Conference Time.....oh how different they really are.

Yesterday we had conferences for my two older ones. Kayla is in third grade and Dominic is in kindergarten.

They do them differently then when I was a kid. Although, many things are different than when I was a kid (remember when you actually scored points in sports?....ahh but that is a whole other subject). Now they are student-led conferences. So, my daughter told us how she thought she was doing. She had to fill out a paper stating what she thought she needed to improve on and what she thought she was doing good on. Couldn't I have done this all at home? I did get a chance to talk to the teacher afterwards, though. But, didn't really learn anything I didn't already know. She is a smart kid that needs to be a little more organized. Over the years she has become my "quiet one". The teacher said she needs to talk more in school or at least "talk up" more in school. We don't have that problem when she is screaming at her brother and sisters at home. Mommy never had that problem (keeping quiet)either....not at that age or now.

Then we have my son's conference. The kindergarten conferences are not student-led. So, we actually get to sit down with the teacher and see her point of view....what a novel idea! I was pleasantly surprised at what she had to say. Despite how loud he is and how social he is, he is actually really smart. She said that many times when a child is very social, they lack in the academics. But, not Dominic. He is awesome all around! She said he is impulsive...again, nothing I didn't already know. He just doesn't know how to control his volume and his excitement. She said he shows that enthusiasm with everything, not just his friends. He is always jumping out of his seat to answer questions in class, too.

All in all, I have really great kids! I have a quiet really smart 3rd grader. And an over enthusiastic kindergartener. Both very different, but both great in their own ways. I can't wait to see how Annabel and Teresa will be once they embark on school. It is great to see their little personalities emerge. It is also great to hear "Your doing a good job" from the teacher to me as a parent. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Teresa...My baby

Teresa is the baby of the family. The other day my husband and I were talking about the day she was born. She came out screaming and literally screamed for an hour straight. Non-stop for an hour straight! While we were reliving that day, our kids in the back of the van were screaming.....trying so hard to talk over one another and screaming! We sat there and said "I bet, she thought that is what you do when you come out...scream". She probably heard my kids screaming all the while in the womb and when she came out, she just wanted to be part of the kids. And she was.

She was probably my most difficult baby. She pretty much continued to cry for her first 6-7 weeks of life. She was not happy to be in the real world. Finally, around 8 weeks or so, she became a little happier. I think she realized she was not able to climb back in, and would have to figure out a way to be happy here. She became content. But, that didn't last long.

She is a momma's girl. Wants momma and momma only. Around 3 months old she became really attached to me. Wanted me and only me. Screamed bloody murder if someone even just thought about holding her. I learned to vacuum holding her, cook holding her, do just about anything with a baby on my hip. Thank goodness for my maya wrap!

When she was 10 months old, I left her with my parents for 5 nights. That was probably the best thing I ever did. Now she loves my mom, too! She finally realized that if mommy went away, she would come back. She is now more comfortable going to other people. This past weekend, was the first time ever she went to my mother in law without screaming. We are making progress.

Even though, she was my most difficult baby. I have enjoyed her the most. While pregnant I made sure to take in every little thing, because I had a feeling she would be my last one. Even now, I can sit and hold her and just smell her forever. I love them at this age. So innocent, so cute, so little!

She has taught me a lot. She has given me more patience. She has forced me to sit down on the floor and see things from her perspective. (I literally have to sit on the floor at all times or she will scream at my feet). She has taught me how to love more than I ever thought possible. I never thought after having my first, that my love could just grow and grow. She has added so much to our family. My older girls just love her. Love to hold her, play with her, hug her, kiss her, and be her other little mommy. Dominic loves to make her laugh. She thinks he is the funniest guy in the world (probably because he is). She has made us a family of 6 and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love you, Teresa. Thanks for allowing me to sit on the floor and be a kid again.

Kayla.....my independent, helpful one

Kayla is my oldest. Oh, how easy it was back when it was just me, Michael, and Kayla. If only I knew then, what I know now.

Kayla was pretty independent from day one. She never was a cuddlier and slept in her own crib from day one. As a new mom, I was sad that she didn't like to snuggle up with me. She could be screaming up a fit, and I could lay her in her crib and she would be happy as a clam.

She has never been a sleeper, never been a big eater, and never been a big drinker from day one. I don't think she ever took more than 5-6oz of formula at a time and when it was time to switch to milk, she never liked the taste. It was a fight from the beginning to give her a set bedtime and naptime. And to this day, she will stall as much as she can to get a few more wakeful seconds.

I realize now that her love language is "quality time". She cherishes the most, the times we spend together. We could be scrapbooking, shopping, watching a movie or just out having some hot chocolate at the coffee shop.

