Resilient

"Another, picture, Mom?" says Allison. When is it enough? Never!

Mostly, I like to think of my role as a Mother as channeling positive energy and filtering the negative into the garbage. However, the role of these children have been to teach me to be resilent!

Abby has poison ivy and has had it for over two weeks...bouts with steriods have not helped too much. She has a topical med now that you cannot get near your eyes. You should read the horrifying side effects and I am putting this on my 6 year old's face. Sometimes I wish I could not read and just live in oblivion. At least, besides the itching she is fairly well-tempered. Kids are more resilent than us adults at times! At Vacation Bible School... she was worried that they were going to identify her as the "leper" as they were recounting the story of Jesus healing the leper.

On the way to the doc again for the poison ivy...Libby got overheated in the car and threw up Cheetos puke everywhere. That was one way to keep me from eating Cheetos for a very, very long time. After a roadside change, odd looks from passerbyers, and such...we were on our way back home to try for the appt. at a later TBD time. Libby was finishing her Happy Meal on the way home...resilent.

Teddy has been dealing with life outside the womb. I have one word for that: resilent. Can you imagine three doting sisters? The women in the nursery realized nothing can get passed this Y Mom. The Y workers said that Abby was documenting their every move with him while I was working out today. Allison was sneaking around and making sure that they were nice to him. Lib kept telling everyone that is,"My Teddy and calling him "sweet boy". He is very loved.

Allison continues to amaze me with her ability to stay patient and learn things be oral instruction. At four, she repairs toys and adds new batteries using a screwdriver, cleans DVDs and handles most technical difficulties, signs on to her web-kin web sire by herself, and finds inventive ways of getting the job done. She is a lot of fun to watch her mind work: independent and resourceful. She is resilent.

OK, We finally got the painting done and then I had to add a little Uppercase Living to the kitchen and hallway. I am not sure about the "brown", but we did it in the living room as well. We replaced all the light fixtures pretty much in the house. We also got new doors in front and back. Lots of stuff going on here with the house!

I just have the bathroom downstairs to paint for the third time since removing the wallpaper three years ago. I am also working on curtains-making them with the help of my Mom...OK, she is making them! I am trying, but I stink!

Luckily, I have a friend, Steph, that helps me make better paint choices and the bathroom might be painted for the last time! Then more painting upstairs bathroom, girls bedrooms once again, and our room and bathroom.

Why is always the last room to be finished is our own room...our retreat? Some things are going to change now that I realize the good things in life are not a new bedroom set, but a fresh coat of paint and making it feel like ours. We will make a house a home with color and a place of love, comfort, and relaxation. I am working on it...nesting is always happening here.

The Girls

The girls have been busy this summer already with wanting "PLAYDATES". Abby is already missing her friends in one week of being out of school. She is adjusting to being at home. I have provided some fun things to do, but man....I just want to rest sometimes and chill out. She is so scheduled at school that as she is relaxing she seems even more tired than when she was moving at 100%!

Allison did beautifully in the wedding of Ted's cousin, Jim. They were married this past weekend. She walked down the aisle with another little flower girl and was not scared at all. This was a huge step for Ally. She is a bit shy at times and doing things to help her bust out is already in the works. However, she does not like soccer right now. Ted has coached her team for the last several weeks and she is yet to get out on the field. A flat out NO!

Ms. Lib...all I can say is there has to be a place in heaven for me with this child. It is all I do not to but heads with my Leo. She is high spirited and quite the party girl. At our last get together, she went in to try to potty and came out naked. She stood at the glass door and said, "Naked, Naked, Naked" then she shook her bottom. This one likes shock value and also she enjoys being the center on the universe. She still has not decided whether or not she is going to go on the potty 100% of the time. I never thought I would have had to wait until almost 3 to potty train her. She has to decide it is what she wants to do. She is a lot of fun!

Teddy...just precious, well-tempered, and loves us all so much. He was 11 pounds 13 oz. at his 4 week visit and not that I give much heed to the "charts". He is in the 95 percentile right now, but my kids seem to start large and then taper off. He is very aware with his smiling and cooing to all of us. He has the saddest hurt cry ever. I hate hearing that one. I have enjoyed dressing a little boy and him being different, too. He is sweet and we adore him.

