One! {And all the other things}

Well, hey there.  Long time.

Life with three is....wow....busy. (To say the least).  Blogging takes a way, way back burner, but I'm sad about that, about missing this record of our life, the mundane things, the progress of the kids.  Can one have too many memories recorded? I think not.

I can't really go back all the way to March, so I'm just going to start with the current stuff.

At the beginning of this month, Kioko turned one. ONE!  I know, this is not remarkable, but it just seems so huge to me. A milestone, and an an end of an era.  The last baby. All his firsts are the LAST firsts and it just breaks my heart a bit.  He has not been an easy baby (the SCREAMING! and the biting while teething and being busier and needier than the others) and still, I mourn the end of his baby hood, especially as he is on the cusp of walking.

We did...not much...for his birthday.  Started the morning out with (dairy-free -- because Malaikah can't tolerate dairy :(  ) pancakes with fruit, and then did a little photo shoot in the afternoon.  I've discovered that little boys in bowties is just about the best thing ever.

 July 1, 2017 

Oh! That evening we spent hiding in our basement because of a big tornado warning.  My first time.  That was exciting.  I'm happy to report nothing really came of it, though.  Phew.

I had wanted to get a picture of the three kids, but the weather was quickly turning, and moods were turning quicker so I gave up on that idea.  Tried again on Sunday, after church:

Huge success! 😆

Kioko fell asleep on the 10 min ride home, and Malaikah was ready to be anywhere else.  Still, I love this picture.  

I also wanted to get pictures in the Kenya shirt, of course:

these brothers.  

My greatest joy is watching the kids interact.  Kioko laughs hysterically at Malaikah's antics.  Kyalo always seems to be looking out for him.  It won't be long until he's really a part of them, a three-some of trouble and activity and mischief.

Kioko loves, loves, loves food.  Seriously, I'm not sure I can keep up with him.  Favorite things right now: eggs, blueberries (most fruit), salmon, hot dogs (it is summer!) ham, turkey, and so on.  There's just one thing that I've given him that he has seemed to refuse (but I forget what it is. Maybe he will, too). He's still nursing a lot (waking up too much at night, unfortunately).  

At his check up this month he weighed in at almost 20 pounds, 9 ounces, and was around 29 1/2 inches tall.  He's doing all right.  

 with his awesome pediatrician

And now, for a glimpse into our days....

beginning to climb out of his high chair

Getting into: 

cabinets...

...and drawers....

...and climbing up the stairs, and on the couches (and back off), 

 a moment of quiet repose

a picnic of sorts with Malaikah in the yard.

 and now he's standing in the high chair.  This is not good news, as the high chair was a great place to plop him.  Even with a lot of food he gets antsy and needs to be climbing out.  Oh boy.

 summer!

Look at Malaikah's face!

(still with me? almost done)

His latest tricks -- aside from climbing all over everything -- are  standing for big stretches of time, clapping with glee and pride.  Not long now till he's able to walk independently. Just this week, I said to him, "Kiss!" and he made a noise, and pursed his lips like he was trying to kiss me.  So it is basically my favorite thing ever now, and I try to get him to do it all the time.  These sweet moments. They help the hard ones.

He also says 'mama' rather consistently, but I'm never sure if it is actually referring to me, or if it is just the only consonant he can say.  I'm still claiming it as his first word, though.

Happy in the jump up.

surprisingly tolerant of the abuse of his sister.

There's so much more to say.  But mostly, he's healthy and happy.  He seems to love life.  He loves music and books.  He follows Kyalo & Malaikah around like they're the sun and moon.  It is bed time for me, and he's waking up (sigh....), but even so he's the sweetest and we love him.

And here's hoping I'll be back again soon.  Preferably, before Malaikah turns three in September.

6, 7 & 8 months

So.  Um. Hi. Happy New Year?  I guess it has been a while. Life with three kids is no joke! Have I mentioned that? Now that Kyalo's in school (and I'm driving him to and fro) and I have a part time job, there's so little time for blogging.  So we have a lot to catch up on.

In January, Kioko turned six months.  Six months is maybe my favorite -- babies are sitting, or at least more independent, able to grab at things, more engaged, etc.  Kioko wasn't sitting, but he would happily sit in the Bumbo ("bum-mo" as Malaikah says) as long as one of his big siblings wasn't in it.

 Kyalo wore this (probably Maliakah, too, but I can't remember!).  This is extra special to me as it is from a friend who died in January.

Happy to be in the deli line at Hannaford

In January, Malaikah figured out that she could hold Kioko.  She would say, "Sit Kioko's lap" when she really meant he wanted her to sit in his lap.  I love that she's wearing her Halloween costume here.

