I'm just a little bit busy

So I’ve just had a few things occupying my time over the past several weeks.  As you know, AJ entered the world, so I’ll pick up after that.

2 days before Christmas 3 out of 4 Murray’s came down with strep throat.  Talk about miserable!  Thank heavens for antibiotics!  We were feeling better by Christmas and ready to tackle the day.  Christmas day was a great time with GiGi and PawPaw celebrating with us.

On Christmas day my brother and his family (The Burbs) headed to Virginia to spend a week with us.  It was great having them here!  I think all 4 were completely smitten with AJ, but probably the most smitten of all was Nate.  Wherever AJ was he wanted to be.  If AJ was sleeping in his pack-n-play, then Nate was standing next to him making sure he was ok.  If AJ was in his bouncy seat, Nate was hovered over him watching him and playing with him.  Probably the greatest activity of all was when all 3 big kids (Ella and her 2 cousins) got to give AJ a bath.  They each had a wash cloth and gently washed his skin to make sure he was all clean.  It was absolutely precious to watch.  AJ was the perfect baby and the kids were the greatest helpers.

The Burbs did get to do some minor sightseeing around DC by going to the Air and Space Museum and the Museum of Natural History, but mostly we just hung around our house and played Chess, Words with Friends and ate.  The snack table was a big hit and I think that’s where Curby and I spent a majority of our time.

The Burbs and Paw Paw left on New Years Day.  We were sad to see them go, but were thankful for all of the time we had together.  GiGi stuck around for another week to continue helping me out around the house.

My cousin Lindy and her daughter, Kit, came to visit us on Saturday January 4^th and meet AJ.  We always love getting together with their family!  Unfortunately the visit was too short, but it was so nice to see them and have them meet our new little guy.

Ella went back to school on Thursday January 2.  However, school was short lived at ended up being canceled on Friday due to extremely cold weather.  She was able to go back Monday, just in time for me to start getting ready to handle things on my own.

On Sunday January 5 AJ attended church for the first time.  He did great in that he was awake for all of the singing and slept through the entire sermon.  I’m sure he was sleeping because he was really meditating on what our pastor was saying.

January 5 was also Ella’s church choir Christmas concert.  Yes, it’s after Christmas, but the concert was originally supposed to be on December 8^th, but snow, ice and cold weather canceled the performance, so they postponed it.  Ella, of course, did a fabulous job and sang loud and clear.  She looked so beautiful in her Christmas dress and I couldn’t have been more proud of her.

GiGi left on Wednesday January 8 (insert tears).  It was great having her here for so long to help around the house and with Ella.  We still miss having her, but I know she’s having a good time with Paw Paw.

Ever since then I’ve been trying to get in my groove.  Our house is a complete disaster, but I’m slowly working on that.  I finally caught up on laundry, and fortunately we’re eating well thanks to generous families at church who bring dinner by.

AJ is doing great.  He’s growing well and sleeping like a champ!  The kid goes to sleep around 10 pm every night and doesn’t wake up for 5 whole hours!  Do you know what 5 hours of sleep does for parents?  It’s awesome!  He then wakes up to eat, and then goes back to sleep for another 3 hours.  This is definitely a sleeping schedule I can live with.

Ella is the awesome big sister you all expected her to be.  She helps me pick out his clothes and will throw away his diapers…but not the poopy ones.  She loves to sit next to AJ when he’s in his bouncy seat and will bounce it for him and talk or sing to him.  She loves to sit on the bed and have him come cuddle next to her.

That said, Joe and I are really trying to make an effort to do special things with just Ella.  Yesterday Ella and I went out to lunch just the two of us, then she helped me go grocery shopping.  Joe has been good about doing activities with just her so that she knows she isn’t pushed aside.

The family member who is not handling AJ’s arrival so well is sweet Sabrina.  She is the neglected middle child.  She has started acting out, not listening and chewing up things.  We’re trying to nip it in the bud and give her some extra attention as well, and so far we’ve seen some improvement.  We took her for a walk and to the dog park yesterday (even though it was freezing) and I think that did some good.  She’ll come around eventually, she just needs a little extra TLC.

All that said, we’re doing well as a family of 4.  Everything feels right and just the way it should be.