Teddy is very special to us! It is almost as if I have always known him. God has prepared me to care for this little one. I am much more aware of the awesome job I have of cultivating his life experiences. I think he will bring about the balance that we need in the Stann home and not just because he is a boy, but because he completes us.

An Essay My Friend Jen Found

Very interesting for all moms of three or more kids! I am not sure that I have started swearing at them, but I think that I felt like it for sure! How easily we forget what it is like to care for a newborn and three kids...now FOUR for me coming soon.

JEN WROTE:

I found this woman's website/blog about being a mom to three kids, and due to my current situation, found her essay to be hilarious. I especially like #5 = that the LaLeche League book "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" doesn't properly prepare you for nursing in combat situations...

http://www.havingthreekids.com/havingthreekids.html

Copy link above.

Sleet, Snot, and Swimsuits

February Missouri days consist of sleet and no school, lots of snot flowing from Lib's nose, and the need for my tiny 2 year old to wear summer clothing or a swimsuit daily. She also has an imaginary friend named Minnie who is a mouse. Each day her friendly mouse's name changes so she gets frustrated with all of us and calls us "stinky gopher bottoms". Thank you Ted for teaching them this funny and not so useful phrase.

I love Lib. That is all I have to say, but as for the sleet, snot, and swim suits.... I wish them all away until I am about a year post-partum.

Check out my Slide Show!

Birthday Pictures

Ted and the Crew

No, this is not our baby boy...that is a girl and our newest Stann member, Kailyn Rose. She does not resemble her cousins. She is a tiny little one. We just love her and her wonderful, many faces. Uncle Andy has captured dozens of pictures of Rosie. Grandpa is calling her Rosie. I am not sure if Andy and Jenny are cool with that!

This picture was taken on Abby's 6th birthday party with our family. After Mass, we made brunch here at out house. Everyone was a bit late, but the brunch still was good reheated! It is hard to have brunch ready and hot for everyone at a party. I am not sure that I will do that again. It was a good idea at the time.

Abby guests included: Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Becky, Uncle Andy and Aunt Jenny, Baby Kailyn, Mrs. Craft, Helen, Uncle Mike and of course her sisters Lib and Allison.

It is getting closer and closer until we welcome Baby Boy Stann. We are calling him Teddy right now as we cannot come up with any names that we agree. Ted told me he gets to name the middle name if we call him Theodore, "Ted", "Teddy" As long as he is not Thaddeus and "Thad", then I am OK if he has ten middle names that I despise. These boy names are hard. He was supposed to be Cecily Jane with one "L". We really loved our friend, Monnica's sister's name. I am not sure why we did not think of it three girls ago. We'll save it for the next one...just kidding Mom, Dad, and whoever is reading this in our family.

29 weeks on Monday, Feb. 4th!

Christmas Morning

The girls really had a fabulous morning and were so grateful for the many gifts they have been given by Santa, Mom and Dad, and family. Everyone was very generous! We had a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas night and we sang, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" It was good to keep in mind the reason we celebrate since that is what makes Christmas so special to us.

A Day at the Park

A day at the park right when the weather was turning colder. I love this shot of Libby. I thought that it was really natural and how my Lib looks to me. I am so thankful for her energy and spunk. I am tired most days with being pregnant and she keeps me going.

Abby, Ally, and Lib Welcome a....

BROTHER this April 2008!

We were truly excited and shocked that the ultrasound does not lie when there are boy parts.

Halloween at New Town

BibleGateway Verse

Abby Scores First Goal!

Abby has really been enjoying soccer on her kindergarten team at St. Joe's. Of course, I am one of the only parents that loves to cheer and get excited about the game. I am sure I sound obnoxious so much so that I sometimes find myself nervously holding back then blurting out.

The team has been doing pretty well. They lost the first game to the PINK team. It was 3-1. The PINK team had a dynamic identical twin duo. It reminded me of the Franklin soccer twins...Court, you would remember. Anyway, they were cute little blonds that were very fast! The second game was PURPLE team and Abby has a lot of friends from class and Messiah Lutheran on that team. She spent a lot of time waving and talking to them. Then they would do their little swarm thing after the ball. They tied 2-2.

