Farewell 2014

Just like that, another year is on its way out. December was a very busy month. I'm not sure why, but all the activity and to-dos caught me by surprise. We didn't do all the activities that we always do, but we had lots of fun together. The older girls and I saw a short Nutcracker performance and then came home and watched the entire thing on TV. They are now begging to take ballet classes again. Our whole family went to Zoolights where the highlight for the girls was seeing the tiger out at dusk when we walked in, not the actual lights or train we waited in line for. Go figure. Some other highlights were having friends over for a holiday party at our house, building gingerbread houses, baking cookies for the neighbors, watching the girls sing at their preschool holiday party and visiting Santa.

We are back from our road trip around Washington State for Christmas. We spent 3 days in Bellingham with my family and then another 3 days in Yakima with the Shirzads. It was a great time with our families that we don't see enough of. We missed being at our own house a little bit, but it was more important to be with our parents, siblings and cousins. Lexi and Zara were a little worried that Santa wouldn't know where they were, but we assured them that he would find them at Aunt Lydia's house. And he did. As a matter of fact, we still have some unopened presents. The kids were just spoiled rotten so we have a few presents that didn't make the trip that will be saved for future opening. The big hits for Lexi and Zara were stuffed animals from Santa, markers and coloring books, several different horse toys and Magnatiles.

In Bellingham we had a fun fancy dinner out for my birthday with all the adults in my family plus Sara and Eddie too. We went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at Lydia's church. Zara was sitting on Lydia's lap and Lydia dropped her candle after it somersaulted in the air, almost catching Zara's hair and the church on fire. Christmas Day was a big holiday dinner with lots and lots of family and fun.

We headed to Yakima the next day for another dinner and more presents. The weather was clear and cold, but no snow. Lexi and Zara are asking every day when we will have snow. Logically since it is now winter, they expect snow. We had a fun trip to the "duck park" and watched ducks and geese slipping and sliding across the half-frozen pond to snatch up the bread we brought them.

Ariana enjoyed the wrapping paper more than the actual gift inside the box this year for her first Christmas. She was full of smiles for all of her relatives who were excited to hold and play with her. I am constantly reminded how lucky we are to have this sweet baby girl. My three girls are the best presents ever!

As we wrap up another year, I am trying to focus even more on living in the moment and putting effort into relationships. More dates and quality time with my husband, one on one time with my girls that are growing up fast (kindergarten in the fall!) and some fun family vacations. This time of year a lot of people are organizing, cleaning and purging, but since I am a little obsessed and do that all the time, I'm going to spend the long weekend working on Ariana's baby book instead! She is almost eight months and I finally ordered the dang book last month. Now it is sitting empty on my dresser so I'm going to have some fun with that. First takeout and champagne for the grownups tonight to ring in the new year. We definitely know how to party. Happy New Year friends!

Fall Favorites

Life as a family of five is as busy as ever and this blog has taken a backseat. Here is a little bit of what we have been up to lately.

Making applesauce

Making Mantu with Bebejan in Yakima

Zara and Ari

Shirzad girls on Thanksgiving

Lexi

Zara

7 Months

It's been a month since my last post and Ariana is another month older. She is now sitting like a pro and rolling all over the place, even swaddled in her crib. Ariana is bright-eyed, observant and full of smiles. She lights up when her big sisters talk to her and babbles right back.

Solid foods are a big hit since we started offering them to her at six months. So far she hasn't refused anything. Butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peas, pear sauce, rice cereal and applesauce are in the regular rotation along with crusty baguette and mum mum crackers. She also insists on tastes of whatever I'm eating so she has enjoyed everything from pumpkin pie to lentil soup.

Ariana is 6 Months

This girl, oh my, I cannot get over her. She is just the sweetest, easy going baby girl. When I pick her up she hugs my neck tight and buries her head in my shoulder.

We had a rough patch of sleep with her waking up almost every night for a few weeks last month, but now she is back to sleeping through the night. Ariana still sleeps swaddled and takes two long naps during the day. She just started trying some solid foods this week - avocado and squash so far.

I changed my work schedule so I can be home more so she is no longer going to daycare. We are hoping that will mean she gets sick a little less too. She will be home with us most of the time and going to a friend's house once a week. I know how fast these years fly by so I'm excited to be home more with the kids and grateful that my employer and husband are so flexible and accommodating.

The Morning Race

I went back to work at my part-time gig a few weeks ago. The morning race to get to work is becoming more routine, but man it still takes forever! Before KIDS I would wake up, take a shower and get dressed and get to work about an hour later. Now it is more like three hours and some days I have to laugh to keep my Type A self from crying at the inefficiency of it all. This was today:

6:00 am: I hear Ariana wake up and start to talk on the baby monitor. I lay in bed with my eyes closed for a few more precious minutes.

6:10 am: Ariana is starting to fuss so I roll out of bed and walk to her room. I get her up and nurse her in her rocking chair. My eyes are closed for a few minutes and then I read my Facebook on my Kindle while she finishes feeding.

6:30 am: Put Ariana back in her crib to go back to sleep and hop in the shower.

7:00 am: After I get dressed (happy that the first outfit I pick out works with my nursing/post-baby body), go downstairs and eat leftover fritatta, roasted beets and apple slices for breakfast. Really thankful for breakfast leftovers.

7:15 am: Pack up bottles and diapers for daycare, my work bag, pumping bag and start loading things in my car.

7:30 am: Just as I was headed upstairs to wake up the baby to leave, Lexi and Zara come out of their room and M is in the shower. The girls both whine about minor injuries they have already suffered in the 30 seconds since they woke up so I calm them down and usher them downstairs. Neither one of them is dressed, but Lexi has her clothes in hand so I help her get dressed.

7:40 am: I throw together breakfast for the girls - leftover pancakes and greek yogurt with honey and get them settled at the table.

7:45 am: I wake up Ariana, change her poopy diaper, get her dressed for the day and nurse her one more time.

8:00 am: Put Ariana in her car seat and say goodbye to M and the girls. Brush Lexi's hair because she whines that she "only want's Mommy to do it." {M will finish his own "race" to get the twins to preschool by 8:30}

8:05 am: Finally in the car leaving the house with Ariana and notice my gas light is on.

8:15 am: Drop the baby off at daycare. She gives the morning teacher big smiles, sweet girl.

8:30 am: Traffic is actually moving pretty well and I get to the gas station quickly. Sit and wait for the attendant and wish I lived in a state where I could pump my own gas.

8:40 am: Hop on the freeway and go about a mile before I'm sitting in traffic on the freeway. Awesome.

9:00 am: Pull into the office parking garage and it's full. I circle the six floors of the garage in hopes that someone is leaving. No such luck. Finally get out of the garage and park several blocks away in two-hour street parking.

9:20 am: Take the elevator up to my office, get a cup of tea and sit down to answer emails and decompress from the morning. Now I just have to plan when I'm going to pump and when I'm going to move my car in between my morning meetings.

The mornings with three kids are hectic for sure, but I'm thankful for a husband that works at home most days and helps get kids ready and take them to preschool. I'm also thankful for a baby that sleeps through the night most of the time so at least I'm somewhat rested and not totally sleep deprived. My job is pretty flexible with arrival times unless I have a meeting scheduled first thing in the morning. I know you "just do what you gotta do," but I'm not sure I could do it all on my own full-time like so many mamas do. Huge kudos to all that do.