She is my Little Mommy. I can always count on her to jump in and help just when I need it most. If she sees I am trying to cook dinner and I have Teresa pulling at my leg, she will get her and take her into the other room and play with her. She has been known, on more than one occassion, to be at someone else's house and clean up their playroom. That is just who she is. She takes after me in being the one that will go above and behind to help out someone in need.

Here is the perfect example. Ever since she was born she had the most beautiful hair color. It is a reddish, brown, blonde color. We are forever getting compliments on how beautiful it is. Well, she was only 4 years old and she come up with the idea that she wanted to cut her hair and donate it to a child that needed it. So, we went out and got 12 inches cut off and sent it away to be made into a wig for another child that needed it. That is just how Kayla is. She is always thinking of someone else and I love that about her.

She reminds me alot of myself. And sometimes that bites me in the butt. But, oh what a wonderful compliment to know that she wants to be just like me when she grows up. I must be doing something right?

I love you, Kayla! I love spending time with you, too. I love that you enjoy scrapbooking with me and just sitting with a cup of hot chocolate (or coffee in my case). I love that you enjoy helping me out and jump in right when I need it most. I know I can always count on you and I hope you know you can count on me, too.

Dominic....my happy boy

Dominic is my second child. He almost always has a smile on his face. He loves to make you laugh and smile. He brings joy to nearly everyone he meets.

He makes friends so easily. Sometimes I am envious of that. We can be anywhere...Target, church, going for a walk....and everyone knows Dominic. He has more friends than I ever did. I will say "Dominic how do you know him?" He will continue to tell me from baseball or summer camp or soccer or school or wherever he recently was. And her remembers all of their names! This boggles my mind. We had one baseball practice and the next day, he was going around giving high-fives to every kid and calling them by name. He knew the whole teams name! Now, Annabel on the other hand, if I ask her who she likes in school (which, by the way, she has been going to for over a month now), she couldn't tell me any names.

He will never be left standing in the corner all by himself. Most other kids just flock to him. It must be his goofiness and his constant smile that makes other kids want to be his friend.

Boy is he goofy! He is constantly falling down on purpose just to make you laugh. Last year at his preschool graduation, he was first in line processing in. They were holding up American flags and singing Yankee Doodle. Well, Dominic was holding that flag up high and screaming "YANKEE DOODLE WENT TO TOWN, RIDING ON A PONY". I can still hear the way he was singing it in my head. He had me smiling and laughing so hard, that I was crying. The camera and video was so unsteady from my shaking so hard. I think most of the parents were watching my kid more than their own because he was so funny!

I was telling my brother this story afterwards and he said "I have always said that Dominic will end up on stage doing something to make people laugh some day". I didn't believe it, until that day.

Every day when he gets off the bus (every single day!), he comes running from three houses down, drops his bookbag, and jumps into my arms. He has the biggest smile on his face the whole time! Boy does that make my day.

Dominic, I love you, thanks for bringing me tons of smile and laughter to my days!

Will you have anymore?....

"Will you have anymore?". Why is this the first question people ask once they know you have kids? You just have a newborn....."will you have anymore?". You can have one child or 10 children and people still want to know "will you have anymore?". What is the obsession with this question?

If I had a nickel for every time someone has asked me this question, I would really be rich. I probably have someone ask me this at least once a week. Especially, once they hear I have four kids already. The more kids you have, the more often people ask you this question.

I will admit, I have been known to ask this question myself. I love big families, so for myself, I just really want to know who else is as crazy as myself.

So, when people ask me this and I say "I don't know, maybe?". Half the time I get the look like I am crazy. And the other half of the time, they think it is great.

Will I plan on having more? Probably not. But, I can't say that God doesn't have other plans for us. I would love for Teresa to have a close sibling, but I really don't know if I want to take that leap or not? If I did, I would really get crazy looks. I know a lot of people with 4 kids, but only one with five. Although, I do know two that have 7 (actually, 3 if you count my mother in law....yep, my husband is one of 7).

So, Will you have anymore?..............

"Someone made me pee the bed"

Annabel, being the middle girl, often gets lost in the shuffle of things. So, here is yet another blog entry on my Annabel.

We are in the process of trying to get Annabel out of pull ups at night. This has been a battle from day one. She was my hardest out of all of them to potty train and it continues to be a battle.

We have tried every incentive imaginable. Stickers, treats, trips to Chuck E Cheese, sleepovers, you name it.

One morning, after having a full pull up she says to me "I don't know how not to". How do you teach a four year old to get up and potty in the night? We have tried waking her up in the middle of the night......but how does that actually teach her to wake up? We have tried no drinks after dinner. No juice. You name it.

The most recent excuse........"Someone made me pee the bed". Of course, she blamed her brother, Dominic.

She said to me one day "I will stop peeing at night, if you let me wear underwear to bed". Wow! Could it really be that simple? Um NO! I have changed wet sheets every night since. She wakes me up in the middle of the night when she wets the bed. So, maybe this is a start? Now that she realizes she is doing it, she will now start getting up? We will see.

