Life So Far with Three Kids

Posted by Chandra May 21, 2015

Life So Far with Three Kids

Everyone asks me how life with 3 kids is. How is Parker handling a new baby? And how is Rayleigh handling a new baby??? To tell you the absolute truth, life with 3 kids is amazing. Nothing beats a new born. They sleep ALLL the time and are so sweet and cuddly. Rayleigh is so tender and cute with Jack. She rarely is upset anyway but she is never angry with Jack for monopolizing my time. And arms. She likes to give him his binky and lay in his boppy. She is such an amazing sleeper that she really does make life easy on me. True, we don't leave the house much and when we do it's a circus and I couldn't ever do it without Tanner. But I love the way my heart feels- so much bigger than it used to feel. There's a lot of love in there.

Parker is used to babies so this whole adjustment has been a breeze for him. He's excelling in school and is very well behaved. The only thing I feel guilty about is not reading to him every night like I used to. I know we will get back into the swing of things so I'm hoping he'll be patient with me. Parker is a HUGE help with Rayleigh. He watches out for her and cleans up after her.

Something scary happened the other day though.

While I was upstairs feeding Jack and Rayleigh was playing in the backyard I asked Parker to go check on her and she wasn't there! Then there was a knock on the door and some women was there holding Rayleigh! Parker let her in and I ran downstairs and immediately started bawling. She was shaking too and said Rayleigh had been out in front of the house in the road. She stopped and picked her up and was going to knock on all the doors in the neighborhood to get her back to her home. Somehow the back gate got left open. It was from Tanner bringing out the trashcans or Kassidy coming home late and using the gate the night before. Whatever the reason I am so very grateful for this sweet angel who stopped and protected my precious daughter. I didn't get her name and I don't know where she lives. I made cookies for her and tried to find her the next day but I truly think she was an angel because I can't seem to find her.

After I got a hold of my emotions I fell to my knees in prayer thankful Heavenly Father for his watchful care. It's so scary when you lose a child. Like when Parker wandered off at the mall on Black Friday when his Aunts and Uncles were supposed to be watching him. There truly is nothing so terrifying. And sweet Rayleigh LOVES the front yard and has zero stranger danger. So many things could have gone wrong. But she is safe thanks to that sweet angel. And I am truly grateful.

We are excited for school to get out so we don't have to deal with pick ups and drop offs anymore! We have to get there early and most of the time Jack is not fond of sitting in his seat for that long. But we listen to music and make the most of it!

This was that one time when I tried to be super mom and take both babies to the park by myself. Apparently Rayleigh was so tired and just wanted to wander around and play in the dirt. She would dead man every time I tried to pick her up and lead her back to the playground so it was home and straight down for a nap for her!! At least I tried!!!

Loving on her little brother. She goes, "shhhhhh shhhhh shhhhh". So sweet.

Rayleigh is so ready to be potty trained. Every time I sit her down on the potty she goes. And it seems like every time she is out of her diaper she likes to poop. We gave big girl undies the old college try. Sure she peed and pooped all over the place multiple times... but we tried! She had a major rash on her leg so I let the accidents slide. Gotta protect that soft baby skin!

Oh! I just love those chunky buns!

It's fun having Kassidy home on Fridays. We watched the Bachelorette and she made a smoothie- which Rayleigh commandeered.

Nanny got a new play house! She's going to let us have her old one. We just have to figure out a way to get it from her house to mine.... But this new one is so nice! The kids love it!

I hadn't really had an opportunity to take my new bike out for a spin. So after church one Sunday we all went to the park. Tanner rode the bike there, Kassidy rode it home, and I rode it around the neighborhood! I love it!

Worst Mom of the Year Award goes to me. One day after school the kids were in the hot tub which is where they usually are. I was turned toward Parker talking to him when he yells. "Oh!" and when I turn around I see Rayleigh falling off the side of the hot tub right onto her head. I screamed a profanity in true SueAnn fashion and tossed Jack over to soaking wet Parker. I swooped her up into my arms and assessed the situation very calm cool and collected. I watched her eyes for signs of concussion and surveyed for bleeding. I was ready to have her throw up all over me but all her did was cry. After a minute or 2 I realized she didn't break her neck, I could release 911 from my speed dial, and I totally started bawling. I was crying, Rayleigh was crying, and Jack was crying and my awesome son Parker stood there and put his arm around us and kept saying, "It's ok, Everything is ok." What a stud. It was Popsicles all around after that. Rayleigh didn't even get a bump on her head! Just a nice scratch. Angels are watching over that princess, let me tell you.

(Don't mind the cut lip- that was just from when she fell off a chair)

She's going to be a great mom some day.

Food prep! With Kassidy here we have been going through food like crazy! And it's impossible for me to prepare any kind of meal for myself or my family with one hand, which is all I ever have now a days. So Tanner and I went to the grocery store late on Saturday night and spent $200 on all kinds of fruits and veggies, milk, and bread... just the staples. I spent hours the next day cleaning and cutting it all up, putting into little baggies so we could just grab and go. I know it's been super nice for Kassidy! (Who wouldn't love free food!) and it's been great for me too! I'm ready to lose this baby weight!

I love the side by side. Left side is Rayleigh, Right side is Jack.

Since this little girl is such a climber (we have to lay the kitchen stools down or else she will climb up them and onto the counter) I used my birthday money to order her this playground! Parker and I set it all up and it's great!!

She also loves the dirt.

She wasn't much help while we were putting this together for her. But look at Parker reading the directions and figuring it all out! He's the man!!!

Jack Tanner! 5 weeks old!

I love my 2 squishy babies.

Brothers. Parker is an awesome ball bouncer.

I know this is so totally random but I thought it was so cute that she picked out an apple out of the fridge and was eating it.

And (shocker!) watching Frozen.

I got Rayleigh a little chair for her room. She will go in there now and grab a book to read and just sit in it. So adorable.

She loves shoes! I feel badly for her since I wear the same old brown Rainbows everyday. She loves Auntie Kass' shoes!

And here is Kass talking to the gardeners about the gospel. Once a missionary always a missionary!

We sure do love our hot tub. And I was excited when I was finally able to sit in there and enjoy it again! Jack LOVES the water too. Seems like all 3 of my kids are water babies. I wouldn't want it any other way!