1 year 27 days

Last night I made it to bed earlier again, thank God; it makes such a difference, even though I usually have to get up at some point before 4 am to feed someone. I held Sammy when they all woke up at 7 am to keep him happy until the milk was ready, and then the alarm went off at 8:50 am to make their cereal with milk and feed them. Then I took Tammy to bed with me, while the boys slept in their beds. After she woke up, I took her downstairs to Randy. It's amazing how they often wake up around the same time. I lay back down in bed and fell asleep again until my second alarm went off just before 11:30 am to go feed them their lunch meal.

After we had fed them, I started cooking for us adults, and then took our food downstairs so we could eat right next to their play area. Today Sammy turned over by himself again. I started filming at one point, thinking he might do it, but then he saw me, and it was over. He needs to get really frustrated, that's when he's able to do it, turning over to get a toy.

After I was done eating, I went into the play area with them. They were really tired, but the afternoon nap is not until after their next meal at 2 pm. Finally I decided to just put them to bed; why keep them up another half hour, when they are so tired. So it was 1:30 pm when we went upstairs for the nap. I lay down with Tammy, but even though Emmy was so tired, he was really crying. So when Tammy finally put her head down, ready to sleep, I got up with her and put her into her bed, and it worked again, as it did yesterday, that she fell asleep in her bed, and I could pick up Emmy to lie down with him. He always protests, as he wants to explore everything, but then he finally gives up and just falls asleep. I'm so blessed with our three beautiful babies and just love it when they sleep on me! In case you're wondering, Sammy does not want to sleep on us, but rather sleeps in his bed. I haven't been able to get him to fall asleep on me.

At 2 pm our friend Anna arrived to help, while they were all still asleep. It was about 2:30 when they all woke up, and we took them downstairs to feed them their afternoon meal. Then it was play time! They enjoyed being outside, and Emmy can now actually walk with this push cart.

Randy had to put the very last light up, over our dining room table, and had to drill, so we took them all outside so they would not get scared. They have a huge sandbox outside our door that is meant for little kids to play in. We sat on top of the tarp, and Tammy went straight to the holes in it to dig all the sand up (video uploading). When Randy was done, we went back inside.

I thought I could get some work done while Anna was here, but it wasn't meant to be. Sammy wanted me to hold him for much of the time, though he was also happy with Anna for a while.

We did go back outside, as we decided to try out the tricycle our friends gave us a few days ago. Both Emmy and Tammy had no problem sitting on it, and loved being pushed (videos coming). In fact, every time Anna stopped, Tammy made known that she wanted her to keep going. When Tammy sat on it, Emmy was walking behind her, and vice versa. It was the cutest thing! What a blessing to have all that space right outside our door where they can walk and ride up and down. Too bad it's publicly accessible so you can't leave them on their own (when they're older). They had so much fun! Sammy was sitting in the swing watching them for a while, until he had enough and I held him. The time will come when he'll be the one walking and riding!

As dinner time was approaching I left them to cut up their food. When Sammy was getting really upset, Randy stopped working on the light and held him.

Tammy had discovered the box of "too small clothes" and climbed into it, throwing clothes out. Emmy joined her too, and then Anna and Sammy. I heard a crash and crying; Emmy had pulled down two clocks off the shelf and just got scared, Sammy as well. The picture speaks volumes!

We then fed them their bread with cream cheese, fish, strawberries, raspberries and bananas. Emmy and Sammy hardly ate anything, but Tammy ate it all.

I then changed them and put them to bed with their milk. They did pretty well falling asleep, it didn't take too long, though Emmy was interested in what Daddy was doing on the ladder touching the ceiling. He had the best view, watching him for a while.

Anna was still helping, sorting out the too small clothes so I could put them online for sale, and then went home just when Emmy woke up crying because Randy had turned the breaker back on and the new light was bright. Once everyone was asleep again, it was time to cook and eat and get to work.

Right now, I have SO MUCH work to do, and I'm SO BEHIND, that I don't even know how to catch up. It's already 1 am, and I need to go to bed, no matter what. God, help! Send us an administrative assistant for the ministry!