#66- Expectancy

December; where did you come from?
 Days are plummeting by at an alarming rate and yet at the same time I'm having a very difficult time coming to terms with that and the fact that Baby3 will be here. At this point, any day!!! Everything is ready, but I don't feel quite there, this pregnancy went by so fast it's really hard to believe I'll very soon be holding my third.
Nonetheless, excitement mounts and each and every squirm and very impatient punch reminds me of this little person ready to come out and greet us ASAP!
We've narrowed down on names and have people lined up to take in Isaac and Rosie should there be a need.
Meanwhile, life goes on quite normally at the Buckley's. We recently celebrated Christmas with my family and Eric and I had a lovely day and night together at home for the first time in at least a year, (thanks to my parents for taking our other two) we even managed to accomplish some things on the 'to-do' list, though it was very tempting to just laze around and do absolutely nothing for as long as possible. 
Sometimes I think it's important for parents to be away from their children for a period of time to fully appreciate them and parenthood and all it brings. It does get difficult at times to remember how incredible and precious this time is, to really FEEL it and realize it. I commented to Eric the night the kids were gone "ah I spend too much time thinking of how NICE it would be to get a few hours break without the kids, and then when I DO get it, all I can think about is how much joy they bring and how much I miss having them around!"
I could never go back to any old lifestyle of mine. Life without Isaac and Rosalie is simply unimaginable. 
And yes, I do get overwhelmed sometimes thinking about having '3 under 3' and how will I possibly manage, but I distinctly recall feeling that same way about the arrival of each of my children, and each time was a bit of an adjustment but now has just become normal life! It's strange to think about how soon 3 will just seem like the norm! And I won't be able to imagine life without this new little member:)

I love 'em all so dearly. God has blessed me so much with this little family. I am overwhelmed with all that we have; that we are able to pull off being a one-income family while owning a home, a car, having 3 (GROWING) children, and that my dear husband is able to be at home as much as he is on top of that (so blessed!) That we go out in the cold and come home to a warm house, with food both in fridge and freezer, with clothes in the closet and toys in the chest, and some left over for us to be able to share all these things with others. We don't live recklessly and certainly count our coins, but we are not in fear, we are not alone, and we have this incredible God who is somehow fulfilling all our needs and then some!
I expect this new year will bring it's ups and downs and challenges and joys, but we are well looked after, and may I never stop counting my blessings.

#65- philippians 1:6

He who began a good work in you

he who began a good work in you...

Will be faithful to complete it

He'll be faithful to complete it

He who started a good work

Will be faithful to complete it in you!

#64- A-veryone's talking about Avraam:)

And so they should!
My newest little nephew has entered the world! We got to go visit him last week and he is absolutely gorgeous. Isaac was especially excited about baby Avraam and even got to hold him a few times all by himself! He took the matter very seriously.
Rosie was curious enough but lost interest pretty fast. 

Seeing Isaac all excited and interested in a new baby in such a positive way is very encouraging as we prepare for the arrival of his second little sibling!
Thanks Avraam and big bro Ezra for letting Isaac get some practice in! (and of course to proud parents Katrina and Levi; way to go on another incredible creation)

Katrina explaining the art of diaper changing to the boys. She herself started changing diapers at 2 years old!

 We are also awaiting the news of Eric's brother's baby being born...a little girl! My second niece!:) bring on the babies!

#63- we still want to have fun

You and I might have our differences, but it's nothing we haven't yet been able to sort out over an arm wrestle or pistol vs dagger fight.

Our love ain't no Nicholas Sparks story, but I can't imagine having half the fun with as much affection with anyone other than Eric B. xox ba-by

#62- A bedtime story

For the past week we've been having some very difficult nights with Isaac, who is now 2 1/2 years old.
At first we thought he was over-excited by hearing nightly visitors and was thrown out of routine, so we made sure we had people over either before supper or after he had gone to bed. this didn't solve his long, drawn out bedtimes (continuously coming out of his room, us continuously putting him back to bed)
As this continued, we thought maybe he was scared of the dark, having bad dreams, or needed a toy to sleep with (something he has never been into, even though we tried when he was younger)
We turned the bathroom light on, left the door open wider, but nothing helped. His bedtime struggle turned into a through-out the night battle, our compassion waned significantly as he would wake up 2 or 3 times during the night, and would NOT be put back to bed. In the beginning we would stay with him and rub his back till he fell asleep, but as soon as we got up to leave, however deep his sleep was, he would jump up wide awake and the 'routine' would begin all over again. We buckled down and started sticking to the 'super-nanny' routine, making sure we had a good night ritual, lots of snuggles, then bed. After that, short snuggle, goodnight, leave, if he got up again, nothing but a put-back-to-bed and goodnight. No conversation.

