit looks ever since we came home from the hospital with Sweet P. I feel like I am changing a first grader's diaper these days.

* The boys are being very sweet to Sweet P. She had a cranky period earlier this evening where she was crying as I got her jammies on her. They were so worried. One ran and got a pacifier. The other grabbed the bottle she had abandoned earlier in the evening.

* The boys are not being very sweet to one another, which is tough. I know it's a stage and part of the transition, but it's frustrating that any time I leave the two of them in a room together, within two minutes, one of them is screaming. Little Bit has taken to screaming "MINE!!!" and then screeching. I'm noise sensitive anyway so sometimes I would love to be able to press a button and turn down their volume.

Hard to believe these buddies are so skilled at torturing each other.

* The most repeated phrase in our household after Little Bit was born was "Gentle, gentle." The new most common phrases are: "Give her some space." "Back off a little, boys." "Guys" (said in pleading tone)

* The boys CANNOT leave the baby stuff alone, whether or not Sweet P is using her stuff. The swing gets swung. The "plack" and play gets rattled. The bouncy seat gets bounced.

Just warming the swing up.

Who me? I'm not the one shaking baby's bed. I do not hear the words "no" or "stop."

"Sweet P"? "Sweet Cheeks" may be more fitting.

Cuddled up with Aunt Shell. Check out the socks and peek at those long fingers.

All in all, our transition from two to three kids has been smoother than expected. Sure, these days are long and full and tiring, but I feel really good, really happy, and really, really lucky.