A very loooooong update

Wow, almost a whole month since my last update.  That's because whenever I find my arms baby-free, I am rushing around like a madwoman trying to clean the house or prepare a meal or give a modicum amount of attention to one of my other children.  I'm not gonna lie, Sam is a high-needs baby.  But something weird happened this past weekend.  He developed a fever on Saturday and was EXTREMELY fussy all day.  Ever since then, he has been this really chill baby.  I don't want to get my hopes up, but I have been able to get SO MUCH DONE this week.  Including updating the ol' blog.  So, here is what has been going on the past month...

ELLIE
Ellie was chosen out of all the kids in her class to present at a district-wide technology fair.  She wrote a story on the iPad and scanned in pictures she drew to go along with it.  The story was about losing her tooth and she added lots of specific details and funny dialogue.  I love reading her stories.  We were super proud of her.

She has also started swim team.  I'll be honest, the kid is slow, but luckily she doesn't know it.  She seems to be really enjoying herself and that's all that matters (although her coach dad may not agree with me).

JACK
Jack is struggling having to share my attention with Sam.  We are having some serious behavior problems with him.  Even though he has been potty trained for almost a year, he started pooping in his pants every day after my mom left.  I finally took my sister's suggestion and had him pick out a toy from the store.  I made a chart and told him he could have the toy after he pooped in the potty 5 times.  Immediately after making the chart, he walked into the bathroom and went poo.  He hasn't had a poo accident since.  And now I feel like such a MOM for writing so much about poo. Gah! 

He has also been talking back, ignoring what we ask him to do, and throwing fits.  It has been a challenge, but I am really trying to just stay calm and talk him through it.  Sam takes up A LOT of my time and I know Jack is just trying to get my attention.  He really loves Sam, though, and is very gentle with him.

SAM
I won a mini-photography session with a friend who is starting her own business.  I really wanted some newborn shots of Sam, but he was not cooperating that day.  She did get some great shots of Jack and Ellie, though, including the ones featured above.

Sam started smiling last week, but it is a lot of work to procure one.  I think the key is to tickle his tummy.  Regardless, that smile is a total game changer.  Like I said, I spend a good part of my day holding this little monkey, but since he is my last baby, I am trying to enjoy every minute of it.

It has been quite the adjustment to go from 2 kids to 3.  We are outnumbered, and I often feel like Jack and Ellie are smarter than us, but we are hanging in there and hopefully not screwing up too much!