The end of 2012

I feel very fortunate- 2012 was a good year for us.  There were so many unanticipated surprises for us, like a pregnancy and baby, and a new home.  I could never have imagined we would be where we are today 12 months ago.

I remember driving in the car with the boys one day in January, thinking with happiness about how wonderful our life was, and all the things that might be different by the end of the year.  I have to admit that I did hope that Eric and I would reach an agreement on whether we would have a 3rd... and I hoped he would want a 3rd... but I didn't think I would have a newborn in my arms!

My only real "goal" for 2012 was to get licensed, which while I did not fully accomplish, I did pass the national licensing exam, which is the hardest part of the process.  Now on to 2013- I would like to finally be licensed in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey within the first half of the year.  I think this is very possible!

Presents! on Christmas

We have all been adjusting to life with a 3rd child.  In some ways, it is still easy- Charlotte's needs are very simple and she sleeps a lot.  She is portable and I have already taken her on many outings with the boys, which she has mostly slept through. Yesterday I took the 3 kids out by myself, with no other adult.  We went to the pediatrician for Charlotte: she gained 10 oz since her newborn visit a week prior and was pronounced completely healthy.  We get to skip the 2 week weight check and don't have to come back until she is 1 month old.  Then the boys and I went to Trader Joe's with the babies.  I admit that there was a little bribery at both stops- a lollipop at the doctor and a cookie at Trader Joe's, but the boys were very sweet and cooperative and I was so proud of them.

I have definitely been emotional.  More emotional than I was in either pregnancy and after having the boys.  I haven't cried in a while, but I was crying a little everyday.  First because I could see my boys struggling to adjust and feeling like I had let them down and upset what was a perfectly happy life for them.  Then I cried because I will never get to be pregnant again, and this is my last baby, and I know it will all fly by so quickly- probably even more quickly than it did with the boys, since the boys absorb so much of my attention.  Then I cried about the boys again.  Then I cry at things on TV, which I usually don't do.

home from the hospital with her big brothers

Fortunately the boys seem to be adjusting fairly well.  I think they still think the baby is annoying, and don't like if I give her too much attention, but they are also very sweet and like to pat or rub her back when I am trying to burp her, or will hug her when she's in my arms.

tummy time on Christmas while her brothers opened presents

Also fortunately, she has been a very easy baby so far.  She is eating extremely well, and sleeps well.  We have had 5 nights of her sleeping 10:30/11 to 2:30, eating (a diaper change and nursing takes about 30 minutes), and then sleeping again until 6:30/7.  This gives me 8 hours of interrupted sleep, but it is not significantly less or worse than I was getting before she arrived, when I was waking up several times a night to pee, and having trouble falling back to sleep.  She can already calm herself very well, which is great.  This morning she was up while we were getting breakfast together and I had her in the rock n play in the kitchen.  She watched all the goings-on, and then just fell asleep without a peep of complaint.  Amazing!

Our tree is down, the decorations are packed away.  On to a new year, with many more surprises, I'm sure.  The boys go back to school tomorrow and I will have a couple of days of having just one baby.  I am sure I will enjoy the peace for 5 minutes and then start to miss my guys.

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy 2013, filled with good fortune and good news!