Mid-September

The first half of September has been an attempt to get into and get used to a routine.  It all still feels a little chaotic to me but I guess that's normal when a there's a baby in the house.  Here's a few things that have happened in these last few weeks...

Quincy started preschool.  I decided that I wanted one more year with this fireball so I put together a curriculum (much like what I did for Addie) and we started the first week of September.  I was a little nervous about teaching Quincy because she has a very different learning style but so far it has been going very well.  She actually gets pretty excited for preschool days which makes me very happy!

Tessly at 2 months.  It's hard to believe that she has been with us for 2 months already!  She has been just about the sweetest baby you can imagine.  She rarely cries, and when she does is easily consoled.  She loves talking and smiling and it usually doesn't take much to get it out of her.  We have even been able to get some laughs from her.  She has started sleeping 8 hours at night and is alert for a lot of the day.  She loves looking at shapes and trees and anyone's face.  At her check up her stats were- Height: 23.5 in (90%), Weight: 11lbs 15oz (66%), Head: 16 in (97%)

And her sisters still love cuddling, talking, singing, and especially kissing her.

When my parents were in town Dev and I got to sneak out to hit a bucket of balls.  We were grateful that my mom was so willing to watch all 3 girls for us so we could have a quick date!

And we all went to our first Stanford game.  Devin found tickets for $3 so clearly we couldn't pass it up!  But the heat was a little too much for the 3 girls so we only lasted until half time.  But it was still fun and we are hoping to go to a night game sometime soon. 

Due to the chaos, sometimes laundry just doesn't get done on time.  When that happens, the girls get to use some of my shirts as their jammies.  Clearly they don't mind.  

And that brings us halfway into September.  The girls will be starting some extracurricular activities in a couple of days so the chaos will be increasing, but in a good way.  And we are looking forward to the rapidly approaching holidays... they will be here before we know it!

Bless Tess

On Sunday, September 7, Devin was able to give our sweet Tessly a blessing.  As I sat and listened to the blessing I was very aware of how much our Heavenly Father knows us personally.  Thinking back on the things the other girls were blessed with and hearing the things that Tessly was being blessed with, I could differentiate their blessings according to their personalities and what they would need throughout their lives.  I feel extremely blessed to have the knowledge of the gospel and the Priesthood and that Devin lives in such a way that he is worthy to hold the Priesthood and bless our daughters.  There is no other time that the veil of Heaven feels like it is open to us as it does during the time of having and blessing babies.  I am very aware of the hand of God in our lives during this time, and I know how much He loves each one of us.  I am grateful for this knowledge and grateful for the Plan of Salvation.  Jesus Christ paid the Ultimate price for us and I hope to live in such a way that I am worthy to bow before Him when He returns.  I also hope that Adalyn, Quincy, and Tessly will grow to love the Lord and His Gospel and become all that our Savior would want them to become.

Grandma and Grandpa Wayment were able to fly out and share this special day with us.  We were very grateful for that as this was the first "big" day for our family in California, where our extended families aren't close by.  We definitely felt the difference and the loss of not having all our family and friends with us.  But it was still special nonetheless and we had a few friends join us for dessert later that night to celebrate.

So grateful to have this angel in our family.  We all couldn't love her more.

August 2014

August came and went in a blur of late nights and early mornings with things like school, work, and taking care of a household falling in between.  Before school started, I decided that I needed to get out with the girls so that they could say that they did something fun over the summer.  Almost their entire summer revolved around a newborn and mom's recovery.  Which doesn't add up to a whole lot of fun.  So for the last 2 weeks of summer we...

Did more crafts

Had some tea parties

Went on some play dates at the park.  On our way home from one it was suddenly very quiet in the back seat.  Typically that means that the girls are being sneaky, so I looked back to see what was going on. This is what I saw and Addie said, "We're all holding hands, Mom!"

We spent lots of time snuggling the baby

And had a failed attempt at a 1 month photo shoot.  But hey, she still looks cute!  At one month she started going 5 and 6 hours between feedings at night.  By the end of this month she has been going between 7 and 8 hours.  She is still the sweetest and easiest baby by far and she has been making this transition to 3 kids way too easy on us!

I took all 3 girls for our first major outing to California's Great America.  It was quite honestly the perfect day.  The girls had a ton of fun and Tessly slept almost the entire time.  When she did need to eat, there just happened to be a show going on at that time so the girls didn't even notice.  It was a great way to end the summer.