Annabel.....The best hugger ever.

I think it is so funny how when you tell a kid (under the age of 5) something and they take it as gospel. I once told my 4 year old that she "Gave the best hugs ever". And she totally believes it....as she should, her hugs are pretty damn awesome! If anyone is talking about hugs, she will interject "I give the best hugs". She often gets into screaming matches with her siblings about who gives the best hugs. I will hear "MOMMY SAID I GIVE THE BEST HUGS EVER".

Annabel definitely has physical touch as her love language. Have you read that book before? The Five Love Languages? They also have The Five Love Languages for Children. A book I highly recommend. I have read it and read it over again. Really helps you figure out what sort of things make your kid tick.

Annabel loves to sit on my lap, give hugs and kisses, or just hold my hand. Now that Teresa is getting bigger, they now fight for my lap. If she knows you, more than likely she has sat on your lap (that is if mommy's is not available).

I was surprised how well Annabel adjusted when Teresa was born. Before Teresa was here, Annabel was always with me. On my lap, wanting to be held, or just wanting to sit with me all the time. She never got upset once Teresa was here. But, as soon as Teresa was put down or someone else took her, onto my lap she went. I love that she loves to be with me.

She will tell me she loves me all the time. And often, right at the right time, too. Or not so right time. I would be busy paying bills or doing something that requires my attention and I will get "mommy. Mommy. Mommy!" And what do you think comes out of my mouth next? You know, moms out there. "WHAT?!" And she will sweetly say "I love you". How do you not change your attitude at that point? I swear she always has something else on her mind to say, but then decides to just say "I love you", just so that she doesn't get yelled at. LOL. Smart little girl I have there.

Next year I will surely miss her to death when she goes to kindergarten all day. Who will keep my lap warm? Who will give me the best hugs right when I need them? Who will say I love You, just at the right time and when I need it most?

I love you, too, Annabel. And you really do give the best hugs ever!

About me........

I am not a very creative writer. So, this may be a bit boring for some of you. But, I thought it would be fun to try and write down some of the ups and down and all arounds of being a stay at home mom of 4 kids. I think it will be cool to go back and read these stories of my kids. How cool would it have been if our parents would have written down the good and bad days of being a parent?

Most people, upon first meeting me, probably think I am not a very happy person. My normal facial expression is not a smile. I probably always look like a grump. But, after talking to me for only a few minutes, you will realize that I am a pretty nice person with a weird sort of humor. I tend to be sarcastic and I hope people get that part of me. But, all in all, I am a really happy person.

I will go out of my way to try and help someone. One time I received an email from someone that was part of a moms group. I had never met the girl, but she was looking for advice on a doctor because she needed a second opinion on something that was going on with her daughter. The next day her daughter was having surgery. Without even thinking I called her up and told her I was bringing her dinner. I packed up the dinner I was making for my family and took it over to her. That is just the type of person I am. I love helping people.

I love being a mom! I love being a stay at home mom! If I never had to work another day in my life, I would be totally OK with that. With that being said........there are definitely days I say "tag, your it" to my husband as he walks in the door. Like all moms, I need a break, too. And will head to the local coffee shop for a white chocolate mocha and relax.

As I have said...I love helping people. That is why I decided to become a nurse. I work with geriatrics, which is much like raising kids. The one thing I love about working in this area, is that I love hearing the stories of long ago. About what it was like before cars, before TV....when life was simple. Some days I think to myself "I think I would have enjoyed living back then". I only work a few days a month and that is totally enough days for me. Just enough to get me out of the house and pay a bill or two. I hope to never have to go to work full time. I want to be able to help out at the school, be a lunch mom, a room mom, and be here when they get off the bus.

Getting off the bus........that is about the worst time of day for me. Not because my kids are coming home, but because everything happens all at the same time. At 4pm at my house, it is a mad house. Don't ever call my house at 4pm. My kids are walking in the door from school, dinner is on the stove, and the baby is waking up from a nap. Homework needs to be started right way, because most days we have to run off to soccer, baseball or some other thing for the kids. I have to try and keep the baby happy, help with homework and finish dinner all at the same time. All while praying that my husband is getting off of work on time and will be home shortly to help with this chaos. Oh, how I hate those phone calls at 430pm saying "honey, I am leaving late".

And my husband......my very best friend. Without him, I would not be who I am today. He is a wonderful husband and such an amazing dad to our four kids. My kids look forward to when he gets home and go running to him as soon as they hear the door knob turning.

All in all, I am a pretty normal stay at home mom. I love my kids more than you can imagine (well, most moms probably can imagine), and just like most moms, need some "me" time, too. I have a great marriage and look forward to spending the rest of my life with my husband and watching my kids grow from babies, to toddlers, to teens, to adults.

More on my kids to come.......