...who needs yoga?...

So.  Derrick has always made fun of me for my sleeping style.  I mean... I usually sleep on my side/stomach... but every once in a while... I fall asleep best when I'm laying on my back and have my legs bent up- one propped up on the other.  I don't know...!!!  Sometimes Derrick will wake up in the middle of the night and apparently find me in that position.  I don't think I even ever acknowledged that I slept that way until Derrick told me I did it.

It always warms my heart when my children do things and you can easily identify which parent they received that trait from.  For example- Jude is OBSESSED with music... love it... just like his daddy...  and Emme gets REAAAAALLY quiet around people she doesn't know...but once she warms up- she won't be quiet!!! ...like her momma!  When Jude was a wee lil guy... Derrick and I CRACKED up when changing Jude's diaper b/c he TOTALLY would put his legs like his momma... and we caught him multiple times sleeping like that in his crib/bed as well.  Well... right now we're 2/3 kids sleeping like momma... b/c Miss Emme has ALSO been caught with her leg up!  I.Love.It.  :)

...potty...

Potty training hasn't officially started with Emme... but we have definitely begun the "pre-process" of potty training...and it helps that she watches Jude like a hawk and mimics most EVERYTHING he does.  So... it doesn't really come as a shocker that homegirl goes "poop" on the potty several times a week.  I've only gotten her to "peepee" once...but I honestly don't mind her peeing in her diaper...and appreciate that she prefers to poop on the potty!  She even tells me when she has to go... which Jude (after a YEAR of potty training) has juuuuust started doing!  Oy!

Miss Diva has been LOVING her babydoll lately.  Emme is so precious carrying her around and pretending that it's crying (while bouncing and shhhh'ing it!).  She even puts the baby in Kate's swing when Kate is not in it- and swings it- like a maniac- all while yelling "HIIIIIGHAHHHHH!" (higher) like her Hanni does on the outdoor swingset!  It's pretty funny- and thankfully she doesn't do that to Kate!!!

The other day, while Jude was at school and Kate was napping, I decided to get on the computer for a bit while Emme played.  She was carrying around her baby doll... and she kept saying "peepee!" ...The next thing I know- I look over... and from the computer room- see Miss Emme trying to take her baby doll to the bathroom!  Oh.My.Word.  I go over to her... and see that she's gotten the little potty seat and put it on the lid (I make sure Jude closes it b/c Emme hasn't figured out that she can open it yet!  Thank goodness!) and has set her baby on it... she's telling the baby to pee and even has one of Jude's flushable wipes ready!  I'm telling you... the girl is a hoot!

...retired...

My mother.  She is one outrageous woman.  If you have never had the opportunity honor to meet her... you have missed out!  (If you've never had the honor opportunity to hear me do an impression of her- you have also missed out!)  ... Growing up was an interesting experience.  (For some insight on my childhood- click here!  I especially like #'s 1, 4, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21!!!, 30, 32!, 38, 47!!!!, 49, 52- but it wasn't family members- it was church members... and I kinda stopped reading after that!)  I digress.  My parents were (are!) both great... but having an Asian momma can be... hmmm... how shall I put this... DIFFICULT!  All the stereotypes you've ever heard are true.  Haha- okay- I guess we don't ACTUALLY eat dog- so perhaps they're not ALL true!!!  But one thing that's true- at least for my momma- is that she DEMANDED straight A's... It was very stressful during report card time... there were many pressures to be perfect- although- that might not be completely fair to my mom- I might have had some of those expectations on myself!

Anywho- tangent!  There was a time in my early teen years that I truly thought that my mom and I would never be on speaking terms once I moved out of the house.  I loved her... and I knew she loved me... but wow... were we ever oil and water!  Once I was in college- we were "ok"... except- for the first time in my life, I was trying to take charge of ME... We def. butt heads a little during that time- on how often I'd "go out" or how I wasn't studying enough (really, though- Education major- what did I need to study?!)... but I was starting to see my mom shed some of her control on me...and once I was married... our relationship blossomed... and I was relying on her not only as my mother, but as a friend... 

I've said it many times before... but I never ever would have imagined my mom being the Halmoni that she is.  It's truly amazing how different she is with my children than how she was with me... it's outrageous, actually.  Where I would have gotten "beat" with a rice paddle b/c my hair "shed" too much on her immaculate tile... my children get M&M's after getting rice ALL over her floors!!!  It's comical, really!

My momma has always been a hard worker... and in this AZ heat- any job is not a fun job... but especially so when you are out delivering mail!  Thank goodness- after many years working for the USPS, my momma has finally retired!  It's been a blessing for me especially... b/c having three young babies is... hmmm... how do I say this... not.so.easy!  And since my momma has been off, she has been so helpful- coming over to help if Derrick is going to be gone... or taking Jude to her house for some bonding time... bringing over dinner... just being there for moral support!  I'm just so darn thankful for her (and my dad- don't want him getting his feelings hurt now!)... and happy that she is free from working in such a HOT and sometimes dangerous job!!!