There was nothing else to say after this step. Unfortunately for us, it was not 3 times but about 30 times that we were going in and out, literally putting him back in his bed, turning around, barely able to leave before he booked it out screaming like a banshee and we had to put him back in again.

We've gone to about every desparate measure, while still sticking to our guns that we won't buckle in and let him just sleep in our bed or us sleeping in his. Which we realize will ultimately make things worse.
Where we are at now is warning him that we will close his door if he gets out of bed again so he can't come out, and moving Rosie to the toyroom playpen to sleep so she is not bothered by 'the Hulk' impression that emerges after the inevitable closing of the door. (Seriously. It is unbelievable how much energy he puts into these episodes, it sounds like a 300 lb gorilla given an energy drink is locked in there.)

All the experts say just stick to the routine, don't participate in conversation, and be consistent.
This is all easy enough the first 10 times, but when it is the second time of the night at 3am and the clock starts ticking closer and closer to 6am, this kind of rationality is next to impossible. The reason we are resorting to locking the door is not so much as a kind of punishment, but really for his safety as WE are starting to lose our minds and our self-control.

We love Isaac completely and unconditionally, but I am shocked at myself for some of the ideas my brain comes up with to solve this problem in my sleep-deprived, third-trimester brain, some of them downright childish! (maybe if I pinch him really hard...)

I think one of the main contributing factors to this behaviour has been extreme fatigue on his part, he simply is not getting enough sleep and there's nothing we can do about it, the battle that ensues trying to 'force' him to sleep simply seems to give him more adrenaline to keep going. Nap-time has been unheard of for awhile now, although mid-week Eric put him down and SOMEHOW he fell asleep about half an hour later, AND stayed in his room (with warning of the door being closed if he didn't stay in his bed) That following night he was only up once for an hour, it was amazing. So I am convinced that he still does need his afternoon nap. Currently I haven't checked but it is awfully quiet in his room (door open! After having a fit for closing it the first time) so I think he just might be napping, then we will see how the night goes!

Thank HEAVENS for Eric who has the calmest attitude towards the whole thing, somehow he is able to almost completely disconnect during the nightly episodes and Isaac gives in in a lot shorter time than when I am on the job.
If anyone reading this has other ideas, stories, or tips on how to handle this 'stage' as I've heard it's been called, (though nothing I have read or heard about even compares to this) Please do share!! 
I also read that this 'waking' stage at about 2-3 years generally works itself out in 1-3(?!) weeks, so we may have a bit more work ahead of us. I will update when we reach the end! Isaac is a good kid, it's really hard to see him going through this and how strict we have to be with him...
They say strong-willed kids make amazing leaders and strong characters, At this rate and if handled correctly, it's lookin' like Isaac could successfully run a country or two in about 25 years!

#61- thirty-one weeks

3rd trimester...we meet again!
I must say, as much as I've been trying to enjoy this (likely last) pregnancy for me, I am quite content to be done being pregnant, there is much about it that I love (when else can you just 'let it all hang out' and have people say 'oh you are just GLOWING!' 'Aren't you just BEAUTIFUL'?) The incredible feeling of little babe moving around, the excuse to snacking, the attention, those peaceful feelings and moments, but overall; I'm growing less and less partial to things such as the huge chore of getting dressed each day to accommodate my glowing, growing self, the back pain from doing the most basic activities, trying to read my elder child a story and they practically falling off my lap, just feeling overall tired and sluggish...really I just want to be done and have this precious child in my arms not my belly! (Ahh I'm guessing it won't take long for me to wish I was pregnant again!:)
However, again I remind myself that these days are really very short; Because we have had our children so close together in age, it really will feel like only a fleeting moment with all 3 pregnancies combined, a blink of time in my life altogether, so I'm really doing my best  to remind myself of these things and truly enjoy!

I've never been keen on photographing myself and my booming belly, especially this time around, but I know I will be glad I did.
I was looking over my old pictures from my pregnancies with Isaac and Rosalie, it was interesting to compare shapes, sizes and progress, so this motivated me (along with how fun it is to see pictures of friends and sisters too-cute bellies) to be sure to get a couple snapshots in there. Also wouldn't want this babe to feel left out...(does that happen??)
Anyway, please ignore our messy room and fingerprint-smeared mirror. How DID those little hand prints get up that high? Only 2 months left!! I can't believe how fast the time has been flying!

#60- Out while we can!

Before the snow flies and temperatures bid us more oft inside...we have been making the most out of every lovely day!
I know this is a lot of photos, but I can't help it, outdoor pictures are my favourite:) And they are just such gorgeous children