So let me tell you a quick story while Chloe waits patiently. I’ve got about two minutes before she insists that I wear her for the rest of the day.

Ready, set, go!

Long story short we had to get new carpet in the bedrooms and hallways. Septic issue that happened the day after we came home with Chloe from the hospital, I’ll save you the details. So the carpet guys came yesterday to install the carpet. And let me tell you that it’s not easy to do my mama duties with carpet guys in the house. Everything from every closet and bedroom was either moved out onto the decks or into bathrooms and my laundry room. Last night we were able to get the furniture back in the house, but the rest of it had to wait. The kids bathroom, my bathroom, and the laundry room are full. Piles stacked high from floor to ceiling.

About 3 am last night we hear the pitter patter of tiny footsteps. Followed by Makena’s voice ‘mama, I threw up in my bed.’ My hubby and I rushed downstairs to clean up the situation, but I could not get into their bathroom or the laundry room. 3 am is also when Chloe wakes up for her nighttime play date.

So today I’m accepting applications for a baby holder. Just so I can make my way to the washing machine.

I woke up on Sunday to a fog filled Hill Country. It was just beginning to drizzle as we were rushing around the house getting the kids dressed and ready to head into the Warehouse District downtown Austin to take family pictures. There were little teeth to be brushed, hair to be combed, breakfast to be served, coffee to be downed, shoes to be buckled, and babies to be nursed. The hurrying and the gathering.

An afternoon and evening spent with my brother and sister-in-law and their three kids. All of us together in our cozy house while it poured down rain. All day long.

Sitting by the fire, making meals together, sharing laughter, and a bottle of wine. And finishing the evening with a wii sword fighting extravaganza led by five little ones.

Happy 12 year anniversary honey, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As I was uploading pictures from my camera to iPhoto I came across some pictures that I almost let slip by. Almost grandpa, but not quite. It was grandpa’s (milestone) birthday and it also happens to be on Halloween. How cool is that to have a Halloween birthday? It’s always a party. Anyway, I won’t tell you exactly how old he is because he might get his feathers all ruffled but I will tell you that it rhymes with pixie.

So we couldn’t let this birthday go by without celebration and fanfare. Heck, if it were up to me I would have shown up with some major milestone decorations. Necklaces, buttons, balloons… But that’s not how grandpa rolls so I behaved myself.

We all met at the Salt Lick in Driftwood for a Sunday afternoon barbeque birthday celebration. If you’ve never heard of, or been to the Salt Lick, it’s quite the Austin experience. It’s a BYOB kind of joint that serves Texas style barbeque that’ll knock your socks off.

There is always live music on the patio.

A good time to partake in your beverage of choice with good friends.

Grandpa and his grandkids.

And this picture is as sweet as sweet tea.

Have a great weekend friends!

Makena chose my 1980 cheerleading costume from the one and only year that I was a cheerleader. Let’s just say that it wasn’t my thing. And Keegan was Spiderman that I picked up at a garage sale a while back.

Little Miss Chloe was peas in the pod. Sweet peas in fact. It was Keegan’s thrifted costume from when he was a baby.

Our neighborhood does this really neat Hay Ride/Trick or Treat. All of the families meet at the neighborhood park for a kids costume contest and pumpkin contest. Then everyone loads up onto trailers filled with hay bales and stocked coolers (hey, we live at the lake) that take you around the neighborhood for trick or treating. And since everyone in our hood has at least an acre it’s really the best way to get around. When the announcement was made for the hay ride, Chloe and I headed home to hand out candy.

This morning I sorted through all of the candy and sent two large bags with my hubby to work. It’s dangerous in the house. And if I have plans to ever get back into my jeans I had to get rid of it!

Happy one month birthday Chloe. Everything is bigger in Texas, especially the hair bows!

I received the best advice yesterday from another mama of three. I think she could see the desperation in my eyes. The guilt that I feel my other two have felt cast aside. She told me to ‘love the lamb you are with.’ Giving that sweet child every ounce of attention that I possibly can. In whatever amount of time that I have with them.