Tessly even started smiling, laughing, and cooing this month.  You forget how these small moments can just totally make your day!

Then before we knew it, we were celebrating Back To School night.  We made our own pizzas for dinner, had cupcakes, and Devin gave the girls a blessing.

And the next day Addie was off to her first day of 1st grade.  She was ready and couldn't have been more excited.

 Her new class and teacher Mrs. Wardall

This little lady is going to have to put up with a lot being the 3rd sister

Without her best buddy around all day, we have had to find some things to keep Quincy entertained.  Riding the wiggle car around our complex has become one of her favorite things to do.  

And the extra alone time with baby sister has helped

The first weekend after school started we went to a festival to celebrate kids. Shaved ice and fire trucks make for a pretty great day.

And just like that August was gone and Labor Day was here.  We spent the day going to Mimi's for breakfast (a Payne family tradition)

Then "hiking" at Rancho San Antonio.  These are definitely not the Utah mountains/hikes we are used to

And then we ended the day with swimming and pizza with friends

July and August have been a roller coaster of emotions and schedules with all the changes that have been taking place.  We are hoping that things will begin to calm down or at least start to feel normal in the months to come.  And if not, we will do our best to enjoy the journey.

End of July

July coming to an end means 3 things: 1) We are 2 weeks away from having a 1st grader.  2) Quincy is now old enough to start Pre-school.  3) And our baby is almost 1 month old.  Pretty sure I am not ready for ANY of these things.  But time keeps pushing us on and I get to deal with it whether I am ready or not.  The last few weeks of July are kind of hazy... adjusting to a new baby and recovering from a surgery will do that to ya.  We have spent a lot (too much) time indoors with very little activity, and the poor girls have felt it.  But limited as I am here's what we have been doing the last few weeks...

Grandma Payne stayed with us for a week and it was awesome!  She took the girls gallivanting all over California and I was so grateful for that, knowing that we would be spending a lot of time at home once she left.  They loved all the activities that they got to do with her and they have definitely been feeling the loss since she left.  And so have I.  She helped immensely with feeding us and keeping the house clean, and we are forever grateful to her!

 Thanks to her, Devin and I even got out for a quick date for my birthday!  Devin took me out for a Sushi dinner and some frozen yogurt.  It was divine... and so great having a minute alone with this handsome man!  What a great way to turn 31!  The following week was our 9 year Anniversary!  We celebrated by taking all 3 girls out for the first time to a pizza buffet... yeah we party hard!  But I am not sure which of these makes me feel older... turning 31, being married for 9 years, or having 3 kids?  I guess the combination of the 3 really pushes on the age!  But I couldn't be more grateful.  I am so lucky to be spending eternity with my best friend, and that we have been blessed with 3 amazing daughters.  I couldn't even begin to describe how full my heart is with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with this family.

We have spent quite a few days at the pool in these past few weeks.  I have been extra grateful for where we live right now because we have a pool, a big green area where the kids can play, and great areas to walk around just right outside of our home.  So I feel like the girls are getting out without more work than I can handle and being a few steps from the comforts of home.  

These 3 beauties just melt my heart... And the adoration for their new baby sister has continued.  Sometimes it is overwhelming how much Adalyn and Quincy want to love Tessly, but I hope it never ends.  There is so much love passing between these 3 that I am overcome.  I am lucky to be their mother and witness the relationships that they have with each other. 

Sometimes a box is all you need to have fun.  "This can be our sitting place!"

If I haven't already said it, this little lady is one sweet baby.  She is very alert when she is awake, she is a great sleeper, she eats on a great schedule, she takes a binkie (hallelujah!), hardly cries (but when she does it is LOUD), and is as healthy as can be.  

This is her at 3 weeks old.  Her stats from her check up were Weight: 8.14 lbs(59%), Height: 20.5 in(50%), Head: 15 in (97% typical Payne)

A couple days later Grandpa Wayment came to town and got to meet Tessly for the first time.  We love when he comes to visit!

And we managed to sneak in a few crafts here and there.  We also have a Michaels right across the street so that has helped us a lot as well.  

We have also been very lucky to have friends invite the girls over for play dates, which they have loved and I have appreciated more than they know!

Now on to August and I can't help but anticipate the changes coming in the next few weeks:  adjusting to new schedules, starting school/preschool, and finding ways to manage it all with a baby!  I just have to keep reminding myself that change is good and it helps us grow!