where shopping is a pleasure

I love Publix.  I knew this about myself, but it was confirmed yesterday when I took all 3 girls to the store by myself for the first time.  Not only did we all survive, but it also was one of the best experiences I've had!  Chloe was a dream, sleeping through the whole trip, and A and E were content and good.  (I'm sure it helped that they each got a cookie and a balloon with crayons!)  We went to our brand new Publix that opened last week... I really like the Publix we normally go to, but this new store, let me tell you... of course everything is new and bright and clean, but since it's new, everyone is super friendly and helpful, going out of their way to give you a pleasurable shopping experience.  They did just that... unloading my cart for me, loading it back up and taking it to the car are just a few of the ways we were helped... and it was all done with a smile!  I realize not all of my trips to the grocery store will be this great, but at least now I know it can be done with all 3 and I'm motivated to go back to the store next week!

this time last week...

Things were a little crazy in the Baugher household.  It was the beginning of the first full week it's just been us... but that's not all that made life a little hairy.  Esther's last paci disappeared last Monday and so began the week of crying and not sleeping!  (We had decided that once this one was gone, that would be it.)  She's very much attached to her paci and life without it was more difficult for her than we imagined.  From Monday to Friday, instead of sleeping during naptime as usual, she cried, screamed...even climbed/fell out of her crib with a big thud on Friday!  No nap for Esther meant no rest time for Mommy, not to mention that it seemed my heart was being ripped out with her cries for me...I've never heard her cry the way she did!  She did great during nonrest times, but when bedtime was even mentioned, the crying would begin again, and because she was so exhausted from not napping, she would fall asleep on me or Woody as we rocked her.  That all started Monday.

On Tuesday afternoon, the girls and I met Woody at the park.  As we were loading up to leave, I stepped backwards out of the suburban and missed the running board and before I knew what had happened, I was laying on the ground with a sprained ankle!  Thankfully Woody was with us to help me up and carry me into the house once we got home.  (Just so you know, I would not recommend spraining your ankle when you have a 3 year old,  a 2 year old and a 5 week old!)  Aaahh!  Our pastor just so happens to be a physical therapist, so he gave me some things to do for my foot and by Friday, I was up and going again and though it still isn't 100%, I'm getting around just fine now.

So by Friday, needless to say, I was laughing/crying at how the week had gone... me hobbling around and wondering what we were going to do with Esther, who still was not functioning well without a paci.  Oh yeah, and still taking care of a 5 week old and a 3 year old!  Woody was able to be home all day Friday and decided to clean out the car.  And guess what he found while cleaning it out?  You guessed it, Esther's paci.  We talked about what to do with it and you may think we're crazy for it, but when it was time for bed on Friday night, Esther got her paci... with the new rule that it has to stay in her crib.  We'd never really put any "rules" on her paci use and with the rough time she's had with getting a new sister and now losing her beloved paci, we thought it was best to give it back for now... and prepare her better for the day that it does go away permanently.  All is now well in the world of Esther.  She's sleeping great, going down for her nap easily and has had no trouble leaving the paci in her bed when it's time to get up.
 And all of that means that all is well again in the Baugher household!  

all the girls

My sisters, along with my two nieces came to visit us for a few days a couple of weeks ago.  Woody was a little outnumbered to say the least!  It was really good having all the girls here, and Arden and Esther loved having their cousins around!  It's not often that we're all together, so it made the time very special, but also too quick!  

Aunt Christi and Esther at the park...not sure what E is doing! 

Aunt Christi helped A and E make sock puppets...they even made one for Chloe!

Chloe got these little Japanese socks from Christi.  We call them her monster socks because they remind us of Where the Wild Things Are!  Too cute!

Chloe and Aunt Christi

Chloe with Aunt Jenni, Hannah and Halli

cousins

Jenni, Christi and I got a little time by ourselves...kudos to Woody and Hannah for taking care of all the little ones...what a great hubby! :)

And a couple of Chloe...

Notice the bald spot!!  Thankfully, she's got a little hair starting to grow back!  

Chloe meets Gram

A couple of weeks ago, we took Chloe on her first road trip. We went to St. Simons to meet her great grandmother, Gram, for whom she was named.  Gram was visiting St. Simons and fortunately we were able to make the trip up for the day to see her.  It was a fun afternoon of being with Gram, and Chloe stayed in her arms most of our time there!

It was wonderful to see you Gram, we love you!

3 weeks

I started this post when Chloe was 3 weeks old and now she's going on five weeks...oh my!  It's hard to believe she's already a month old.  Each day she is growing and changing and blessing our lives with her presence.  Chloe's a great eater and sleeper...at her 2 week check up, she was already up to 6 lbs. 12 1/2 oz from 5 lbs. 9 oz. when we left the hospital!  She's still a tiny little thing, but is definitely starting to chub up. :)  And the last couple of weeks, she's been going 5-6 hours between the late night and early morning feeding, which means a little more sleep for me-yay!    

We're so thankful for all the help we've had over the last few weeks.  G.G. (my mom) stayed with us for the first week and then Nonie (Woody's mom) came for the next week, which also included a short visit from Hannah, Woody's sister.  We had a few days of reality and then both my sisters came this week to meet Chloe and help out and stayed until yesterday.  And throughout, we've had friends from church bring us meals, which is always greatly appreciated!  

Although I haven't had many days with it just being me with the girls, I think I'm adjusting pretty well and by God's grace, will be able to do this whole mommy of three thing!  The girls are great with Chloe...Arden is a natural little mommy and wants to hold Chloe at all times and/or help out in any way possible.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that she's only three years old so that I don't let her do more than I should!  Esther, on the other hand, has just in the last week or two,  come around to really loving on Chloe and being excited about her.  The transition has been hardest on her and it really broke both mine and Woody's hearts to see her having a rough time with everything and crying out for attention that first week we were home.  We've tried to lavish on love and grace and thankfully, she seems to be doing better and getting used to life as a big sister.   

Like I said, I started this post when Chloe was 3 weeks old, so below are some pictures from her first three weeks of life...bear with me, you know I love pics, so there are quite a few!  I'll do another post with more recent pics and hopefully this time it won't take me 2 weeks!

"Look Mama, no hands!"

first bath at home...

Daddy's girl

Sisters

Papa, G.G. and Chloe

At home after taking Chloe to church for the first time a few Sundays ago...

Aunt Hannah and Chloe

Nonie and the girls

3 weeks old

grace

Both my sisters were in town this week until yesterday and so reality hit when Woody went to work this morning, and I was left alone with the girls.  After a somewhat crazy morning, the Lord gently reminded me that His grace is sufficient as we sat down to have lunch and Arden said a blessing...

"Dear God, Thank you for porviding (providing) this food.  Thank you for your son Jesus and for your grace.  Amen."

Yes, thank you.

pumpkins!

I know I need to catch you up on the last couple of weeks and I will, at least in pictures, but for now I thought I'd start with today.  We took the girls to get pumpkins this morning...they each got a small one and we're planning to go back later to get one to carve.  We all had a great time being out of the house and even though it's still quite warm here, I'm so happy that fall has arrived!

Chloe is clearly excited about getting a pumpkin!

The girls got stickers to decorate them...