He also got a check up in January:

27 1/4 inches

17 lbs 1 oz

(growing 2 inches and gaining 2 pounds from November!)

February was 7 months (and Dexter's birthday & our 8 year anniversary!!)

Look how happy he is in Kyalo's arms!

 a little unsure of broccoli 

finally sitting without falling!  

Just a week after turning 7 months, later than the other two.  (M was the earliest at 5 1/2 months).

We are only just barely getting into solid food with him. He doesn't seem overly interested, and I am not pushing it yet.  Breastfeeding is still going so well, and this is my last baby, so....why rush it?  :)

And today, finally!  8 months.  Oh, my heart.  

first swim -- wearing Kyalo's old bathing suit -- he liked it.

my typical view

those cheeks! (and eyes!)

He isn't sleeping through the night yet, but gives me four + hour stretches sometimes, so it isn't awful. No teeth yet, either. I am not complaining about that one.  I love the toothless grin!

He has a funny little growl that really sounds like a puppy tearing into food sometimes.  

He has a ready smile, especially for Kyalo and Malaikah.  And follows them around with his eyes (and scoots around on the floor) adoringly.  Not long till he's chasing after them.  

I leave you with this...

nothing better than a baby's full-body laugh!

Let's hope I am back on track now!  

four and five months

So...I never made it to blog last month. Trying to think about doing two blogs this month seemed unlikely, so we're going to try to catch up.

November Kioko was four months:

 November 1 || 4 months

chomping on his hand, working on a grin

Part of the reason I didn't blog was because I wanted to get his stats:

November 8:

14 lbs 15 oz

25 1/4 inches

He grew an inch and a quarter from his appointment in September!  Now, maybe that's average, but it seems gigantic compared to my other kids.  

At the doctor's appointment that day, the doctor suggested that Kioko should be sleeping 12 hours which is, of course, no where close to happening (even now, at 5 months). She said the longer you wait to get the kid to sleep through the night, the harder it will get.  Yeah.  I know.  But I can't bear to listen to him cry in the middle of the night.  So, that's still a work in progress.  He cries a lot. And it isn't just a cry. It is a screech/scream thing that is so piercing.  

After that doctor's appointment we went and did our civic duty:

cutest voters 

And then, the next day, we woke up to the strange news that Trump had won the presidency. Oh! And my birthday. Happy birthday to me?  

These guys didn't seem fazed, though:

And I'll cling tight to them and their sweetness and hope that the future is not as dark as I fear it could be.

The days are getting colder so we're bundling up around here.

it isn't really that cold in my house, he's just so snuggly in this I hate to take it off.

trying out the high chair ( we could, technically, start food next month!)

Malaikah reading to Kioko. The best!

November 30

rolls!

December 1, 2016 || 5 months

a little bit of Christmas cheer there

grin.

So he's still not sleeping through the night. And sometimes he's up every two hours.  I'm trying to break that down a bit.  Suddenly a four hour stretch sounds amazing.  Hoping to get even that consistently.  

He has a gorgeous smile and a spectacular laugh.  He loves Kyalo and Malaikah.  It is so fun to watch him laughing at them, to see those relationships already starting in small ways.  When he's not crying, he's really very easy going -- will go to any one, will jump in the jump up for long stretched.  But his favorite thing is definitely to be held, which is hard when I'm trying to make dinner or wrangle the other kids.  Parenting is a 4 person job, am I right?

A few other things from the last few months:

I've been going to a Wednesday Eucharist service for over a year at the Episcopal church here in Norway.  I started because Dexter didn't work on Wednesdays (the glory days!) but have continued even since he started working Wednesdays earlier this year.  So Malaikah (and sometimes Kyalo, when not in school) has been tagging along with me.  The priest, Nancy, is so wonderful and welcoming.  And instead of shushing a busy toddler, incorporates her into the blessing of the bread.  There is nothing sweeter, I think, than seeing Malaikah's arms raised or her hands folded in prayer, or hearing her say "Amen" in anticipation of it coming.  Also, she loves to say 'Hal-ye-uh-ya' which is just the best.  Maybe she'll end up being a priest?!  Even if not, I will always cherish these tender memories. 

"Cha-Low! See? See? Dis? 'no!!"

We got a nice dusting of snow the week of Thanksgiving.  Malaikah was so excited about it -- hoping we have a white Christmas this year because she's at that perfect age.

too cool

Like a true Mainer, Kyalo helping to make crab quiche for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.

There we are - all caught up.