So, last night she has gotten in her groove. No more waving and talking...she was ready to score and she did! I was so excited. I did not care that I was being loud at that point! They won 4-3. I see a lot of defensive strategy working in Ab's brain. I think that unconsciously I have been teaching her how to defend. That is a very important skill to have even as a forward! So, hopefully whatever niche she finds will work for her. I am just pleased that she is having fun and loving SOCCER!

We are Expecting...

Baby Number Four. That is right, if you've checked this blog you have heard it first if you have not heard from me in person.

Our first appointment is Tuesday, Sept. 18th. We think we are having a little girl or boy in April at the end!

The girls are excited as our family grows. The picture is of Dad, Ally and Abby on our birthday.

Pretty Good Times

I have never met someone more into clothes than Abby. She has been a bit confused as to why everyone would wear the same uniform. We'll have let her express her individuality in another way. I know when I was in Catholic high school I seemed to have no problem with that. I am sure the apple does not fall too far from the tree whether that is good or bad, you choose!

We just heard word about kindergarten soccer this week. Abby is pumped and again she has asked what color the uniform will be. When I explained an orange color she asked me if there were boys on her team. I hope she'll play as hard as she does out back with her sisters and that she enjoys soccer, too. If we have a flower picker on the field that is OK, too. She is very loved!

What is new with Allison? She is excited about going to preschool at Messiah Lutheran. The first day is the Tuesday after Labor Day so we have more time together. She is going half day like Abby, but just Tuesday and Thursday. We thought that Allison could use some more socialization experiences prior to kindergarten. By then, St. Joe's may go full day for all children and that will be just fine.

What is new at the Stann house? We got to eat lunch with Dad today because he came home for a surprise and that was nice. However, he spent most of his time prying a cup out of the garbage disposal. Ted and I continue to look forward to our meetings and formation at St. Joe's for the Christ Renews His Parish. We are actively seeking opportunities to do more in the parish. Ted and I have signed up for an adoration hour and that has been really wonderful and a specific time for prayer. Libby is working on the terrible two's as we speak. Apart from the constant screaming and dismay, she is bursting with knowledge and language. She has a birthday here soon on August 16th.

We are pretty boring, pretty happy, and pretty happy to have each other and all of our blessings.

Abby and Ally experienced their first theater production of Peter Pan at the Muny.
Allison was ready to leave by the first intermission. Abby was very pumped about the whole thing. She said that she wanted to be an actress and asked when she was able to go up on the stage. I guess some theater classes are the in the future for her. She was a bit upset that it was not "real" magic when she could see the lines that held them as they flew. Allison was very interested in the tinkling noises of Tinkerbell and the light that was representative of her!

It was a fun time. Aunt Becky accompanied us which was very nice. Earlier, she had made a great dinner for us at her house chicken spedini and potato salad. Aunt Bec's new apartment in St. Louis is close to so many neat places in St. Louis and we'll have to visit more often.

Dad's Day

Ted told us on Sunday that this was the best Father's Day weekend ever. Friday night, He watched the girls so I could go eat dinner with Christa and they had a movie night. Saturday, He cleaned the garage and dealt with a leaky basement. We went to Mass and Friday's for some fried food and then a neighbor came over to help us figure out the basement situation. It ended up being a clogged air conditioning hose...and we were happy about that. We thought it was the water heater. Sunday, We went to the Stann's in New Town and had brunch...which is always wonderful. We played on the playground there, but it was too hot to stay out long...then we ran through the sprinklers. Ted was napping at his parent's during this time. I am sure that is why he said it was the best day ever. I let him sleep!

The picture of Ally with pig tails shows that her hair is long now! She is a big girl now. The picture of Ted and Lib are the only ones we took on Father's Day...bad Mom. The one with Abby and Lib reminds me of one I posted a year ago or so with Abby and Ally. They are so big now!

Tie Dye Party

The girls hosted their first summer Tie-Dye Party to celebrate the beginning of summer. We invited several kids ranging from 22 months to 8 years old. It was very interesting doing this with toddlers. We have a seperate place for them to color and water color so they were happy and then there was also the sandbox!