This is my brain on newborn.

Do you remember those old anti-drug commercials?  "This is your brain.  This is your brain on drugs.  Any questions?"  Since those commercials usually involved a frying egg, they always made me a little hungry.  But now I understand a bit more - this is my brain on newborn:

1.  I made pumpkin bread and never took it out of the oven.  I almost accused Jason of absconding with it.  I seriously remember taking it out of the oven.  Luckily, I really did turn off the oven.  I couldn't find it until Jason mentioned looking in the oven.  That loaf has one crunchy crust.

2.  I fell down 3 steps.  At the top of the stairs.  While carrying Ben in the car seat.  Luckily, no one was permanently harmed.  Ben was totally fine, but Josh asked me why I was trying to drop baby Ben.  I have some deep tissue bruising on my back where I hit the railing.  I get a little clumsy when I am sleep deprived.

3.  After looking through all the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen FOUR times, I finally found the water pitcher in the fridge with water in it.  I had looked there too, but apparently water made it invisible.

4.  I know that most parents of multiple children mix up their kids names, but I have started throwing my brother's name into the list when calling for one of the kids.

5.  When I a friend at church asked me how I was doing and told me that I looked good, I just stared at her blankly while my brain processed the English (cuz, ya know, that isn't my native language or anything).  Then I just said, "I don't know what I am.  I am not awake yet."  Keep in mind this happened after 9 am and I had been up since 5 am.  

I am a little camera happy

I admit it.  I love our new camera and I love taking pictures of my cute boys with it.  So here are some pics from an impromptu photo shoot last night.

Ben was all smiles, but I still had a hard time catching them on film.
Jason tried to get the boys on the blanket with Ben.  We were usually 1 for 3 in trying to get them to look at the camera.  I think Josh is practicing the pose for his Senior picture.
And another one of Ben.  At the moment, he is the easiest of photo subjects - he can't go anywhere.

A peek through time

So, I must still be a bit hormonal because looking at these pictures makes me tear up.  Here are all three boys at birth.  Thankfully, picture files on the computer give dates, otherwise I don't think I will be able to tell the pictures apart in 20 years.  It is amazing to think what a different experience each birth was.  And wonderful to have the opportunity to watch their big personalities unfold.  I'll admit, some days that is more pleasant than others.  In any case, here are my boys.  I love them dearly.

My mom is going to kill me...

...for posting this picture online.  But seriously, how cute is this!!!  My mom and her three grandspawn (that was for you, Doug), I mean grandsons.  This was Mother's Day morning at our house.

And this was my only triumph of the day.  Orange chocolate cheesecake.  Everything else I made kind of fell apart. 

The many faces of Ben

We just got a new camera, so I thought I would take it out for a spin to document Ben at 6 weeks.  Ben, in an act of survival, has recently started to smile.  I think toothless smiles are darling.  Josh calls it Ben's ugly smile.  I am not sure if Josh knows that "ugly" means...

Easter

Alright, so I am only a week and a half late with this post.  I forgot how much time newborns take.  I also forgot how I have to constantly protect said newborn from the "love" of older siblings.  Which is why I haven't showered in ___ days.  I'll spare you the details on that one.  If you already have kids, you know.  If you haven't had kids, you'd be repulsed.

Anyway, on to the topic of this post.  Easter was rather exciting here.  Or at least, that is what I heard.  I actually went upstairs and passed out with Ben while Jason did the honors with the older kids.  Luckily, he documented the happy moments for me.  Both Josh and Michael had a basket with knock-off crocs and a Transformers t-shirt that lights up.  They were ecstatic.  I know this because they then wore those shirts for the next 3 days on top of whatever else they were wearing.  Sadly, they only came in size 4/5 so Michael is swimming in his shirt, but woe be unto the parent who provides a cool shirt like this to one child and not the other.

Here is Michael checking out Optimus Prime and his cool lights.  I also love the bright yellow socks and the pajama pants pushed up to his knees.  He is like some sort of bizarre Oompa Loompa.
Yeah, Josh was diggin' it.  I am not sure why his cheeks are so red.  Perhaps he remembers that Easter involves candy and he is flushed with excitement?
And here are the boys with their loot.  Having a kid allergic to dairy makes the holidays interesting.  I always associated Easter baskets with chocolate and chocolate bunnies, but with Josh I have to get creative.  Hence the shirt and shoes.  (Incidentally, Josh now thinks the Easter Bunny is like Santa and has given me a list of items he wants from EB next year.)  Having a kid who is allergic to eggs also makes Easter particularly interesting.  It will probably be years before we can decorate real eggs and hide them.  In the meantime, plastic eggs filled with Skittles seems to do the trick.
And last but not least, a token picture of Ben the oblivious.  His first Easter passed him by without him noticing.  He is cute though, so we will definitely keep him.

Baby makes 5

Long time no write.  My brother pointed out to me that being pregnant was no excuse for not updating my blog.  So, I guess NOT being pregnant anymore also is no excuse for not updating my blog.  Especially with this news!

Ben was born on March 26 a little after noon and weighed in at 7 lb 8 oz.  He is 20 inches long.  He picked a rather inconvienent day to appear since Jason didn't have his sub plans ready, my friend who was supposed to watch the boys while we were at the hospital was leaving for NYC later that day, and my mom had signed up to take a class that weekend - all of which were based on the assumption that Ben would follow his brothers' lead and show up on his due date.  I, on the other hand, was more than excited to go into labor and welcome Ben to take up residence somewhere far away from my bladder and rib cage.

In any case, we are all home now and rediscovering the joys of a newborn.  I love the warm cuddles and the strange little faces babies make.  The boys love Ben, but don't understand why they can't get him to play with them yet.  We are very blessed that Jason has been able to stay home with us for a few weeks - I am trying not to think about how we will survive when he goes back to work.  

So, here are some pics from the first 10 days of Ben's life:

Michael and Ben at the hospital.  At first, Michael was far more interested in the buttons on my hospital bed, but we did get him to sit for a minute to get this picture.

All my boys (and my man) chilling on the couch/bed at the hospital.  We LOVED the hospital here - by far my best birth experience.  

Josh and Ben.  Josh loves babies and Ben is no exception.  He told us that when he grows up he will be Ben's parent.  

Ben in Nana's arms.  His eyes are still a bit shiny from that ointment they put in babies eyes at birth.  I think he might even be waving at the camera here.  This poor child had so many cameras flashing at him in his first few hours of life.

Ben at 10 days old.  He frequently has a rather startled look on his face.  I think if I was the youngest of 3 boys I might be startled too.