So today I did just that. Since I spend the nights whole-heartedly with Chloe I made sure to wake up early and make breakfast for everyone. My hubby got up early with me, put on a fire, and made the coffee. We spent time together, reading the paper over our morning coffee, with no interruptions.

While Chloe took her morning nap I made zucchini muffins and pumpkin muffins with the kids. Allowing them to make a mess, to stir however they like. Giving myself permission to make a mess with them.

This afternoon it’s time for Chloe. The kids are outside, enjoying the falling temperatures the change of seasons has brought with it. I’m wearing Chloe, taking time out for cuddles while juggling all of my other mama duties. All the while loving the one I am with. Now mind you, this changes by the minute. Always loving someone different.

I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween weekend! And by all means love the lamb you are with.

I wish I had more time to chat, but it’s dinner time and Chloe is stirring. I don’t get many moments to myself these days, but that is fine by me. I’m really digging this three kid dynamic.

Let the wild rumpus start! Our new family motto.

This just in… Craft Hope Project 5 benefiting Margaret’s Hope Chest, to provide quilts to homeless children. Go the the Craft Hope site to sign up!

We all have new roles with the new baby in the house. Each one of us.

I am working on balancing. Balancing being a mama to three. Realizing that everyone needs a bit of mama time. Each one of them in their own way.

Keegan, adjusting to not being the baby. Needing mama time, but not able to find the right words to tell me. Me, learning to recognize and give him the time he needs. Not pressuring him to be the ‘big boy’ I really need him to be, but allowing him to get there on his own.

Makena, realizing that she is the ring leader of this crazy kid circus. Keeping up and playing with Keegan. Settling into her new role, embracing it really. Wanting to help me. Wanting to hold Chloe. Wanting to be a part of it all. Wanting to be more independent than I’m ready for her to be.

And Chloe, well what can I say… sleeping, burping, napping, pooping, crying, swinging, cuddling, loving. The baby smiles when she sleeps, the coos, the baby noises I’m not used to. The late nights watching reruns of Three’s Company and The Cosby Show with her in my arms. The moments we usually complain about, but I’m treasuring. For a night of catnaps, a pumpkin spice latte in the morning makes it all better again.

So friends, you can find us at home. Each one of us settling in to what it means to be a family of five. And never looking too far forward or back.

Chloe Jeanette Sims :: Born September 29, 2009 :: 12:52 pm :: 8 lbs. 7 oz. :: 20.5 inches :: Austin, Texas

We came home with Chloe yesterday evening. After two summers of drought, we came home to a yard filled with flowers. All of the plants and trees are blooming purple, yellow, white and pink flowers. I like to think that God brought us flowers for the baby’s delivery. Along with the most precious gift he could give us. A sweet baby girl. My heart is full of love and gratitude. My head is hazy from a combination of a lack of sleep and pain killers for the c-section.

Makena and Keegan are adjusting like they should. We are trying to make sure they are getting quality time as well. So far, so good.

Chloe’s heart is perfect. Such a blessing. And we are incredibly grateful.

I’m sitting in the bedroom right now wearing Chloe in a sling so I can type up this post and share her with you. I’ll be on here as much as I can. I’ve got about 500 pictures I took at the hospital to sort out as well.

Photos compliments of my sweet Dad.

So I stayed up last night making the one last item that was on my to make for baby list. Since my diaper bag is not a traditional diaper bag it didn’t come with a changing pad. So I went through my stash of fabric, found some of my favorite Amy Butler Fabric (August Fields), and went to work. I even added velcro on the strap to keep it closed. As usual, no pattern, no instructions, just pure impulsivity. By this time you must know this is how I roll.

Tonight my family is all coming out to our house for dinner. It feels like a ceremonial rite of passage, the coming together of four generations to celebrate the birth of the newest family member. And tomorrow the baby will be delivered via c-section. So, of course if you are of the praying type I am asking for a few prayers for all of us. And I promise to post pictures as soon as possible.