Family of Five

So far so good. I hate to put that in black and white for fear that I will jinx how smooth things are going. Molly is an easy baby and Hayden and Landon have welcomed her into our family lovingly. Hayden loves to rub her head and kiss her forehead and give her "gentle hugs" as he calls it. He really wanted a sister and so far hasn't changed his mind. He comes home from Dede and Pawpaws and greets her first telling her how much he missed her and then at night he tells her he loves her and will see her in the morning. Landon was curious taking glimpses of her but not to interested at first. He would go up to her cosleeper and smile at her. If she lost her paci then he would get it for her and the same goes for those little socks that are oh so hard to keep on. He had told us to "shh" and then signs "baby sleep" when she is napping. I was worried how he would be with a baby and he has been just fine. His life continues pretend playing in his kitchen and vacuuming the floors when he isn't busy making music with his guitar.
The first week Jeff and I got to spend alot of one on one time with Molly as Hayden was sick and so Grammy and Peepaw kept the boys until fevers were gone. Landon still has a cold or allergies which he hasn't been able to get over in the past month. It seems to come and go and he has been so kind to share with all of us including his baby sister. So after getting into a routine with just Molly the boys came home and things are going well. Hayden and Landon are staying in the routine of going to Dede and Pawpaws three days a week which is great for them and for me. Hayden is a child that NEEDS routine and structure so this has been good for him. Landon will go with the flow but enjoys library day on Wednesday and playing with dede and pawpaw so he continues to go as well. This then allows me to be home with just Molly on these days and allows for me to catch up on some sleep during the day and get things done around the house. I actually have my Christmas decorations up and even have cooked some meals and cleaned the house. Mom and Dad came and painted the nursery and slowly I am getting my trucks and trains blue nursery converted into a pink polka dotted room accented with some cute owls. Not that Molly will be in her room anytime soon. She is sleeping in my room with me and Jeff continues to sleep in the boys room as Hayden still refuses to sleep alone although he has Landon in there now. Speaking of sleep... Molly is my first baby that will actually sleep without being held. That in and of itself is a miracle. She likes sleeping in her cosleeper and will go longer stretches in her swing. She actually passed out just laying on the floor after I changed her diaper. I couldn't believe that she didn't need to be held and shooshed and bounced and nursed to sleep. She doesn't appear to have reflux or colic... yet.... and I pray she doesn't get either. She did have 5 days of a bili blanket and bili tanning bed for jaundice which was a first in our house. She therefore got a paci much sooner than either of my other two as she wasn't a fan of the tanning bed. Daily heel sticks for the first 8 days of her life left her little heels red and sore but other than that she has been good. She wakes every 3 hours at night to eat and does let me get some sleep in between feedings. She eats great and keeps my little helpers busy with fetching diapers and filling up diaper pails. Did I mention she already has a paci? This has been the greatest thing along with swaddling. I wish I had allowed Hayden and Landon to have a paci sooner. There would have been alot less crying from everyone had I given in to the power of the paci. Again, we are thankful all went well and continues to go well with our newest addition and so thankful that her big brothers seem to love having her here and aren't ready to send her back yet.