Then there were three

A midwife recently told me that when you have three children, you need to make each feel special in their own way...Jude is the social, organised one. Ivy is creative and courageous. Aden is the gentle soul. 

Now that Aden has passed the tumultuous 6 week mark, he has settled down into a happy little man. He has a gentle way, loves contact with people and very communicative - was smiling and 'talking' from just 1 week old! His relationship with Jude and Ivy is already strong - lots of kisses and cuddles between the three - it feels like he has always been here.

James managed to take a week off for the birth and Aden's first week at home - the kids have loved having him home more. And we have had Barbs and Dad here to support. Dad leaves at the end of this week...quite fitting that he leaves on Australian Mothering Sunday...time for me to stand on my own two feet!

Going from two to three is harder than one to two when they're all so young. Everything has to be planned and well thought through...who to get in the car first, who to take out last. Working around Jude's pedantic ways and Ivy's terrible two tantrums. I've learnt to accept that trying my best doesn't equate to pleasing all and that realisation ironically makes me feel more relaxed. Of course I have my tenser moments like today when Jude decided to pour Dad's shower gel all over the lounge room carpet while I was feeding Aden (leaving me to spend my only free hour of the day to clean up) - but they are thankfully few and far between.

When I am feeding Aden I watch the house fall into disarray around me and smile. Today Jude was running around in his new fireman outfit with the garden hose putting out fires while Ivy was pretending to be a robot (after watching Toy Story for the first time) - the day before Ivy was crouched down and jumping around shouting 'ribbit ribbit' and Jude was the serious doctor in his hospital office.

I am interested to see how Aden is going to get a word in...Jude and Ivy converse non-stop. "No Ivy, Yes Ivy" "Funny Jude, Naughty Jude." They fire questions and comments at me all day long and push me to a whole new level of multi tasking...I now use my mouth, feet, arms and both hands simultaneously to get through each day. However Jude and Ivy are becoming more patient, realising that there is only one of me and three of them making demands. No day is the same despite maintaining a fairly rigorous routine which keeps things interesting for me. Poor James would like a bit more consistency and steadiness I think!

Our kindy business application is progressing through NAB bank and all going well, a move to Rockhampton in July is looking likely...we're excited about the prospect of having our own family business and becoming more financially secure. That being said we love the climate and culture in Melbourne and I will be very sad to leave some great friends behind.

Times of change and challenge ahead!

Love Nic x