Mom and her brothers, the bebes, my dad, aunt, and cousin Sarah- who attends Cornell University!














My Aunt w/ Kate and Sarah

My youngest Uncle and Jude...he didn't believe that Jude could possibly be THAT heavy!!!

Happy Retirement, mom!  (PS- this post is kinda all over the place, no?  Whatever- I'm sleep deprived!)

...preschool...

Jude started school this week.  ::sigh::  He only goes 3 days a week for a few hours... but it's still hard to believe that my lil guy, with his PBK backpack and his Buzz Lightyear water bottle has a teacher...and brings home lunch menus (not that he is there for lunch)...and sends home fliers about PTSA events.  ::wah::  I think this has been especially difficult for me b/c I KNOW that this stage is the next BIG thing for him... and that once it starts...it won't end until eventually- he'll be wanting to go off to college somewhere far far away or ::gasp:: move out!  And seeing how my 3 babies are so close in age... this means that ALL my babies are growing up too fast... and that I'm just.not.ready.for.it.

The decision to send Jude to preschool came pretty quickly... with his birthday being in May... we basically had the summer to do the evaluations- see if he qualifies- have an IEP meeting...and then BOOM.  Even though this was something that I had been thinking about... I guess I just didn't think we'd ever ACTUALLY send him to school... I mean... he JUST turned 3!  But... I know that going to school right now is best for him (although- momma def. didn't sign up for getting up at 6:30am again to get ready for school!!!!- I mean- it's one thing to be up at 6:30am to feed a newborn and then go back to bed or scrub out... but to have to be up and running and out of the house is quite stressful!)  Jude will hopefully improve his speech- while making friends and learning how to function in social settings.  This is all positive stuff for him... and ultimately- regardless of what I feel about public education... this needs to be done... and it doesn't have to be permanent!  :)

The crazy part about it all... is that he is at the school where I had my VERY first teaching job... AND... it's in the classroom next door to where mine was!!!  It has been VERY surreal being back on the campus (after 9 years!!!)- even though most of the teachers that I worked with have moved on- it still brings back MANY memories!  :)

Jude's 1st week of preschool was great... he learned all about the color yellow (which happens to be his favorite!!!) and the circle... they sang songs and played with flubber and puzzles and blocks... Jude (who, yes, is THE tallest in his class)- was so cute telling me about his day... and ALWAYS says- "I wan' go school, talk my fwends!"... ADORABLE!  It's also just super sweet seeing how excited he is to see his sisters...and I've brought his Mickey with me each day to pick him up... and without fail- he gives Mick THE biggest hug and says "Oh Mickey... I yuuuuh you!!!!" (love)  The kid freakin' melts my heart!  :)

The first day was crazy for momma... Although the school is only 3 mins away- I thought I'd leave 30... um.  30 mins is JUST enough time! b/c the parking lot is CRAZY busy- parking SUCKS (is it ALL schools that have architectural problems with their parking lot- or just our district?!)- and people...  hm.  and.people.  People are just not very smart, are they now?  ::sigh::  So.  In true Logan fashion... we were LATE to our first day of school!  Oh my!  In my our defense... I parked on the street by the near the classroom... but by the time we walked up to the school from the car- the gate was LOCKED!  So... we had to walk ALL the way around the ENTIRE school and back to get to the room!  Mom was a hot.sweaty.mess. ...but Jude walked in the classroom and was ready to go!  After watching him learn where to put his stuff...snapping a few pictures... and then BEGGING him to hug me goodbye (b/c once he was in the room- he didn't even notice me!)... I was off.  And... I will have you know... that I did not cry.  Well.  I had already done that the week before... but I did cry once I got home... when after like 5 mins in the house- Derrick asked "Why are you yelling at me?!"  ::WAHHH!::  Momma was just a lil overwhelmed is all!  ;)

Here's my big (and handsome) guy on his first day:

...summa summa summa tiiiime...

Well.  What a busy summer we had/are having.  From birthday parties...to births...to surgeries...to preschool... oh my!  Here's what the Logan's have been up to in the last few weeks:

June
Before the weather got TOO out of control... the kids spent part of the early evening playing outside in the water (this was mostly b/c I had taken them out in May...and had taken some AWESOME pictures... that I deleted when I was in the hospital giving birth to Kate.  Ugh!)  We ended out evening with a BBQ chicken dinner on the patio!  MMmmm!

