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Connor: More and more I look at him and feel like he is legitimately growing up before my eyes. And he is facing and conquering so many of his fears lately too. 

Isla: These bay windows in our new house are Isla's favorite for crawling into and playing. In the front ones, she tells me about waving at people that drive and walk by. 

Callum: He's not crawling yet, but has started scooting around on his back. 

 "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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Finding Normal

I'm not going to lie, I totally underestimated this move. I figured we have moved eight times before this, so we've got it. But, the reality is, the last time we moved, we only had 1 1/2 children (I was pregnant with Isla) and we had about 1/5 of the posessions. I totally and completely underestimated this move.

I underestimated the packing. I underestimated the organizing. I underestimated trying to figure out new places and ways to store things in the new house. I underestimated doing ALL THE THINGS with three kids in tow…you know, because I normally have so much time on my hands to do it all.

It's been two weeks now and I am still working on finding our new normal. I like slow. Even with the kids in school, we have always had lazy afternoons. I enjoy cuddling up with the kids and reading. I enjoy watching them play and imagine. I enjoy taking them in the backyard and playing in the dirt. But none of this has been happening yet because I am still just trying to cope. My hot pads are still missing! I only originally discovered this when I went to pull dinner out of the oven. Our silverwear was missing for the first few days. Because of the work it takes in hanging things on plaster walls, I am taking forever to hang things because it feels so permanent…and lets be honest, I am not big on permanency and enjoy rearranging and redecorating often.

I underestimated this move. I underestimated not only the work it would take, but the emotional toll and the normalcy toll it would take on our lives. I am ready for things to calm down. I am ready to find our new normal…even if that means stashing away some of the boxes for now so I don't have to think about the stuff that needs to be done.

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Father's Day

I know father's day was a while ago now, but I have pretty much been living life behind the times for the past few weeks now. We moved the day before father's day. And with us returning from Hawaii to me having not have packed at all and us moving in less than a week, let's just say there was no time that week for even any brain space to think of doing anything for father's day.

Even with not a card in sight (for Ian or our dads…fail) I still managed to make sure our annual tradition of pictures of Ian with the kids happened. And, I have to say, these pictures really sum up the kids personalities at the moment. Connor, the one that generally does as he's told. Isla, the free spirit. And Callum, the one that just wishes he could get a moment to himself from time to time…that last photo especially had me laughing. There is always someone touching Callum.

Even with not a gift or card in sight on father's day, we still had a good one. And we managed to get Ian's dad to cook FOR us, even with us not doing a thing for him…that's true parental love right there.

Next year though, I'm bringing it…I mean, really, I can only go up from here!

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26/52

Connor: He was at vbs all week. On the first day he didn't want to go, but by the time I picked him up, he was loving it. He even got camper of the day one day. 

Isla: She not only loves putting makeup on, but she also loves just putting it wherever on her face. And she was totally proud of this. 

Callum: It was a big week for him. He got his first taste of solids and took his first sink bath. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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Can I brag for a minute?

I really do just need to brag on this guy. He has always been extremely cautious around water. Swim lessons have never been super successful. Last year, we were all excited because he stuck his face underwater…with the bribe of a lego. Enter Hawaii. This kid was running and jumping in the waves. He was purposefully letting them crash into him and get his FACE WET. I was shocked. In a totally and completely good way. Then we get back and he gets in the pool, with a life vest on still, and wanted to swim by himself. This is a HUGE DEAL. Last year, he wouldn't do anything unless he was holding on to the side of the pool or one of us, even with a life vest on. This gives me such great hope that he may actually swim…which is a good thing considering our new house has a pool. I am just so proud of him for overcoming (or more facing) so many of his water fears and starting to branch out. Proud mom over here.

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Callum's First Food

After waiting far too long, I finally gave Callum "real food" on Monday. At first I was trying to wait until 6 months to give him food. Then, it was like, well he turns 6 months in Hawaii, so I should wait until we get home. Then there was the chaos of moving. And, well, sitting in the chaos of boxes, I decided I could use a fun distraction and decided to go for it.

The above pictures are in order…Callum was excited about the food coming toward his mouth, unsure after the first bite, then got excited and was ready for more! I let Connor chose what food we would give first and after a riveting round of "eenie meenie" sweet potatoes it was.

I am a more fly by the seat of my pants mom and don't have any sort of plan for when and how much I will feed him. On Monday I fed him until he seemed to be spitting it all out. And on Tuesday, I fed him until the container was gone. All I know is I will be skipping baby cereal…I skipped it with Isla as well (can't remember why) and after the reports of how high arsenic is in it, I decided to skip it this time as well. But, I am hoping that Callum will cut some teeth shortly, so then I can feed him some pizza…I kid.

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25/52

Given that we moved this past weekend, life last week was pretty crazy. It was full of packing and moving. And the poor kids got shuttled around way more than they would of liked, but they really were troopers. At one point, they may or may not have been taping each other up with duck tape…it was their idea, but when I saw it happening, I at least warned them to only do it on clothes and not on skin, but then did just let them have at it. There was lots of laughter to be had. 

Connor: This kid swam in a pool (with a life vest on) by himself. This is a big deal for him because before he wouldn't even do anything even with a life vest on. 

Isla: Full of sass, sparkle and imagination. She held an old iPad screen cover up to her face and acted like she was on tv. 

Callum: He had his six month check up, and the shots that go with it. And for the most part, was very chill and relaxed in the midst of chaos. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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