 
July
 It is much more difficult to do things outside of the house now that we have Baby Kate...so I got a little bold and decided to let the kids paint... It was super stressful- for Derrick- b/c he hates messes like that... but I had fun watching the kids have at it... and the mess- well...it cleaned up pretty quick!  :)

Later in the month...Derrick had some polyps removed from his nose.  It seemed like a great idea back before Kate was born... when we were trying to find ALL the things we could do medically this year since we've met our deductible.  ...unfortunately...we probably should have had Derrick do the surgery before the baby was born... b/c he was TOTALLY out of commission for a week... meaning- this mama had FOUR babies to take care of all on my own!  Oh my!!!!  Not to toot my own horn... but I think Derrick would agree... that I pretty much rocked it!  No, really!  I was quite impressed with myself!  But after the 4th day... I def. needed some ME time!  We WERE able to go out and see the last Harry Potter movie (which I LOVED)...and Derrick was awesome at feeding Kate the bottle if I needed.... they even managed to get some snuggle time too!

Derrick had also planned on getting his ::cough:: snipsnip ::giggles:: surgery (um, like 2 days after his schnoz surgery)... but the procedure was alot more invasive than he expected... and his ENT doctor told him to reschedule!  Maybe God is telling us we need to have ONE more???  Eh?  Eh?  Thus far he wasn't rescheduled THAT surgery... but only b/c his August is super busy... sigh...

I guess it was a good thing he wasn't out of commission too long- b/c cousin Jordan came to visit from TN.  His timing wasn't the best for Derrick and I...but it WAS to celebrate his 21st birthday (what whaaaaaat!)... and Jerrod/Niki were able to show him a good time the first part of his trip (while Derrick was recouping!)  We love Jordan...and it warms my heart how much he loves all our babies... such a good uncle/cousin!  (Jude was WAY excited about Jordan's trumpet too... it MIGHT have been his favorite part of Jordan's stay with us!!!!)

Okay- now that I'm caught up..ish... perhaps I'll be able to keep up with blogging again?  ::sigh::  I hope!

...one...

Well.  It never ceases to amaze me how quickly this day comes.  Seems like one minute I'm at the hospital anxiously awaiting to go home with my precious new lovebucket...and the next, I'm trying to find time to blog about my lovebucket's FIRST monthday!  :(  I wish I could say I was excited about this... but it is just so darn sad to me that this season in our lives is flying by.  ::sigh::

Kate is doing great.  She is just the sweetest little baby in the world.  She absolutely loves to be cuddled...and I'm convinced that she'd sleep her life away in my arms!  I am just so in love with her sweet little noises and her BIG brown eyes.

We've already begun to learn so much about Miss Kate... and while the jury is still out on "who she looks like" (I think she's a nice blend of both kids- but reminds me much more of Jude than Emme)...we couldn't be more blessed!  Kate is not a very good sleeper... I mean- she def. sleeps, but she would rather be rocked to sleep than left alone- which is alot like her brother was... why can't all babies be independent (sleepwise) like Emme?!  Kate is also not a very good eater!  Well... let me rephrase that sentence.  Kate does not eat nearly as much as her brother and sister did at her age!  BUT- she IS nursing!  Kinda.  ;)  While my milk did not come in (much) with Jude or Emme- my milk HAS come in more with Kate.  I still don't think my supply is as much as it needs to be...but it is significantly more than it was with both the other babies... So.  Barren Waste Land no more!  YES!  Kate does a great job...and it's so encouraging to hear a "drinking" sound come from my little lovebucket!  She does get a little frantic- whether nursing or bottle feeding... and that stresses me out... but she looks like she's growing- so I'm okay with that!  ;)  (Which- btw- the most depressing part of having a baby- when the NB close don't fit anymore!  That is always when I get the saddest!)

Anywho-  I am just so blessed...and although I cannot stop time... I'm enjoying watching my babies grow!


Kate,
One thing mommy wants to teach you in life is how amazing God truly is.  When mommy and daddy thought we might only have four people in our family... God thought we should have five... and we were blessed with YOU!  Our family would not be complete without our little cuddle bug.  Mommy is so proud of how hard you are trying to nurse...and sleep through the night.  In your short time with us- you have made our hearts grow so much larger... we ALL love you very very much...

-Mommy

...new baby...

Mema and Grandab were so awesome to watch the kids for us when we were at the hospital...  After Kate was born, they brought Jude and Emme to visit us.  It was surreal seeing my two big babies...and knowing that Miss Emme is no longer the youngest...

The kids both did great with Kate and seeing me in the hospital bed.  Jude has always been a lil loverboy when it comes to babies...and his new baby sister was no different!  It was funny because his new thing is to put things in "booboocracks" (booby traps)...so when he saw me in the bed with all the bracelets on...he wanted to know if I was in a booboocrack.  ;)  Emme...oh Emme...she was very passive- as she can be when she's around alot of people...but don't be fooled!  She threw a living fit pretty quick and has been embracing her innerdiva ever since!!!  :)

...Emme meeting her baby sister...

...Jude meeting his new sister- hearing him say "Kate" just melts my heart...

...Mom's booboocracks...

...you KNOW it!...